Yamase Building facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Yamase Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Yamase Building
Location in Hawaii
Location	4493 Moana Rd., Waimea, Kauaʻi
Area	< 1 acre
Built	c. 1919
Architect	Murakama
NRHP reference No.	96000398
Added to NRHP	12 April 1996

The Yamase Building is a unique old building in Waimea, Kauaʻi, Hawaii. It stands at the corner of Moana Road and Kaumualiʻi Highway. It was built around 1919 by a Japanese architect named Murakama. He was known for building temples. The building was made for Seiichi Yamase, whose parents had moved to Hawaii from Japan.

Even though it's the only building of its kind in Hawaiʻi, the Yamase Building shows what many shops in rural Hawaii looked like. It also shows how much immigrants helped businesses grow there. Because it's so special, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. This list helps protect important historical places.

A Special Design

Buildings with a curved front, especially on a corner, are rare in Hawaii. Most of these buildings are made of stone or brick. But the Yamase Building is different; it's made of wood. It also has a unique roof that sticks out, called a "cantilevered" roof. This roof is a mix of Japanese styles, like a hip and gable roof.

The building has a balcony on the top floor that wraps around the curve. This balcony works like the porches, or "verandahs," found on traditional Japanese homes. The doors on the upper floor are also sliding doors with glass panes, much like Japanese shōji screens. Many small family shops in the past had balconies like this. Often, the family lived upstairs, right above their shop.

What Was Inside?

The ground floor of the Yamase Building has two sets of double doors. Each set leads to a different shop space. When it first opened, a branch of Sumitomo Bank was located there. Over the years, many different businesses have used the space. These include a shoe store, a barber shop, and a liquor store. Today, the building is home to a company that helps people get loans for homes and a place where you can buy sandwiches.

Keeping It Strong

The Yamase Building has faced some tough times. It has been damaged by floods over the years. It also suffered a lot of damage from strong winds during Hurricane Iwa in 1983 and Hurricane Iniki in 1992. But after each storm, the building was repaired. Now, it is in good condition and continues to stand as a piece of history.