District Courthouse and Police Station
a.k.a. Old Police Station
141 Kalakaua St., Hilo, HIThe District Courthouse and Police Station were built in 1932 to accommodate Hawaii County agencies. It lies in an area that has been the center of government and civic activities for Hilo since 1817. It is bounded on the northeast by the Hawaii Telephone building, designed by prominent Hawaiian architect, Charles Dickey in 1930. On the southwest side of the District Courthouse and Police Station is the U. S. Post Office/County Building, a National Register site entered on October 1, 1974. Directly across the street is Kalakaua Park established in 1877 c. by the then-ruling monarch King David Kalakaua (1874-1891). The building is a two-story reinforced concrete structure with wooden in- interiors built in an eclectic style.
Plans for the District Courthouse and Police Station were drawn by Frank Futoshi Arakawa (1891-1977), Deputy County Engineer with the County of Hawaii, and one of the first nisei (second generation Japanese in Hawaii) to graduate from Stanford University with a degree in civil engineering. It was the first government building in the County to include accommodations for the automobile in its initial plans."
Completed at the cost of $54,017.49, it was described in the Hilo Tribune-Herald upon announcement of its opening as being "well-planned and attractively decorated", and that "modernistic Hawaiian note pre- vails, with cream (and) brown colors both interior and exterior. Interior walls and ceilings are stippled in rainbow colors".
Shigeru K. Oda, the well-known and long-time contractor in Hilo, was the general contractor; C. M. Yamashita did the painting; and H. Matsuo, "one of the first Japanese plumbers and tinsmiths in Hilo", was credited for the plumbing.
Stephen L. Desha Jr., District Magistrate for South Hilo, and Henry K. Martin, Sheriff, were the first to enjoy the new building.
In 1936 the first radio dispatch system was established with the help of Bill Seymour, and the station was able to contact police autos by voice (one way).
In 1946 part of the Courtroom made way for a fledgling Planning and Traffic Division, then a two-to-three-person office. This division moved to the Hilo Armory in late 1961, when space became too limited.
By February 1969, the present State Building was completed and the District Court and its support staff moved out to new quarters in the State Building. The Police Department expanded its operations to encompass the entire building. The Department soon outgrew its facilities, and in October 1975, moved to new quarters on Kapiolani Street.
The "Old Police Station" has remained vacant since.
Local significance of the building:
Plans for the District Courthouse and Police Station were drawn by Frank Futoshi Arakawa (1891-1977), Deputy County Engineer with the County of Hawaii, and one of the first nisei (second generation Japanese in Hawaii) to graduate from Stanford University with a degree in civil engineering. It was the first government building in the County to include accommodations for the automobile in its initial plans."
Completed at the cost of $54,017.49, it was described in the Hilo Tribune-Herald upon announcement of its opening as being "well-planned and attractively decorated", and that "modernistic Hawaiian note pre- vails, with cream (and) brown colors both interior and exterior. Interior walls and ceilings are stippled in rainbow colors".
Shigeru K. Oda, the well-known and long-time contractor in Hilo, was the general contractor; C. M. Yamashita did the painting; and H. Matsuo, "one of the first Japanese plumbers and tinsmiths in Hilo", was credited for the plumbing.
Stephen L. Desha Jr., District Magistrate for South Hilo, and Henry K. Martin, Sheriff, were the first to enjoy the new building.
In 1936 the first radio dispatch system was established with the help of Bill Seymour, and the station was able to contact police autos by voice (one way).
In 1946 part of the Courtroom made way for a fledgling Planning and Traffic Division, then a two-to-three-person office. This division moved to the Hilo Armory in late 1961, when space became too limited.
By February 1969, the present State Building was completed and the District Court and its support staff moved out to new quarters in the State Building. The Police Department expanded its operations to encompass the entire building. The Department soon outgrew its facilities, and in October 1975, moved to new quarters on Kapiolani Street.
The "Old Police Station" has remained vacant since.
Politics/government
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
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Hawaii was originally an independent kingdom, with a monarchy that lasted from 1810 to 1893. The kingdom was overthrown by American businessmen and politicians who wanted to annex Hawaii to the United States.
