Kalakaua Park
Encyclopedia
Kalākaua Park is the central "town square" of the city of Hilo, Hawaii. It is surrounded by historic buildings and includes a war memorial.
in 1825.
Later it evolved into the equivalent of a New England
town square
, surrounded by important civic buildings, such as the District Courthouse and Police Station, and the U.S. Post Office and Office Building.
in 1898, the United States
government needed to build a Federal office building, in Hilo, the second-largest city in the territory.
However, funds were not available until 1913. Designed to include the post office at the time, it was built on the square from 1915 to 1917. It was designed by Henry D. Whitfield, who was Andrew Carnegie
's brother-in-law. It was in the Mediterranean neoclassic style with some modern touches such as open circulation with a large arcade. Unusual for Hawaii, it had a full basement, a raised first floor with high ceilings for the post office, a second floor for Federal court functions, and a clerestory
band of oriel window
s above the courtroom for natural lighting.
In 1936, an addition in a similar style of was designed by Louis A. Simon
to result in a "U" shape with two three-story wings. These were opened in 1938. The courtyard contains a flag pole, a mosaic-tiled fountain, and two decorative urns. In 1978 most postal functions moved to a new building. In a 1979 interior renovation, the courthouse was converted to federal office space.
who ruled the Kingdom of Hawaii
from 1874 to 1891, often called the "Merrie Monarch" because of his revival of Ancient Hawaii
an song and dance. The Merrie Monarch Festival
is a major cultural event held annually in Hilo. He dedicated the park around 1877.
It is located at 19°43′31"N 155°05′19"W, between Waianuenue Avenue and Kalakaua Street, and Kinoole Street and
Keawe Street. Kinoole Street, originally Pitman Street, was named for Kinoole o Liliha Pitman
.
A bronze statue of Kalākaua in the middle of the park holds a taro
leaf and ipu
(gourd used in ancient chants). A time capsule was buried in 1991 during a total solar eclipse
, to be opened in the next one to be visible here.
from the Island of Hawaii
was conceived in 1943 by the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce and completed in 1948. Charles William Dickey
Associates were chosen as architects. They commissioned Sculptor Roy King
of Honolulu to design and carve the monument. Donations came from the Hawaii American Legion
Veterans, and Hawaii County
. It is 10 feet (3 m) long, 4 feet (1.2 m) wide, and 6 feet (1.8 m) high. 157 names of Hawaii Island World War II dead were inscribed on top. A lily pond reflects one side showing a central figure, a winged fighting man representing all combat forces. His wings signify protection and peace. On either side of him are people of the world living together in harmony. The back is inscribed “That their spirit may guide us to an ever living peace among all mankind.”
At dedication October 31, 1948,
Harold R. Warner, chairman of the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce memorial committee, turned the monument over to county chairman Clem A. Akina. Hundreds of residents stood in silence as Shojiro Takayama, who lost two sons in World War II, unveiled the monument. Veterans of the 442nd Infantry Regiment and 100th Infantry Battalion turned out. Unveiling ceremonies were followed by a procession to military services at the Veteran’s cemetery at (called Homelani) for four war dead returned from cemeteries in southern France and Italy. Maj. Hiro Higuchi, Army chaplain, formerly with the 442nd regiment officiated at the military services.
Returning war dead were: Pfc. Satoshi Matsuoka,
Pfc. Toshiaki Morimoto,
Pvt. Setsuo Nagano, and
Pfc. James K. Okamoto.
Two plaques were added to opposite ends of the monument. One in memory of Hawaii County’s honored dead from the Korean War
inscribed “Our deaths are not ours, they are yours. They will mean what you make them. Whether our lives and our deaths were for peace and a new hope or for nothing we cannot say. It is you who must say this.” The other in memory of Hawaii County’s honored dead of the Vietnam War
inscribed “We leave you our deaths. Give them their meaning. Give them an end to the war and a true peace. Give them a victory that ends the war and a peace afterwards.” Because of these additions, this monument is often referred to as the Korean War Memorial.
History
The area was originally the site of the first Christian Mission in the area known as Waiakea Mission Station-Hilo StationWaiakea Mission Station-Hilo Station
The Waiākea Mission Station was the first Christian mission on the eastern side of the Island of Hawaii. Also known as the Hilo Station, the latest structure is now called Haili Church.-The first mission:...
in 1825.
Later it evolved into the equivalent of a New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
town square
Town square
A town square is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for community gatherings. Other names for town square are civic center, city square, urban square, market square, public square, and town green.Most town squares are hardscapes suitable for open markets,...
, surrounded by important civic buildings, such as the District Courthouse and Police Station, and the U.S. Post Office and Office Building.
Federal Building
After the annexation of Territory of HawaiiTerritory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
in 1898, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government needed to build a Federal office building, in Hilo, the second-largest city in the territory.
However, funds were not available until 1913. Designed to include the post office at the time, it was built on the square from 1915 to 1917. It was designed by Henry D. Whitfield, who was Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
's brother-in-law. It was in the Mediterranean neoclassic style with some modern touches such as open circulation with a large arcade. Unusual for Hawaii, it had a full basement, a raised first floor with high ceilings for the post office, a second floor for Federal court functions, and a clerestory
Clerestory
Clerestory is an architectural term that historically denoted an upper level of a Roman basilica or of the nave of a Romanesque or Gothic church, the walls of which rise above the rooflines of the lower aisles and are pierced with windows. In modern usage, clerestory refers to any high windows...
band of oriel window
Oriel window
Oriel windows are a form of bay window commonly found in Gothic architecture, which project from the main wall of the building but do not reach to the ground. Corbels or brackets are often used to support this kind of window. They are seen in combination with the Tudor arch. This type of window was...
s above the courtroom for natural lighting.
