Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-12-16
AN OPEN LETTER


To the Ladies Of the Outdoor Circle,
improving the appearance of the
city of Hcnoiulu:
The billboard fight that is now be
ing waged by the Outdoor Circle is
step TOWARDS improving the appear
ance CT the city OF Honolulu. and
credit Is due those who are back of
the movement But the elimination OF
TIE billboard is but slight matter
compared to some other matters that
the Outdoor Circle might take up. The
most important. to the mind of the
writer. Is a proper building ordinance.
Rillboards are for the most part but
temporary structures and can be elm
mated at almost any time, while per-
manent buildings can not.
That Honolulu has been lax in the
erection of buildings is generally adj
mitted Also il is generally admitted
that proper building ordinances should
be enforced. At the present time con-
siderable building Is anticipated The
Mahuka site IS to be improved, a new
federal building is TO be constructed
and some other large structures are
contemplated. Under those cendi-
tions it looks as though the passage
of proper ordinances at the present
time is imperative.
Honolulu Not Beautiful City
While il is common thing to hear
Honolulu SPOKEN of as beautiful
city, We: such is far from the truth.
Honolulu has beautiful vegetation
and beautiful enyirons; but as to the
structures that have been erected,
with a few exceptions, they are far
from a credit to their builders. Ho-
nolulu is not alone in the matter OF
having been negligent during the ear
~ upbuilding Of the city. There are
plenty of. other cities that have been
just as negligent. and like Honolulu
most cities do not awake to the fact
that they have been negligent in the
matter of building until a lot of in
eongruous structures have been al
lowed to be erected.
Opposition to Building Ordinances
Building restrictions, unless they
are passed at the inception of the city
or of the district. are never secured
without opposition. There are the
property owners who believe that they
have q right to erect whatever class
or style on building they see fit on
land they own;; others who cannot
see anything wrong with building
SO long as It will serve the purpose
for which It is constructed; and still
others that oppose any movement for
the pure love of opposition All OF
these classes no doubt exist in Homo
lulu, and they will make their pres
ence known should any move be
made No public Improvement was
ever advocated but what there ap-
peared those who got out their ham
mers and organized an anvil chorus.
Perhaps in this have m1sjudged Ho-
nolulu, and, will say that | hope !
have.
Building Ordinances
There are two distinct features, or
parts, of a properly drawn building
ordinance. That portion that con-
Germs the class of materials, manner
of construction and like matters.
These are subjects that have to be
handled by an engineer. man learn
ed in such matters as tensil strength
Of material, wind pressure, stress, etc.
..e other portion of the ordinance
has to do with the class of buildings
to be constructed in various parts Of
city and the class or style of archi-
lecture. and is matter for the gen
eral public TO decide.
Style Of Architecture Suited to
Honolulu
Honolr;u beinr situated In the
tropics demands style of architec-
ture different from that best adapted
to the temperate zones. This is true
as to both residences and business
buildings. Yet the general type OF
buildings of Honolulu do not contain
the distinctive features of the best
cello and flute with his crew on some