About Hawaii County
Hawaii County Timeline
Hawaii County, also known as the Big Island, is the largest and youngest of the Hawaiian Islands. The history of Hawaii County is shaped by the arrival of Polynesians, Europeans, and the eventual annexation by the United States.
The Polynesians were the first to settle in Hawaii County, arriving around 1,500 years ago. They brought with them their culture, traditions, and agricultural practices. They established a flourishing society based on fishing, farming, and trade. The island was ruled by chiefdoms, and their hierarchical structure was based on the division of labor and a system of religion and customs.
In 1778, British Captain James Cook arrived on the island, introducing Europeans to Hawaii County. Cook's arrival brought both curiosity and conflict. While Cook's initial visit was peaceful, tensions escalated on subsequent visits, leading to his death in 1779. European influence grew as more explorers, traders, and missionaries arrived in Hawaii County, bringing new technologies, diseases, and religious beliefs.
In the late 19th century, Hawaii County faced significant changes. Influenced by the economic interests of American businesspeople, the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown in 1893, leading to the establishment of a provisional government and later the Republic of Hawaii. In 1898, the United States annexed Hawaii County as a territory, primarily driven by strategic military interests.
In 1959, Hawaii County became the 50th state of the United States. Since then, it has experienced growth in both population and tourism. The island's diverse landscapes, including active volcanoes, pristine beaches, and lush tropical forests, have made it a popular destination for visitors from around the world. Hawaii County continues to embrace its rich cultural heritage while evolving into a modern and vibrant place to live and visit.
The Polynesians were the first to settle in Hawaii County, arriving around 1,500 years ago. They brought with them their culture, traditions, and agricultural practices. They established a flourishing society based on fishing, farming, and trade. The island was ruled by chiefdoms, and their hierarchical structure was based on the division of labor and a system of religion and customs.
In 1778, British Captain James Cook arrived on the island, introducing Europeans to Hawaii County. Cook's arrival brought both curiosity and conflict. While Cook's initial visit was peaceful, tensions escalated on subsequent visits, leading to his death in 1779. European influence grew as more explorers, traders, and missionaries arrived in Hawaii County, bringing new technologies, diseases, and religious beliefs.
In the late 19th century, Hawaii County faced significant changes. Influenced by the economic interests of American businesspeople, the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown in 1893, leading to the establishment of a provisional government and later the Republic of Hawaii. In 1898, the United States annexed Hawaii County as a territory, primarily driven by strategic military interests.
In 1959, Hawaii County became the 50th state of the United States. Since then, it has experienced growth in both population and tourism. The island's diverse landscapes, including active volcanoes, pristine beaches, and lush tropical forests, have made it a popular destination for visitors from around the world. Hawaii County continues to embrace its rich cultural heritage while evolving into a modern and vibrant place to live and visit.
Hawaii County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Hawaii County, Hawaii.
- Hawaii Island, also known as the Big Island, is believed to have been settled by Polynesians around 1,500 years ago.
- In 1778, British explorer Captain James Cook became the first recorded European to visit the island during his third Pacific voyage.
- In 1790, the famous Battle of Kepaniwai took place between forces of the Hawaiian Kingdom and Maui warriors near present-day Hilo.
- In 1791, the American merchant vessel "Eleanor" became the first recorded foreign ship to anchor in Hilo Bay, marking the beginning of increased foreign trade and influence on the island.
- In 1840, Hilo was designated as the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii by King Kamehameha III.
- In 1885, the first sugarcane plantation was established in Puna, marking the beginning of large-scale sugarcane cultivation on the island.
- In 1893, the Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown by a group of American and European businessmen, leading to the establishment of a provisional government dominated by foreign interests.
- In 1900, Hawaii became a territory of the United States, and Hilo became the county seat of Hawaii County.
- In 1946, the Hilo tsunami, caused by an earthquake near the Aleutian Islands, struck the island and devastated many coastal areas.
- In 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States.
- In 1983, the eruption of Kilauea volcano started, which has continued to shape the landscape of the island throughout the years.