HUC Community Buildings

Community Buildings--Hakalau Upper Camp

For the resident of Hakalau Upper Camp, there was easy access to shopping, entertainment, exercise facilities, social halls or clubhouses, educational and religious facilities. Technically, Hakalau Upper Camp included everything above Mamalahoa Highway (now known as Old Mamalahoa Highway). However, since the camp map below shows some community buildings directly across from "Up Camp" and considered to be part of "Down Camp", these are also included in the pictures below.

Hakalau Store

The Old Store is Replaced

The original Hakalau Store, replaced in 1928 by the new store. The lumber from the old store was used to build the Hakalau Gym.

Honolulu Star-Bulletin, April 9, 1927, accessed via Newspapers.com

Hakalau Store on the left, Office for the Hakalau Plantation on the right. The design of the store mirrored that of the Office, built in 1927. Photo courtesy of the Lyman Museum

View of the Hakalau Bayside plantation warehouse (left), Hakalau Store (middle) and Office (right) in the 1930s. Photo from the Waichi Ouye Collection, courtesy of his family.

From 1928-1961 the "old" Hakalau Post Office was adjacent to the new Hakalau Store. It opened circa January 1928 and served the community for 33 years before being moved to the former Hakalau Theater. The building with the old Hakalau Post Office and the Hakalau Store was torn down sometime between 1967 and 1974.

Learn More about the Hakalau Post Office

The New Store Opens

Hakalau Store (Building #12), opened January 27, 1928. From the Waichi Ouye Collection.

The Honolulu Advertiser, January 24, 1928, page 7, accessed via Newspapers.com

Hakalau Gym

Hakalau Gym (Building # 34) Built 1928. According to Ken Okimoto in Exploring the Hamakua Coast: A Pictorial Guide to the Plantation Era, the gym was built with lumber taken from the old Hakalau Store, which was dismantled in 1927.

The Honolulu Advertiser, July 24, 1928, page 7, accessed via Newspapers.com

Hakalau Theater

Hakalau Theater - Built 1940. Last film shown May 31, 1960. Currently serves as Hakalau Post Office.

Honolulu Star-Bulletin, February 16, 1940, page 8, accessed via Newspapers.com

The Voice of Hakalau, Vol. 14, No. 6, June, 1960.

Ads for movies and performances in 1940 and 1946 provide a glimpse of the entertainment enjoyed by those living in Hakalau. All ads are from the Hawaii Tribune Herald, accessed via Newspapers.com.

The Hakalau Theater became the "new" Hakalau Post Office on December 3, 1961. At 600 square feet, it was nearly 3 times the size of the "old" post office adjacent to the Hakalau Store.

Learn More about the Hakalau Post Office

Pool Hall and Old Hakalau Theater

Hakalau Pool Hall (old Hakalau Theater) (Building # 36) Built 1917

Mona Ross, daughter of the Hakalau Store Manager, born in Hakalau circa 1918 and lived there until about 1935, provides insight into Hakalau society at that time:

Hakalau Personnel Office, ILWU Union Hall, Japanese Language School, Aikido Hall

This building housed different functions during different periods, including Hakalau Personnel Office/ILWU Union Hall, Japanese Language School, Aikido Hall (Building # 38) - Built 1927, Demolished late 1984 or 1985. By late 1984, the building was no longer used and was no longer fumigated for termites. Termite damage was so severe the structure was no longer safe. Per Rev. Tamura (1979-1996)