The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-03-03
HISTORY IN
CITY STREETS
Highway Names
Are Full Of
Meaning.
PROFESSOR LYONS
TALKS OF ORIGIN
Historic Interest Attaches to the
Names of Streets
Here.


by which the majority of HonoIu-
III streets are designated have for
the older citizens a historic interest
which makes every corner a reminder
OF the good old days OF long ago.
Street names in Honolulu denote
events and people which for the ka-
maaina and Hawaiian have a peculiar
interest The man who is probably
more familiar with street history than
any other man in Honolulu is Prof,
Curtis J. Lyons, who not only laid out
a large number of the streets of the
city but gave them also the names by
which they are distinguished. or late
real estate promoters have not eXercis-
ed the same care in laying out streets
as did the surveyors OF years ago. and
the newer additions to the city are des-
ignated generally without reference to
any particular event or name.
THE early streets of Honolulu were
irregular and there have been many
changes from the old titles" said Prof.
Lyons yesterday. Way back in the
forties King street was known as ka-
waiahao street, from the church Of
that name. but later both Queen and
King streets were given their names by
the government.
"Nuuanu was then known as 'Fid'
street because of the large number OF
saloons which lined it, but it was
changed to Nuuanu because it is a
continuation of the valley of that:
name Maunakea was named at that
time also. Richards was named after.
W. NJ Richards, adviser of the chiefsl
in the time of Kamehameha III. Ala1
kea named also about that time,
means white, and was formerly known
as White street. 1t goes over white,
coral rock for a portion OF the way,
and derived it's name from the coral
formation. Punchbowl streets points
towards Punchbowl, and in the forties
it was one of the limits of the town.
Beretania is the native name for Brit
ish. and was so called because the Brit
ish consul general had his residence on
that street. The old consular residence
near Punahou is one of the oldest
buildings in Honolulu.
I'm 1S4S Surveyor Metcalf laid out
the lower portion of the plains. At
that time they called that portion of
Beretania, Kamehameha street. /
think I suppose the government select
ed the names of the streets laid out by
Metcalf. Young street was named af-
ter John Young, the uncle of Queen
Emma, who was her premier at that
time. Alapai and Pikoi We're named
after native chiefs. Pikoi had grove
of cocoanut trees planted at his resi-
dence at the end OF the street.
"Keeaumoku street is named after
the father of Kaahumanu. and Kinau
was named about the same time, III
1s4S. for the mother of Kamehameha
w. and " l think it was a mistake to
lay out streets without making cross
streets, as was done in this district.
School street led to the Royal School.
and Kukui street derived its name
from the grove of kukui trees which
grew in the royal grounds Emma
street. of course, derived it's name from
the Queen Surveyor Webster laid out
that street and also Judd street. which
got its name because Of the location
of DR.. Judds residence upon it. Liliha
was the name of an ancient chiefess.
''Wyllie street was named for r. &.
wyllie, minister of foreign affairs un-
der Kamehameha III.
Il laid out some of the streets in
1874. Lunalilo was named after the
King. or the suburb .of that name, and
Pensacola from the United States war
ship which carried Lunaliio to Hilo in
that year Wilder avenue was first
called Stonewall street on account OF
the Kaahumanu wall located there,
but was afterwards changed by the
clerks in s. G. Wilder's office.
The streets on the Esplanade were
laid out in 1860 by Webster, but for
some reason were not named until 1873
by the survey office. We didn't bother
with red tape at that time, but named
them without waiting for the govern
q
w. +. Allen. collector general OF Gus
toms Governor KekuanaOa had his
residence on the street which received
that name, and kilauea was the name
of the steamer to the wharf Of which
the street led.
.Halekauwila street has quite an in
history. There was al old
temple at Kona, known as Halekau-
villa, which was a place Of deposit for
the high chiefs in olden times. 1t was
built over two hundred years ago OF
kauwila wood. but about the time OF
the missionary period the timbers were
brought To Honolulu and used in the
of the first government
house on Halekauwila street. In this
building the first constitutional bust
ness was transacted 1t stood on the
south part OF what is now the Hack
field premises. The land commission
also had its offices there. In the Pun
ahou district some ~ the streets are
named after the presidents of the col
lege: Dole Alexander and Beckwith
Bingham street is named after the ell
der missionary OF that name Miller
+. named after the British consul gen
eral. whose house adjoined the street
Pauahl was named at the time Of the
big fire OF 1856. after the mother OF
Mrs. Bishop. and Kekaulike street for
the sister OF Queen Kapiclani at TIE
same time These newer streets that
we're named by the real estate promot- !
,r,Sf