The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-06-07
HAWAIIAN BUILDING STONE.

Considering that most of the
material used in the buildings of
Honolulu and throughout the isl
ands, is imported and consequently
very much more expensive than in
countries where such material is
native and manufactured, it be-
comes an important question as to
whether there is or is not house
building material among the natural
resources Of the islands.
In the meantime the materials of
iron and wood, used for constructive
purposes, must be imported; but
Hawaiian building stone might be
used with advantage much more ex
tensiyely than It is, and it has been
demonstrated that plenty of lime can
be made from the coral rocks which
are abundant on many parts of our
coasts. Regarding native building
stone, several experiments haxe been
already made; but in most instances
unsuitable kinds have unfortunately
been chosen.
The warehouse almost Immediately
opposite the workshop of Mr. John
Mott, in Kaahumanu street, is partly
built of Waianae sandstone, and it
has stood the test of over twenty
years exposure to the weather with
out showing any marks of decay or
deterioration. Captain Makee had
this material quarried from the Wal
amaze sea-shore early in the sixties,
but the lack of proper facilities for
shipping and transit made the ex-
pense too great for bringing this
material into general use in those
days. Perhaps it might be advisable
to get better facilities for shipping
this stone now.
The Lunalilo Home is built of
common red lava rock, obtained in
the immediate vicinity, which has
proved to be unsuitable building
material; and the Kawaiahao Church
is built of coral rock, a material not
much in favor for building purposes.
These, however, are only expert
ments which might have been car
ried farther with advantage. For
foundation purposes most of the rock
found upon these islands is suitable;
but the want is, stone sufficiently
good and of moderate cost, for the
walls of the buildings-it being a
settled fact that our clays will not
make sufficiently good brick.
The recent excavations, cOnse-
quent upon the construction of the
new volcano road, near Hilo, have
revealed a tough, compact, and
beautiful rock that is we'll suited for
building-stone. 1t resembles blue
granite; but it is finer in the grain,
more easily cut and trimmed, and
could be laid down at Honolulu in
cut blocks for a moderate cost. As
a building stone this Hilo rock is
superior to most kinds of granite,
being less brittle, finer grained, and
has a rich lead colOred appearance.
4 similar rock crops out near Ka-
| pena falls, Oahu; but it is much
darker in color than the Hilo rock,
although its quality as a building
stone is equally good, and there is
no reason why suitable kinds of rock
do not exist all over the islands,
in places on or near the surface.
This seems to us a matter which
has not received the attention which
its Importance demands; and the adj
vantages of using native rock in our
buildings are so manifold and OBJ
vious that we need not enter into
their details. The question resolves
itself into one of cost only, and we
have strong hope that this obstacle
to general use of native building
stone may be soon removed.