History

The name comes from ka pā lama in the Hawaiian language

Hawaiian language

The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...

 which means "the enclosure of lama wood". "Lama" was the Hawaiian name for endemic ebony

Ebony

Ebony is a dense black wood, most commonly yielded by several species in the genus Diospyros, but ebony may also refer to other heavy, black woods from unrelated species. Ebony is dense enough to sink in water. Its fine texture, and very smooth finish when polished, make it valuable as an...

 trees of genus Diospyros

Diospyros

Diospyros is a genus of about 450–500 species of deciduous and evergreen trees. The majority are native to the tropics, with only a few species extending into temperate regions. They are commonly known as ebony or persimmon trees...

that were used in religious ceremonies.

Traditional land divisions (ahupuaa) in 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...

 were agricultural units that ran from the seashore to mountains. The shoreline areas of Kapālama were later developed into part of Honolulu harbor

Honolulu Harbor

Honolulu Harbor, also called Kulolia and Ke Awa O Kou, is the principal seaport of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii in the United States. It is from Honolulu Harbor, located on Mamala Bay, that the City & County of Honolulu was developed and urbanized, in an outward fashion, over the course of the...

. The upland areas of Kapālama developed into ‘Ālewa Heights, and the main campus of Kamehameha Schools

Kamehameha Schools

Kamehameha Schools , formerly called Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate , is a private co-educational college-preparatory institution that specializes in Native Hawaiian language and cultural education. It is located in Hawaii and operates three campuses: Kapālama , Pukalani , and Keaau...

. Other educational institutions range from Honolulu Community College

Honolulu Community College

Honolulu Community College is a public, co-educational commuter college in Honolulu, Hawaii.The campus is located at 874 Dillingham Bloulevard, north of downtown Honolulu between Honolulu harbor and the neighborhood of Kapālama, at ....

 to the Kapālama Elementary school.
Palama Street at 21°19′24"N 157°51′53"W, and Kapālama Avenue at 21°20′5"N 157°51′58"W, are named for the neighborhood. The Kapālama Stream starts at 21°21′27"N 157°49′46"W and then runs into the Kapālama canal and basin.
To the northwest is the neighborhood of Kalihi

Kalihi

thumb|300px|Historically, Kalihi was an [[ahupua'a|ahupuaʻa]], or area of land ruled by chief or king and managed by the members of the [[alii|alii]]Kalihi is a neighborhood community of Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi, United States...

, and to the southeast downtown Honolulu

Downtown Honolulu

Downtown Honolulu is the current historic, economic, governmental, and central part of Honolulu—bounded by Nuuanu Stream to the west, Ward Avenue to the east, Vineyard Boulevard to the north, and Honolulu Harbor to the south—situated within the larger Honolulu District...

.

The Kapalama Military Reservation, constructed for logistical support in World War II

World 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...

 was scheduled to close. A museum has been proposed in a building that served as a morgue

Morgue

A morgue or mortuary is used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, or removal for autopsy or disposal by burial, cremation or otherwise...

 during 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...

 in the 1960s.
The Palama fire station at 879 North King Street was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Oahu

National Register of Historic Places listings in Oahu

This is a list of properties and districts on the Hawaiian island of Oahu that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Oahu is the only major island in Honolulu County. The location of the city of Honolulu, Oahu is the most populous island in the state. There are 149 properties and...

 as site 76000661 April 21, 1976 along with other Fire Stations of Oahu

Fire Stations of Oahu

The Honolulu Fire Department operates their 44 Fire Stations on the Island of Oahu, and in and around Honolulu. Seven current or former stations are on the National Register of Historic Places, of which five are still in use today as fire stations....

. It was designed in 1901 by Oliver G. Traphagen

Oliver G. Traphagen

Oliver G. Traphagen was an American architect who designed many notable buildings in Duluth, Minnesota during the late 19th century and in the Territory of Hawaii during the early 20th century. Among his most famous landmarks are the Oliver G...

.

The Kaumakapili Church was moved to 766 North King Street after the 1900 fire in Chinatown

Chinatown, Honolulu

The Chinatown Historic District is a neighborhood of Honolulu, Hawaii known for its Chinese people and is one of the oldest Chinatowns in the United States.-History:The area was probably used by fishermen during ancient Hawaii but little evidence remains...

. It was originally established on April 1, 1838 as a Protestant church for common people, to supplement the Kawaiahao Church which was generally intended for nobility. From 1881 to 1888 a new brick and wood frame structure was built.
Temporary services were held until the new structure was built. Ground was broken on May 7, 1910 and the new building dedicated on June 25, 1911. It is located at the southern end of Palama Street at 21°19′17"N 157°51′59"W
After much damage through the years, members raised US$2.4 million for a renovation starting in 1993 of the Gothic Revival architecture

Gothic Revival architecture

The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...

 building.

Peter Cushman Jones

Peter Cushman Jones

Peter Cushman Jones was a businessman and politician during the Kingdom of Hawaii, Provisional Government of Hawaii, Republic of Hawaii and Territory of Hawaii.He founded the second bank in the Hawaiian Islands.-Early life:...

 established a Palama Chapel in the area in 1896. After the 1900 fire, James Arthur and Ragna Helsher Rath added social services to the center and called it Palama Settlement. The center, located at 810 North Vineyard Boulevard at Palama Street 21°19′24"N 157°51′51"W continues to offer community recreation and educational programs.
The martial art of Kajukenbo

Kajukenbo

Kajukenbo is a hybrid martial art that combines Western Boxing, Judo, Jujutsu, Kenpo Karate, Eskrima, Tang Soo Do, and Kung Fu. It was founded in 1947 in Oahu, Hawaii, at the Palama Settlement. The original purpose of the art was to deal with local crime and to help the people defend themselves...

was developed at the Palama Settlement.