[ A WALKING TOUR ]
Building was home for
Japanese newspaper
Sugar tycoon Willian G. Irwin probably had grand merchandis
ing dreams when he erected the "Irwin Block" in 1897, and indeed, it was used as activist Yoichi Takakuwa's wholesale store (and political headquarters) for the first quarter-century of its existence. But the imposing building was purchased by the Japanese-language newspaper Nippu Jiji in 1923, and that date is displayed on the cornices, as well as 1895 (the year the newspaper was founded as The Yamato) leading citizens to believe it was actually built during one of those years.
Nippu Jiji, later called the Hawaii Times during the war, occupied the tall-ceilinged two-story building until 1984. Building design was contracted to the firm of C.B. Ripley, but it's likely the actual design was created by Charles William Dickey, one of Ripley's partners at the time.
In 1982, architect Norman Licayo remodeled the building, including the addition of an interior mezzanine level and a five-story addition in the rear, and no trace of the original interior remains.
The rough-hewn "rusticated" exterior of cut volcanic stone is channeled neatly into tight symmetry by identically sized upper bays. It has a checkerboard appearance, depending on the light. The rest of the structure is brick and stone, with steel supports for older wooden floors and concrete floors in the newer sections.
Not visible from the street is a penthouse addition set back on the roof, and a large lanai where employees of the Nippu Jiji could gaze down on the city and ponder their future.
Nippu Jiji Building
Opened: 1897 Architect: C.B. Ripley (C.W. Dickey) Style: Richardsonian Romanesque Address: 928 Nuuanu Ave. National Register: 1973 (District #73000658) Hawaii Register: No
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BURL BURLINGAME / BBURLINGAME@STARBULLETIN.COM
Although the Nippu Jiji Building bears the dates 1895 and 1923, neither represents the year it was built.
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Quicktime VR Panorama
Click on pictures to view panaromas
BURL BURLINGAME / BBURLINGAME@STARBULLETIN.COM
BURL BURLINGAME / BBURLINGAME@STARBULLETIN.COM
Every Sunday in the Star-Bulletin Travel section, rediscover the charms of old Hawaii through a tour created by the Honolulu Historic Trail Committee and Historic Hawai'i Foundation and supported by the city's Office of Economic Development. The yearlong project commemorates Honolulu's bicentennial.
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See Honolulu City Highlights
Various Honolulu historical organizations have clamored for years to have some sort of survey created of downtown Honolulu's historical sites. The mayor's Office of Economic Development stepped in last year to create order, and 50 locations were chosen as representative of Honolulu's history.
There is, of course, far more history in Honolulu's streets than indicated here, but these sites give the high points and can be visited on a walking tour lasting about three hours.
To commemorate Honolulu's bicentennial, the Star-Bulletin kicks off "Holoholo Honolulu" today, a year-long project to examine these historic properties. For the next 50 Sundays in the Travel section, stories and photographs will illuminate these sites.
But that's just the tip of the architectural iceberg. Viewers can step right into these locations via the magic of QuickTime Virtual Reality, a computer process that allows visitors from around the world to feel as if they're standing right there on the street.
WE'RE ALSO looking for old photographs of these sites to scan for public use. If you have anything, let us know:
Write to:
Holoholo
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
7-210 Waterfront Plaza
500 Ala Moana
Honolulu, HI 96813.E-mail:
bburlingame@starbulletin.com
