The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-09-22
UNION SQUARE FOR THE FEDERAL BUILDING
Chas. Milford Robinson
on Advantages
OF Site.


of Charles Milford Robinson on the
Improvement of Honolulu:
l come now to the third focal point
of the city: the administrative, or Off
cial, center, well established at Union
formerly Palace) square.
Few cities of the United States are
so fortunate as Honolulu in early
grouping of public buildings around a
single open space. At once for its
present significance, for its growing
Importance as official business be-
comes larger, and for it's past, which
can not fail to have increasing his
/ torical interest as time goes on, this
center demands careful and worthy
development. 1t demands it the more
because its present irregularities, its
sunny waste at one end, it's jumbIed
aspect as to the location of buildings
and the general air of shabblness i'm
parted by the grounds around the Judi
| clary structure, now give an unpleasant
Impression where the effect should be
orderly and fine. In remOdeling this
space | have been DESTROYS of trespass-
ing as little as possible on former con-
ditions, and of emphasizing the his
| torical significance of the center while
securing the desired effect.
As a part of my report | append a
blue print showing the plan worked
out. Its principal features are the free
dom from molestation of the area oc-
cupied by the grounds of the Executive
| building. or Old Palace; the bringing
into the scheme of the Kawaiahao
church, the removal of the Opera house
from its present site and of the garage
on the makai side of King street, the
purchase for these purposes of a little
land the provision of a choice of three
good sites for the Postotfice, and of a
new site for the Opera house, the utili-
cation of the waste space in the street.
In more detail, the plans contemplate
the purchase of the strip between the
grounds Of the Judiciary building and
Punchb0wl street, and of that triangle
between Richards and Militant streets of
which the site of the present Opera
house forms the Waikiki and larger
end. / is singular that by the acquisi-
| ton of such a little land so large an
effect can be secured at so important
point, and Honolulu may well cOngratU
! late itself this second opportunity.
Clearing the space thus secured, ka-
WaiahaO church Is opened to view from
Union square and becomes, as it ought
to be, one of the group of historical
structures gathered there. A new street,
centering on the. statue of King Kane
hameha l., with that closing the vista
at one end and the Lunalilo tomb plain
~ in view at the other, gives a more
direct access to Punchbowl street, and
leaves between itself and King street
plat to be parked with turf and low
shrubs, the switch of the street rail
road company having provision made
for it in front of the judiciary building.
or no
other side of the statue, a street gives
direct connection with Merchant street,
opens an attractive vista, and leaves a
plat between itself and King that,
similarly will be parked with turf and
low shrubs. These new "streets' are
more accurately double roadways for
King street, making provision for any
increase of traffic at this point in the
years to come and giving to King street
through this, its official or state sec
ton, the character of a broad parked
street.
As to the Postoffice, it is clear that
the new structure should be added to
the group of public buildings, thus adj
ding to its own dignity well as to
the effectiveness of the square. Three
sites are suggested. Site CA would
be my first choice considered from the
aesthetic standpoint and because site
"C' would then be left available for
the Opera house, so adding another
public structure to the group and Civ
ing to it a site open to the street on
three sides-a desirable consideration in
planning fire exits to a theater. Site
"C' would be my second choice for
the Post0ffice, as the position is one
of great prominence and aesthetic i'm
portance to the square. 1t is also more
convenient for the city's business sec
ton Site OBJ also would be admira
bic, especially if it should be possible
to obtain all the block, placing the
/ Postoffice on a line with the Judiciary
building and, like each of the other
official structures, in a little park of its
own-an arrangement lovely in itself
and of especial appropriateness here.
Incidentally it may lee observed that IN
urging one of these sites for the new
Postofiice. the large aesthetic gain is
secured with no loss OF convenience to
business. and with an even greater
proximity TO the docks, to the govern
| rent Offices and TO the hotels.
It should also be observed that the
| proposed development Of Union square,
| for the enhancement Of its beauty and
| dignity, brings this improvement with
| in two short blocks of the waterfront
| Improvement, and on the direct line to
SELF CURE NO FICTION!