Kaimukī, Hawaii

Kaimukī is a residential neighborhood of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States.

History

In the 19th century, the area was a farm of King Kalākaua, where ostriches roamed wild over the mountain side. It later became the site of a carnation farm for funeral flowers. Now a mix of residential area with a small business district, it is located in the urbanized Honolulu region near Kahala and Diamond Head.
Kaimukī is an ancient Hawaiian name. Its name comes from Ka imu kī meaning "The ti root oven" in the Hawaiian language. The area was known for the many ovens used to bake roots of kī Cordyline fruticosa, or ti, into a sweet food similar to candy.
Kaimukī's main street is Waialae Avenue, pronounced. Several restaurants and stores are located on this street, as well as Kaimukī District Park.
Puu o Kaimukī aka “Kaimukī Hill” is the predominant feature of the area and has been a reservoir, a telegraph station, an observatory, and now a park. A metallic Christmas tree now stands on top of the hill, which is also called Menehune Hill.

Architecture

The neighborhood of Kaimukī is home to historic buildings. The Kaimuki Fire Station, designed in the Spanish Mission Style by G.R. Miller, was built in 1924 and is still used as a station today. The Queen Theater, designed by Lyman Bigelow, opened in 1936 but closed in 1985.

Education

, one of ten branches of the public University of Hawaiʻi System, is located in Kaimukī as is the private Chaminade University.
Saint Louis School for boys and Sacred Hearts Academy for girls are located in Kaimukī as well as St. Patrick School. Kaimukī Christian School is located on Koko Head Avenue.
The Hawaii Japanese School - Rainbow Gakuen, a supplementary weekend Japanese school, holds its classes in Kaimukī Middle School in Honolulu and has its offices in another building in Honolulu.

Notable residents

Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, musician and singer