The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1907-12-13
CIVIC FEDS WANT
NO PLASTER ARCH.
From Thursdays Advertiser,


position to the suggestion Of Chairman
Hustace, of the Board of Supervisors,
hat the present old fishmarket build
ing be moved to Aala park as an audi
tcrium. It also opposed the Memorial
Arch suggestion OF the Kilohana Art
League and objected 10 anything In the
shape OF a cheap atrocity" being
erected as a blight on the waterfront.
What the committee did recommend
was ,ha, the present structure on the
old fshmarket site be removed and the
grounds be retained as 8 park, the
building 10 be used as an auditorium.
wharf shed or other good purpose any
where in the city but on Aala park
This conclusion was arrived at by
the adoption OF the following report
presented by the committee on parks
streets and public works, as follows:
COMMITTEE REPORT.
Executive Committee Civic Federation.
Gentlemen: Your Committee on
Parks. Streets and Public Works, begs
10 submit the following report on the
question referred 10 it al the last meet
ing OF the executive committee Of the
Federation-the best use OF the old
1ishmarket site on Alakea street.
In considering this matter. your COM
mittee has not only taken into account
the suggestion OF the Kilohana Art
League. that coming before the execu-
tive committee brought the matter 10
a head. but has investigated as we'll
other uses to which the existing struc-
fure could be put and the general oues-
tion Of the best use OF the square.
The Federation is already strongly
committed TO the policy that this
square be kept permanently for public
use. II is unnecessary here to rehearse
the arguments that support that deci-
sion They have been given wide pub
licity and are generally known
The present report, then, deals with
the Question-shall the fishmarket
building be retained and reconstructed
for use as a town hall" suitable for
mass meetings. exhibitions of one and
another sort. social gatherings and the
like. or shalf il be removed and the
square held as an open park. with or
without architectural adornment?
Beneath the question OF using the
fishmarket structure for q town hall"
is the larger problem OF whether or
not the need of such building is suf-
ficiently urgent in Honolulu at the
present time 10 justify the necessary
outlay. There is much TO be said in
favor Of such building and should il
prove financially feasible TO carry out
the plan. the building would unques-
tionably be found useful. But II would
cost a considerable sum 10 make even
the essential changes 10 fit the present
building for such use-let alone more
elaborate suggestions in regard there
10. Is il wise under existing condi-
tions and needs in Honolulu 10 use
so much money in this way. now?
Supposing that II were advisable to
have such town hall. the question
of q site next comes up. Sin the judg-
ment OF the committee the ideal place
would be the open lot at the corner
Of Richards and Hotel streets, but
which is private property and unavail-
able. and next the site now occupied
by the drill shed. at the corner Of
Hotel and Miller streets This is CEN
tral. well served by car lines and in
many ways appropriate But this land
IS controlled by the Federal authorities
and for the present, at any rate, is
ont Of the question.
Aala park Is the next available place
that has been mentioned. This park.
the committee believes. should be
maintained as q playground and not
used other than as al present Were
the fishmarket shed moved there as
q whole il would take up g large snare
OF the park The average distance
across Aala Park from King to Bere-
tania street is $50 feet; the average
width is aS0 feet. The dimensions Of
the fshmarket are 145xs40 feet Il is
true that 8 part OF the structure, for
the fshmarket is built in sections,-i
could be used at the mauka eni OF |
Aaia park but this would interfere with |
the free use of the park as g play
ground. because when regular games |
are in progress. the small children and i
Others play on the edges OF the park |
The compenssting advantages Of COW
cred meeting place would not offset the |
loss OF this particular area as play 1
ground. The large attendance at this /
open playground would seem TO sug-.
gest that il might be enlarged 10 adj
vantage; certainly. none OF the present |
ground should be given up.
The argument that Aala park is not /
3 central location and would not be 1
used generally by al the people Of Ho-
nolulu Is really an argument in favor
OF the present site. for notIi1hstand- /
ing its drawbacks, for example as 70
dust and dirt the Alaksa street site
has much n its favor Il Is reached
By two car EneSfor the Fort street
cars oouid on occasions easily be run
on 20 Alaksa street and The building
could be put into shape a. small cost
compared 70 moving l.
This question then set1les down to
whether OF not -hsre Is money avail
able for the purpose. for were the ex-
listing building 10 be .ussd as q town
hail. il would have at least 10 be
painted, 10 be enclosed, 10 have Z stage
and flooring
At this point the committee would
emphatically express its disapproval OF
the erection Of either an elaborate IA
cade 10 such g building, OF al the pres
ent time of q monumental gateway 10
the city. such as was proposed by Mr..
Charles Nulfor6 Robinson IN his report
Whatever may be the wise thing TO