YWCA Building (Honolulu, Hawaii) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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YWCA Building
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Front elevation, Richards St.
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 Location in Hawaii
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| Location | 1040 Richards St., Honolulu, Hawaii, USA |
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| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Julia Morgan |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts Mediterranean Revival |
| Part of | Hawaii Capital Historic District |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001020 |
| Added to NRHP | 1 December 1978 |
The YWCA Building at 1040 Richards Street in Honolulu, Hawaii is a special place. Many people call it the Richards Street Y. Its official Hawaiian name is Laniākea, which means 'open skies' or 'wide horizons'.
A famous architect named Julia Morgan designed this building. She was from San Francisco and thought this was one of her favorite projects. The building has two main parts connected by a cool, open walkway called a loggia. The main part faces Richards Street and is three stories tall. The second part is behind it and has two stories with a large basement.
Contents
A Look Inside the YWCA Building
Fun Features and Spaces
Between the two buildings, on the mountain side (mauka), there is a big swimming pool. It is 31 by 61 feet, perfect for swimming and splashing! On the ocean side (makai) of the loggia, there is a courtyard. This outdoor space is great for parties and eating meals.
You can enter the back building from the loggia. This leads right into the Elizabeth Fuller Memorial Hall. Elizabeth Fuller was one of the first members of the Hawaiian Girls Club at the YWCA. She was also one of the oldest members of the whole organization. When she passed away, the club raised $1,000 to honor her. The YWCA then named the hall after her.
At the ocean end of the back building, you will find a restaurant. It is called Cafe Julia, named after the amazing architect, Julia Morgan.
The Story of the YWCA Building
How the YWCA Started in Honolulu
The YWCA O'ahu group began in 1900. For many years, they used different buildings. But they dreamed of having their own special place.
Building a Dream: Fundraising and Design
In February 1925, the YWCA started raising money for a new building. They planned a ten-day campaign to collect $350,000. Guess what? They reached their goal in just one week! They even had $1,350 extra.
Work on the new building started in March 1926. The YWCA bought the land for it in 1924. It was part of the Laniakea Tract on Richards Street.
The women of the YWCA sent their general secretary, Grace Channon, to the mainland. Her job was to find the perfect architect for their project. They chose Julia Morgan, who was one of America's first and best female architects. Julia Morgan also designed the famous Hearst Castle for William Randolph Hearst. The YWCA wanted a building that would fit in well and not look out of place. They also hired Catherine Jones Richards to design the beautiful gardens around the building.
Opening and Recognition
The YWCA Building officially opened in 1927. Years later, in 1978, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site. It is part of the Hawaii Capital Historic District.
Julia Morgan was the first woman to graduate from the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, a very famous art and architecture school. At the same time she was designing the YWCA, she was also working on restoring Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California. She used strong, modern concrete for the building's structure. But she also added traditional Mediterranean design elements. These included arches, open walkways (loggias), balconies, and decorative metalwork (grilles). This mix created a unique building that was perfect for the Hawaiian climate. It also fit in with the growing Hawaiian architectural style.
Gallery
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Front entrance
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Front lounge
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Courtyard
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Poolside wall
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Loggia above pool
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Stairwell
- Sandler, Rob, Julie Mehta, and Frank S. Haines (2008). Architecture in Hawai‘i: A Chronological Survey, new edition. Honolulu: Mutual Publishing. ISBN: 978-1-56647-873-1