In 1936, an addition in a similar style of was designed by Louis A. Simon
Louis A. Simon
Louis A. Simon was an American architect.Simon was educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Following a tour of Europe, he opened an architectural office in Baltimore, Maryland in 1894....
to result in a "U" shape with two three-story wings. These were opened in 1938. The courtyard contains a flag pole, a mosaic-tiled fountain, and two decorative urns. In 1978 most postal functions moved to a new building. In a 1979 interior renovation, the courthouse was converted to federal office space.
The park
The park was named in honor of King David KalākauaKalakaua
Kalākaua, born David Laamea Kamanakapuu Mahinulani Nalaiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua and sometimes called The Merrie Monarch , was the last reigning king of the Kingdom of Hawaii...
who ruled the Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
from 1874 to 1891, often called the "Merrie Monarch" because of his revival of Ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii refers to the period of Hawaiian human history preceding the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha the Great in 1810. After being first settled by Polynesian long-distance navigators sometime between AD 300–800, a unique culture developed. Diversified agroforestry and...
an song and dance. The Merrie Monarch Festival
Merrie Monarch Festival
The Merrie Monarch Festival is a week-long cultural festival that takes place annually in Hilo, Hawaii. It honors King David Kalākaua, who was called the "Merrie Monarch" for his patronage of the arts. He is credited with restoring many Hawaiian cultural traditions during his reign, including the...
is a major cultural event held annually in Hilo. He dedicated the park around 1877.
It is located at 19°43′31"N 155°05′19"W, between Waianuenue Avenue and Kalakaua Street, and Kinoole Street and
Keawe Street. Kinoole Street, originally Pitman Street, was named for Kinoole o Liliha Pitman
Kinooleoliliha
Kinooleoliliha Pitman née Hoolulu , also written as Kinoole-o-Liliha, was a member of the royal family during the Kingdom of Hawaii. She was known as Mrs. Pitman after her marriage. In the Hawaiian language, kino 'ole means "thin" and liliha can mean "heartsick".-Life:Her father was High Chief...
.
A bronze statue of Kalākaua in the middle of the park holds a taro
Taro
Taro is a common name for the corms and tubers of several plants in the family Araceae . Of these, Colocasia esculenta is the most widely cultivated, and is the subject of this article. More specifically, this article describes the 'dasheen' form of taro; another variety is called eddoe.Taro is...
leaf and ipu
Ipu
Ipu is a percussion instrument made from gourds that is often used to provide a beat for hula dancing.There are two types of ipu, the ipu heke and the ipu heke ole . Both are made from gourds that have been cut off at the neck and hollowed. The ipu heke is two such gourds joined together with a...
(gourd used in ancient chants). A time capsule was buried in 1991 during a total solar eclipse
Solar eclipse
As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun as viewed from a location on Earth. This can happen only during a new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth. At least...
, to be opened in the next one to be visible here.
War Memorial
A Vermont Danby Imperial white marble monument to those who died in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
from the Island of Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
was conceived in 1943 by the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce and completed in 1948. Charles William Dickey
Charles William Dickey
Charles William “C.W.” Dickey was an American architect famous for developing a distinctive style of Hawaiian architecture...
Associates were chosen as architects. They commissioned Sculptor Roy King
Roy King
Roy Elwood King was an American born sculptor, painter and civil engineer.-Early life:Roy E. King was born November 22, 1903 in Richmond, Virginia....
of Honolulu to design and carve the monument. Donations came from the Hawaii American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
Veterans, and Hawaii County
Hawaii County, Hawaii
Hawaii County is a county located in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Hawaiian Islands. It is coterminous with the Island of Hawaii, often called the "Big Island" to distinguish it from the state as a whole. As of the 2010 Census the population was 185,079. The county seat is Hilo. There are no...
. It is 10 feet (3 m) long, 4 feet (1.2 m) wide, and 6 feet (1.8 m) high. 157 names of Hawaii Island World War II dead were inscribed on top. A lily pond reflects one side showing a central figure, a winged fighting man representing all combat forces. His wings signify protection and peace. On either side of him are people of the world living together in harmony. The back is inscribed “That their spirit may guide us to an ever living peace among all mankind.”
At dedication October 31, 1948,
Harold R. Warner, chairman of the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce memorial committee, turned the monument over to county chairman Clem A. Akina. Hundreds of residents stood in silence as Shojiro Takayama, who lost two sons in World War II, unveiled the monument. Veterans of the 442nd Infantry Regiment and 100th Infantry Battalion turned out. Unveiling ceremonies were followed by a procession to military services at the Veteran’s cemetery at (called Homelani) for four war dead returned from cemeteries in southern France and Italy. Maj. Hiro Higuchi, Army chaplain, formerly with the 442nd regiment officiated at the military services.
Returning war dead were: Pfc. Satoshi Matsuoka,
Pfc. Toshiaki Morimoto,
Pvt. Setsuo Nagano, and
Pfc. James K. Okamoto.
Two plaques were added to opposite ends of the monument. One in memory of Hawaii County’s honored dead from the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
inscribed “Our deaths are not ours, they are yours. They will mean what you make them. Whether our lives and our deaths were for peace and a new hope or for nothing we cannot say. It is you who must say this.” The other in memory of Hawaii County’s honored dead of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
inscribed “We leave you our deaths. Give them their meaning. Give them an end to the war and a true peace. Give them a victory that ends the war and a peace afterwards.” Because of these additions, this monument is often referred to as the Korean War Memorial.