Two Honoka’a Locales Added to National Registry

The National Register of Historic Places now includes two more Big Island locales, located in Honoka’a.

Both the Hotel Honoka’a Club and the Honoka’a People’s Theatre were added to the Hawai’i Historic Places registry in May. During the addition to the state registry, the board nominated the community spots to the National Register.

Hotel Honoka’a Club. Department of Land and Natural Resources courtesy photo.

Located at 45-3480 Mamane Street in Honoka’a, Hotel Honoka’a Club dates back to about 1927. The plantation-style structure once functioned as a local gathering place with guest accommodations for travelers and a temporary sales place for commercial samples and wares by traveling salesmen.

According to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hotel Honoka’a Club began as a social gathering place for unmarried males who sought entertainment after work and later became the United States Department of the Interior’s hotel accommodations, and a resting place and headquarters for sales personnel and drummers who traveled the island peddling their wares.

The Hotel Honoka’a Club has also played host to wedding receptions and high school gatherings throughout generations.

Also fronting Mamane Street, the Honoka’a People’s Theatre is a classical revival building that is characterized by its symmetric façade with pilasters, cornice and false front parapet.

Sitting on a concrete foundation, the Honoka’a People’s Theatre has a corrugated metal, front facing gable roof with overhanging eaves and exposed rafter tails.

The theatre has been a community hub since it opened in 1930. With the ability to accommodate live and moving picture entertainment, the multipurpose facility has been used for a range of activities, including political and economic speeches and rallies.

Outside of theaters found in Hilo, the Honoka’a People’s Theatre is the largest theater on the island, according to DLNR.

Patterns of events or importance of history in Hawai’i make Hawai’i properties eligible for inclusion in the Hawai’i register. Places with significant architecture and design, or those that yield important information and have features that retain qualifying integrity, are likely to be included in the registry.

Inclusion in the National Register signifies that properties meet the requirement for national recognition.