| Though many modern buildings found on the islands of | | | | century, Hawaiian Romanesque became the popular |
| Hawaii closely resemble the buildings found on the | | | | architectural style. Dark basalt gave these buildings a |
| United States mainland, the historic architecture of | | | | uniquely Hawaiian appearance despite their classical |
| Hawaii is a symbol of the rich cultural traditions of the | | | | style. |
| islands. For centuries, Hawaii has been a melting pot, | | | | Hawaiian Gothic architecture, a style popular after 1910, |
| with travelers coming from other Polynesian islands as | | | | was known for being quite elaborate. For the first time, |
| well as elsewhere around the globe. The architecture | | | | stained glass was used in Hawaiian buildings. However, |
| was influenced by all of these diverse visitors, creating | | | | native Hawaiians soon decided that Gothic buildings |
| a uniquely Hawaiian style. The various styles of | | | | looked out of place in the Hawaiian environment. Art |
| buildings seen here reflect both Western and native | | | | Deco followed in the 1920s and 1930s, combining |
| styles that have come to the islands over the years, | | | | Hawaiian motifs and tropical materials with the modern |
| from early European traders and whalers to | | | | appearance of buildings then being constructed on the |
| missionaries to Polynesians sailing haphazardly from | | | | mainland. |
| other islands. | | | | Since the 1970s, the Hawaiian Plantation style has |
| The earliest known Hawaiian architecture took the | | | | been one of the more popular designs, combining |
| form of simple shacks and huts built by ancient | | | | plantation architecture with trends from California and |
| Hawaiians. The patterns in which thatched huts were | | | | elsewhere in the Western United States. With |
| assembled served to identify the profession and | | | | wide-hipped or bell-shaped roof styles, Hawaiian |
| wealth of the resident. With the arrival of missionaries | | | | Plantation buildings are instantly recognizable, and this |
| during the nineteenth centuries, the first Western-style | | | | style has been used for many new construction |
| frame houses were built in Hawaii. These buildings | | | | projects throughout the islands. |
| typically mirrored the simple architectural styles then in | | | | Today, visitors to Hawaii can experience traditional |
| use in New England, with clapboard siding and | | | | architecture from many different time periods. Much of |
| high-pitched roofs. This style soon incorporated | | | | the famous architecture in Hawaii combines several of |
| traditional Hawaiian elements and became known as | | | | the styles popular on the islands throughout history. |
| Hawaiian Mission architecture. Sometimes, coral blocks | | | | One of the most famous historic ranches in the entire |
| were even used instead of wood construction. The | | | | country, the Parker Ranch, was built in 1847 on the Big |
| Kawaiahao Church in Honolulu is one example of this | | | | Island. Since the mid-1900s, downtown Waikiki has |
| style. | | | | been home to numerous midcentury and modern |
| One of the last native Hawaiian kings, Kamehameha | | | | high-rises built next to rows of palm trees. Countless |
| V, favored Hawaiian Renaissance architecture. Many | | | | tourists also visit the Hawaii State Capitol building, |
| of the buildings built during his reign in the mid 1800s | | | | purposely built to incorporate nature and the traditional |
| were styled after historic Italian buildings and elegant | | | | architecture of Hawaii in what became known as the |
| Roman architecture. By the end of the nineteenth | | | | Hawaiian International style of the mid-1900s. |