Salvation Army Waiʻoli Tea Room facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Salvation Army Waiʻoli Tea Room
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Waiʻoli Tea Room
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 Waiʻoli Tea Room
Location in Hawaii
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| Location | 2950 Mānoa Road, Honolulu, Hawaii |
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| Built | 1922 |
| NRHP reference No. | 98001288 |
| Added to NRHP | October 30, 1998 |
The Salvation Army Waiʻoli Tea Room was a popular restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii. It first opened its doors in 1922 and served tasty meals until 2014. After being closed for a few years, it reopened in November 2018 as Waiʻoli Kitchen and Bake Shop.
The restaurant is located in a historic building on Oahu island. Right next to it, you can find a copy of a special grass house. A famous writer, Robert Louis Stevenson, once stayed in the original grass house. He visited Princess Ka'iulani and her father, Archibald Scott Cleghorn, at their ʻĀinahau estate in Waikiki.
History of the Tea Room
The Waiʻoli Tea Room officially opened in 1922. It was part of a program by The Salvation Army. This program helped young women learn useful job skills. The Salvation Army facility was one of many places in Hawaii that helped people in need during that time.
The idea for the Waiʻoli Tea Room came from the "high tea" traditions of people from British Columbia who lived in Hawaii. "High tea" is a special meal, often with tea, sandwiches, and pastries. Over the years, the tea room became a favorite spot for both local people and visitors.
The Historic Building
The restaurant is in a beautiful old building. It was designed by Emory & Webb, a well-known architectural firm in Honolulu. They wanted the building to fit in with the homes nearby.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 30, 1998. This means it's a very important historic site. When it was first built in 1922, it had an L-shape. Later, in 1926, another part was added, making it U-shaped. The entrance you see today was built in 1960.
Robert Louis Stevenson's Grass House
Next to the Waiʻoli Tea Room, you can see a special grass house. It's known as the Robert Louis Stevenson Memorial Grass House. This house is a copy of the original one that used to be there.
Archibald Scott Cleghorn, the father of Princess Ka'iulani, built the first grass house. It was a guest house on their ʻĀinahau estate. In 1889, Robert Louis Stevenson and his family stayed in this grass house. Stevenson and Princess Ka'iulani spent a lot of time together on the estate.
After Princess Ka'iulani passed away in 1899, her father left the estate to the Territory of Hawaii. He wanted it to be a park to remember his daughter. Today, the Princess Ka'iulani Hotel stands where the ʻĀinahau estate once was.
The original grass hut was sold in 1926 and moved to its current spot. The Salvation Army fixed it up, but it had to be completely rebuilt in 1983. Sadly, strong winds destroyed it in 2003. But don't worry, the grass house was rebuilt again and reopened in 2012!
