National Register of Historic Places listings in Hawaii

The National Register of Historic Places is the official federal list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture. In Hawaii, listings are administered by the Hawaii State Historic Preservation Division, which nominates properties to the Keeper of the National Register. Properties must meet at least one of four criteria: association with significant events or persons, distinctive design or construction, or potential to yield important information about prehistory or history.¹

Hawaii's listings include a wide range of property types: heiau (temples), fishponds, royal palaces, plantation camps, lighthouses, and even a submarine. The first listings were made in 1966, the year the National Historic Preservation Act was passed, and included ʻIolani Palace and the USS Arizona Memorial.²

On Oahu, the most populous island, listings include ʻIolani Palace, the only royal palace in the United States, and the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, which commemorates the 1941 attack. Also listed are the Queen Emma Summer Palace and the Honolulu Chinatown Historic District.

On Hawaii Island, the Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site is a massive stone temple built by King Kamehameha I. The island also has the historic Kailua-Kona town and the Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, a place of refuge. Maui features the Lahaina Historic District, once the capital of the kingdom, and the ʻĪao Valley. Kauai has the Waioli Mission House and the Hanalei Pier. Molokai and Lanai have fewer listings but include the Kalaupapa Leprosy Settlement and the Lanai City Historic District.³

Many listings are pre-contact Hawaiian archaeological sites, such as heiau (temples) and fishponds. These are often associated with traditional Hawaiian religious practices and are considered sacred by Native Hawaiians. For example, the Moʻokini Heiau on Hawaii Island is a large lava-rock temple dating to the 12th century, and the ʻĀleʻaleʻa Heiau on Oahu is a smaller but well-preserved site. Fishponds, such as the ʻUkoʻa Fishpond on Molokai, demonstrate sophisticated aquaculture techniques.⁴

These sites are often managed in partnership with the National Park Service and the state, and some are listed as National Historic Landmarks. The preservation of these sites is crucial for understanding Hawaiian history and culture, and they are often subject to strict protection measures.

Hawaii's strategic location has left a significant military footprint. The USS Arizona Memorial, the USS Utah Memorial, and the Battleship Missouri are all associated with Pearl Harbor. Other listings include Fort DeRussy, a coastal artillery battery, and the Hickam Field Historic District, which played a key role in World War II. The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, located in Punchbowl Crater, is also listed.⁵

Modern architecture is also represented, such as the Hawaiian Village Hotel (now the Hilton Hawaiian Village) and the IBM Building in Honolulu, designed by Vladimir Ossipoff. These reflect the development of tourism and mid-century modern design in the islands.

Beyond the well-known landmarks, the NRHP includes many obscure but fascinating sites. For instance, the Kaniakapupu Ruins on Oahu are the remains of King Kamehameha III's summer palace. The Mokuʻula site in Lahaina was once a sacred island and royal residence, now buried under a parking lot. The ʻEwa Historic District includes plantation-era housing and a sugar mill. The Kalaupapa Leprosy Settlement on Molokai is a National Historical Park that preserves the history of forced isolation of leprosy patients.⁶

Some listings are unusual, such as the USS Bowfin, a World War II submarine, and the Falls of Clyde, a 19th-century sailing ship. Others are natural features, like the Kīlauea Point Lighthouse and the Diamond Head Crater, which is listed for its military history as a coastal defense site.

Heiau

A Hawaiian temple or sacred site, often used for religious ceremonies.

National Historic Landmark

A property recognized by the U.S. government as having exceptional national significance.

Historic district

A group of buildings, structures, or sites that are historically or architecturally significant.