The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-12-31
BUILDING ACTIVITY
IN HONOLULU GREAT
DURING 19l5PER|OD
There Was An Increase Of About
II Per Cent Over 1914
Record
-. t...f.
AUTHORIZED CONSTRUCTION
/. AGGREGATES s1,ssAssJ
May Banner Month Of Year, With
= IuBsed0ha and November "
Third

The year 1918 has been a record peri,
cd for building activity in Honolulu.
The value Of new construction opera.
tons begun the last .twelve months Is
almost seventy-fve per cent over that
instituted In 1914, according to figures
in building permits issued by Henry
Freitas, building Inspector. In round
figures, not including the few which
may be issued today, the permits is
sued this year have authorized con.
struction aggregating 1894, 9Sl.
Total building authorized in the city
in 1914 was less than million dol
lars, $4,000. This years figures ex.
coed that amount by $5S4,9Sl or about
seventy-two per cent.
But the coming year probably will
be the banner period in Honolulu 8 his
tory for the building industry. Some
time within the next few months actual
construction is expected to begin on
the new, federal edifee on the Irwin.
site and this alone will cost more than
n million dollars, though of course only
portion or the sum can be utilized
within the annual period, as it may
take two or three years to complete
the project.
Greater sttn For 1915
Then, in addition to the federal
structure, a number of modern business
blocks doubtlessly will be started down.
town, the Spreckels and Mahuka sites
being thrown open for purchase or i'm.
provement. General business cOndi-
tons, so prosperous the last year, are
expected to have their effect in the
erection of many more fine modern
homes and improvements throughout
the commercial and residential districts
of the municipality. In short, it is
predicted by many business men that
the actual amount of new construction
will easily double that which has been
started in the last twelve months.
Building permit records for 1915 show
that six projects were undertaken in
the period just ending which represent
expenditures of $4,000 or more each.
These are the. Libby, Mcneil & Libby
warehouse at Kahuluu, costing $50 900;
the William Wolter block in Union
street, to cost $4,000; the Hawaiian
Board of Missions memorial building
in south King street, $66,sOo; Schu.
man garage, $4,000; J. b. Atherton =
printing block in Queen street, $45,4l9,
and the Kings Daughters Home, in
Waialae road, $4,000.
Business And Residence Structures
Eight other projects undertaken are
to cost 81 1000 or more. These are the
Hawaiian Pineapple Company's Offices
in Iwilei, $1,000; George Compton 5
apartment house in Palama, $lI 900;
j. n. s. Williams residence in Monoa,
SIC, 400; the Territorial Market, $l0,l2O;
completion of tbs armory, $Il 900;
school building For the Honolulu School
for Boys, in Waialae, 10000; repairs
and alterations in Mrs. Walter Mac
farlane's home in Pensacola street,
10000, and J. H. Setback $ block in
Maunakea street, $4,000.
Work has been started on nineteen
edifces to cost $4,000 and less than
$4,000 each, while permits have been
issued for sixty-One building projects
to cost $1,000 or more but less than
| $50D0 each.
Home Building Healthy
This indicates a remarkable growth
of homes of the middle class, rs the
great bulk of these permits were for
bungalows and cottages. They 90 to
show that the city, has enioved a
healthy, steady development and that
the citizens of the middle class with
the means and the ambition to own
their homes are increasing rapidly in
number In the community.
Comparison of the building permit
figures for 1914 and 1915 disclose the
fact that in only two months of the
former period did the authorized con,
struction exceed 100000, while in the
year which ends tonight only three
months have shown building totals Of
less than that amount.
| l914-15 Are Compared
The monthly figures for the two
years follow:
1915 1914
January 49,. s 1859 $l35, 900
February =. 9l,2S3 10000