Kaneohe Ranch Building
Encyclopedia
The Kaneohe Ranch Building at Castle Junction, where the Pali Highway (Route 61), Kamehameha Highway
(Route 83), and Kalanianaole Highway (Route 72) intersect on the windward side of Oahu, was built in 1940 to be the headquarters of Kaneohe Ranch
, which owned 12000 acres (48.6 km²) of surrounding land and played a major role in the history of Kāneohe and Kailua. The building is significant both for its association with the Ranch and for its Hawaiian style architecture designed by Albert Ely Ives (1898-1966). Ives other work on the windward side includes Plantation Estate
which is the Winter White House
of Barack Obama
. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on 5 June 1987.
The building exhibits key features of the style of Hawaiian architecture
that developed during the 1920s and 1930s: the double-pitched Dickey roof with overhanging
eaves
, plaster
-covered masonry
wall
s, and ample cross-ventilation
. Its architect
was best known for his residential work; this is one of his few commercial buildings.
During the mid-19th century, most of the land in the area belonged to Kalama
, Queen Consort
of Kamehameha III
and later Queen Dowager
of the Kingdom of Hawaii
. She and Judge Charles Coffin Harris
began a sugar plantation on the land, but after she died in 1870 and it failed in 1871, the land eventually passed to Harris's daughter, Nannie H. Rice, who in 1893 leased 15000 acres (60.7 km²) to J. P. Mendonca, who founded Kaneohe Ranch in 1894. Lower-lying wetland
s were leased to Chinese rice farmers. In 1907 James Bicknell Castle
became the principal stockholder of the Ranch, and 1917 his son, Harold K.L. Castle
, purchased the land from Mrs. Rice. Most of the land was used for cattle-ranching until World War II, when the military took over much of it. After the war, former ranch lands have provided room for ever expanding residential subdivisions.
Kamehameha Highway
Kamehameha Highway is one of the main highways serving suburban and rural O‘ahu in the U.S. state of Hawaii. Starting from Nimitz Highway near Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, it serves the island's older western suburbs, turning north across the O‘ahu Central Valley to the...
(Route 83), and Kalanianaole Highway (Route 72) intersect on the windward side of Oahu, was built in 1940 to be the headquarters of Kaneohe Ranch
Kaneohe Ranch
Kaneohe Ranch Management Limited manages the real estate owned by the family of Harold K.L. Castle and Alice H. Castle, and their non-profit charitable foundation, the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation founded in 1962. The real estate portfolio consists of land holdings on the windward side of Oahu,...
, which owned 12000 acres (48.6 km²) of surrounding land and played a major role in the history of Kāneohe and Kailua. The building is significant both for its association with the Ranch and for its Hawaiian style architecture designed by Albert Ely Ives (1898-1966). Ives other work on the windward side includes Plantation Estate
Plantation Estate
Plantation Estate is a single-story wood frame Pacific Ocean-front house at 55 Kailuana Place in Kailua, Honolulu County, Hawaii that Barack Obama rented to be used as a Winter White House during Christmas break vacations in 2008, 2009 and 2010....
which is the Winter White House
Winter White House
A "Winter White House" is typically the name given to the regular winter vacation residence of the standing President of the United States aside from Camp David, the mountain-based military camp in Frederick County, Maryland, used as a country retreat and for high-alert protection of the President...
of Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on 5 June 1987.
The building exhibits key features of the style of Hawaiian architecture
Hawaiian architecture
Hawaiian architecture is a distinctive style of architectural arts developed and employed primarily in the Hawaiian Islands of the present-day United States — buildings and various other structures indicative of the people of Hawaii and the environment and culture in which they live...
that developed during the 1920s and 1930s: the double-pitched Dickey roof with overhanging
Overhang (architecture)
An overhang in architecture is a protruding structure which may provide protection for lower levels. Overhangs on two sides of Pennsylvania Dutch barns protect doors, windows, and other lower level structure. Overhangs on all four sides of barns is common in Swiss architecture...
eaves
Eaves
The eaves of a roof are its lower edges. They usually project beyond the walls of the building to carry rain water away.-Etymology:"Eaves" is derived from Old English and is both the singular and plural form of the word.- Function :...
, plaster
Plaster
Plaster is a building material used for coating walls and ceilings. Plaster starts as a dry powder similar to mortar or cement and like those materials it is mixed with water to form a paste which liberates heat and then hardens. Unlike mortar and cement, plaster remains quite soft after setting,...
-covered masonry
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
wall
Wall
A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area. Most commonly, a wall delineates a building and supports its superstructure, separates space in buildings into rooms, or protects or delineates a space in the open air...
s, and ample cross-ventilation
Ventilation (architecture)
Ventilating is the process of "changing" or replacing air in any space to provide high indoor air quality...
. Its architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
was best known for his residential work; this is one of his few commercial buildings.
During the mid-19th century, most of the land in the area belonged to Kalama
Kalama
Kalama Hakaleleponi Kapakuhaili, Queen Consort of Hawaii was Queen Consort of the Kingdom of Hawaii alongside her husband, Kauikeaouli, who reigned as King Kamehameha III.-Early life:...
, Queen Consort
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
of Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III was the King of Hawaii from 1825 to 1854. His full Hawaiian name was Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa and then lengthened to Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa Kalani Waiakua Kalanikau Iokikilo Kiwalao i ke kapu Kamehameha when he ascended the throne.Under his...
and later Queen Dowager
Queen Dowager
A queen dowager or dowager queen is a title or status generally held by the widow of a deceased king. In the case of the widow of a deceased emperor, the title of empress dowager is used...
of 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...
. She and Judge Charles Coffin Harris
Charles Coffin Harris
Charles Coffin Harris was a New England lawyer who became a politician and judge in the Kingdom of Hawaii who firmly supported the monarchy as an independent nation. After serving in a number of cabinet posts, he became chief justice of the supreme court.-Early life:Charles Coffin Harris was born...
began a sugar plantation on the land, but after she died in 1870 and it failed in 1871, the land eventually passed to Harris's daughter, Nannie H. Rice, who in 1893 leased 15000 acres (60.7 km²) to J. P. Mendonca, who founded Kaneohe Ranch in 1894. Lower-lying wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s were leased to Chinese rice farmers. In 1907 James Bicknell Castle
James Bicknell Castle
James Bicknell Castle was a Honolulu businessman in times of the Kingdom of Hawaii, Republic of Hawaii and Territory of Hawaii.-Life:...
became the principal stockholder of the Ranch, and 1917 his son, Harold K.L. Castle
Harold K.L. Castle
Harold Kainalu Long Castle was a large landowner, real estate developer, and later philanthropist in Hawaii.-Life:Harold Kainalu Long Castle was born July 3, 1886 in Honolulu....
, purchased the land from Mrs. Rice. Most of the land was used for cattle-ranching until World War II, when the military took over much of it. After the war, former ranch lands have provided room for ever expanding residential subdivisions.