S. Hata Building facts for kids

S. Hata Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Built for Hata Sadanosuke
Location in Hawaii
Location	308 Kamehameha Avenue, Hilo, Hawaii
Built	1912
Architect	William C. Furer
Architectural style	Early Commercial
NRHP reference No.	91001087
Added to NRHP	August 27, 1991

The S. Hata Building is a special old building in Hilo, Hawaii. It was built in 1912 by a Japanese businessman named Hata Sadanosuke. Today, you can find cool shops, offices, and a restaurant inside.

The S. Hata Building: A Historic Landmark

The Hata Family Story

Sadanosuke's Journey to Hawaii

Hata Sadanosuke was born in Hiroshima, Japan in 1868. He moved to Honolulu, Hawaii in 1891. In 1893, he worked for a company called Odo Shoten. "Shoten" means "store" in Japanese. His job was to take orders from big sugarcane farms on the Hāmākua Coast. Many Japanese people worked on these farms.

Growing the Business

Seeing the need, Sadanosuke decided to start his own business. On January 3, 1896, he opened S. Hata Shoten, Limited, in Hilo on the Big Island. He sold Japanese silks, kimonos, souvenirs, and food. At first, business was slow. So, he even used his horse and carriage as a taxi!

After Hawaii became part of the United States in 1898, the sugar farms grew. Sadanosuke's business also grew a lot. He moved to a bigger building. He even opened branches in Honolulu and cities in Japan like Hiroshima and Kyoto.

Sadanosuke's younger brother, Hata Yoichi, was born in 1884. He also came to Hilo and worked as a bookkeeper for S. Hata Shoten. By 1912, the business was so successful it needed even more space. The old building became a food warehouse run by Yoichi. Sadanosuke then planned a brand new building. It cost $25,000 and was built on land near the railroad tracks. The government required him to build a strong concrete building within a year.

Building a Strong Foundation

When the S. Hata Building was constructed, most other buildings in Hawaii were made of wood. This new building was different. It was made of strong concrete and was about 109 feet (33 m) long and 60 feet (18 m) wide. Building such a large concrete structure showed how well the Japanese community was doing.

The first floor of the building had many storefronts for shops. A wooden staircase led up to the second floor, which had offices and 14 arched windows. In 1913, Sadanosuke also opened the Hilo Sake Brewing Company. Later, in 1919, two wooden parts were added to the back of the building.

A Building That Stood Strong

During Second World War, the Hata family, like many Japanese Americans, faced challenges. In September 1942, the Hata Building was taken over by the U.S. government. Later, Sadanosuke's second daughter, Kagawa Kasujiro, bought the building back.

Because it was built so strongly, the S. Hata Building survived a huge tsunami on April 1, 1946. This tsunami caused a lot of damage in Hilo. The train tracks near the building were destroyed. Now, the building is on the main street closest to the ocean. The old railroad path is now a highway called the Waterfront Highway.

The building is 18,650-square-foot (1,733 m²) in size. It used to have a full basement, but that was filled in after another big tsunami in 1960. By 1990, the building was in poor condition and was almost torn down.

A New Life for the Building

David Levenson bought the building from the Hata family. He fixed up the inside and made the outside look new again. He then rented it out to many local businesses. The metal cover between the two floors was replaced, but the old metal decorations were kept. The building is located at 308 Kamehameha Avenue.

The Hilo Farmers Market started nearby in 1988. It's held every Wednesday and Saturday. The S. Hata Building became a state historic site on January 14, 1989. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places listings on the island of Hawaii on August 27, 1991. In 1999, the Hata family started a charity called the Sadanosuke Hata Charitable Foundation. It helps the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii in Honolulu. In 2003, the building was sold to the Takeyama family.

Yoichi Hata and the Family Business

Yoichi Hata married Naeko Hirata in 1905. They had many children. Yoichi became a director of the new Peoples Bank of Hilo in 1916.

The Y. Hata company became its own separate business in 1922. Today, it is still run by a member of the Hata family! The company opened branches in Japan and Honolulu. After the 1960 tsunami, their old warehouse was left behind. They moved their offices to new areas in Hilo and Honolulu.

Today, Y. Hata company not only delivers food to stores across Hawaii, but also provides supplies and services to restaurants. They are also a major supplier to the U.S. military in Hawaii. Yoichi's son Minoru was in charge for many years. Later, his son Frank was chairman, and now Frank's son, Russell Hata, leads the company.

Discovering Ocean Wonders: Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

An exhibit at the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center.

The Mokupāpapa Discovery Center used to be in the S. Hata Building. It has now moved to the historic Koehnen Building down the street.

This center opened in May 2003. It has fun, interactive exhibits that teach you about the Leeward Islands. These islands and the waters around them are protected as the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The name Mokupāpapa comes from the Hawaiian language and means "flat/low reef island." This name was used in old Hawaiian chants.

Inside the center, there's a 3,500-US-gallon (13,000 L) saltwater aquarium. It shows some of the amazing fish found on Hawaiian reefs. One whole wall has a huge painting by local artist Layne Luna. It shows the beautiful coral reefs of the islands. Layne Luna also made life-sized models of sharks, fish, and manta rays that hang from the ceiling! Another exhibit plays a recording of the Hawaiian creation chant called Kumulipo. All the signs are in both the Hawaiian language and English.

It's free to visit the center, but donations are welcome. These donations help support all the National Marine Sanctuaries. The center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 AM to 4 PM. It is closed on Federal holidays.