Little Known Facts
ALA MOANA PUMPING STATION
Prominently located on
Ala Moana Boulevard between the Honolulu’s financial district and
Waikiki, this now abandoned sewage pumping station structure is a
puzzle to many who pass by it. This structure was designed by
Oliver Traphagen, the same architect who designed the stately Moana
Hotel in Waikiki. The station’s unique architectural character,
with Hawaiian cut bluestone construction, in an industrial Romanesque
style still draws attention today. Associated with Honolulu’s
first professionally designed sewage disposal system, the main building
was built in 1900 and it housed steam-powered pumps that carried the
sewage through a force main out to the sea about 1,200 feet from
shore.
KAMAKA HAWAII, INC.
The factory of the cherished Hawaiian ukulele has been
inconspicuously located at 550 South Street in Kaka‘ako since Hawaii
became the 50th State in 1959. The Hawaiian stringed
musical instrument plays a major role in Hawaii’s heritage and this
firm carries on an important part of the Hawaiian culture by producing
ukuleles of various sizes each work day. The history and progress
of Kamaka ukuleles is marked by a never-ending process of design,
redesign and experimentation in order to produce instruments with the
many and varying tonal and playing characteristics required by
professional and amateur musicians alike.
HAWAII OPERA THEATRE (HOT)
The home base of
the opera company that has for decades been delivering magnificent and
opulent operatic productions to Oahu is located in several structures
at 987 Waimanu Street, close to the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall.
Elaborate sets and many of the shows’ props, costumes and wigs are
designed and constructed on the HOT premises. Each year, HOT
presents three Grand Operas, lighter fare (operetta or a Broadway-style
musical productions) during the summer, and maintains its Education
Outreach program reaches 25,000 school children. (Facility not
open to the public.) Ticket information: (808) 596-7858, www.hawaiiopera.org
MOTHER WALDRON PLAYGROUND
Nestled in
the heart of Kaka‘ako on a 1.76-acre site bounded by Coral,
Halekauwila, Cooke and Pohukaina Streets is a park with a rich
historical pedigree. Designed and built in the mid-1930s, the
facility bears the moniker of the woman—Margaret Waldron—who is
affectionately considered one of Honolulu’s most ardent “friend of the
poor”. Waldron was a public school teacher and playground
director who gained attention for civilizing the youth gangs of
Kaka‘ako through her playground work and transforming them into law
abiding citizens. Today, Kaka‘ako’s residents and children from
surrounding schools enjoy the multi-purpose play courts and open field
of the Mother Waldron legacy.
KAKA‘AKO’S CHARTER SCHOOLS
Following a
national trend, Hawaii currently offers 27 Board of Education-approved
charter schools—public schools operating independently from the
Department of Education. These “New Century Charter Schools”, two
of which are located in Kaka‘ako, are a new approach to education that
is free of bureaucratic red tape and accommodating of the individual
needs of students. Voyager, located at 670 Auahi Street, is open
to students from kindergarten through grade 7. Voyager’s
telephone number is (808) 521-9770 or website: www.voyagerschool.com.
The Myron B. Thompson Academy, located at 629 Pohukaina
Street, is open to students from kindergarten to grade 12. Its
telephone number is (808) 586-3636 or website: www.thompsonacademy.org