Let’s explore downtown Hilo shall we?
‘Hilo’ translated as a braid or a twist is represented as an abstract sculpture by Michael Shewmaker
Young Building (1929)
The Kress Building was built in 1932 and housed Hilo’s popular five-and-dime store until 1980. This historic building was converted into a theater between ‘95–2014 and currently houses a public charter school.
Palace Theater opened as a grand movie palace in 1925. After closing for several years, the Palace Theater was renovated and reopened in 1999 with an international film festival. The theater currently shows new and classic movies.
Pacific Building 1922
Hilo Bay Hostel 1912
Originally the Hackfeld Building when constructed in 1910 and was the most substantial building in downtown Hilo when completed. Freiderich Wilheim “Fritz” Koehnen came to Hilo from Germany in 1909 to work for H Hackfeld Company which later went on to become Amfac, one of the so-called “Big-Five” sugar corporations in Hawaii. Koehnen acquired this building and started selling silverware, fine china, crystal and giftware. At one time was considered the “Tiffany’s” of Hilo.
S. Hata building was built as a general store in 1912 by Japanese immigrant and businessman Sadanouke Hata and his family, this structure now houses galleries, a restaurant, and small shops.
Pacific Tsunami Museum is housed in a former bank building originally constructed in 1930 and donated to the museum in 1970. Museum is dedicated to the history of the April 1, 1946 Pacific Tsunami and the May 23, 1960 Chilean Tsunami which devastated much of the east coast of the Big Island.
The United States Post Office and Office Building built 1915–17, is a rectangular structure with a portico on the main (south) side and a projecting wing on the north side. The building was one of the first in Hawaiʻi constructed using reinforced concrete.
Hawaii National Bank started out in 1960 to take advantage of Hawaii’s entry into statehood in 1959. The first one was established in Honolulu and Hilo branch is one of the 12 offices of the bank and has been serving the customers in Hilo since 1970
Hilo Iron Works was in business from 1865 to 1983. It was impacted by both the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis, including waves that washed through the building. Survivors clung to the ceiling rafters as the 15–25 ft waves passed under, bending the steel vertical beams.
Central Fire Station constructed during the late 1930s with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds.
St Joseph Catholic Church is a rare example of Spanish Colonial Revival. Dedicated in 1919, it was the 3rd meeting place of catholics since establishing a presence in the 1840s. Mostly caters today to the Portuguese immigrants who cme to work in the booming agricultural industry on the Big Island.
