Kaimukī, Hawaii

Kaimukī (or Kaimuki) is a residential neighborhood of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States.

Aerial view of Diamond Head with Kaimukī to the upper left

History

Kaimukī from Pu'u o Kaimukī Mini Park

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 (mainly restaurants and service industries), 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.^[1] 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 /waɪəlaɪ/. Several restaurants and stores are located on this street, as well as Kaimukī District Park.^[2]

Pu‘u 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.^[3] A metallic Christmas tree now stands on top of the hill, which is also called Menehune Hill.^[4]

Architecture

The neighborhood of Kaimukī is home to historic buildings. The Kaimukī Fire Station, designed in the Spanish Mission Style by G.R. Miller, was built in 1924 and is still used as a station today.^[5] The Queen Theater, designed by Lyman Bigelow, opened in 1936 but closed in 1985.^[6]

Education

Kapiʻolani Community College, one of ten branches of the public University of Hawaiʻi System, is located in Kaimukī ^[7] as is the private Chaminade University.^[8]

Saint Louis School for boys and Sacred Hearts Academy for girls are located in Kaimukī as well as St. Patrick School (COED K-8). Kaimukī Christian School (COED P3-11) is located on Koko Head Avenue.^[9]

The Hawaii Japanese School - Rainbow Gakuen (ハワイレインボー学園 Hawai Rainbō Gakuen), a supplementary weekend Japanese school, holds its classes in Kaimukī Middle School in Honolulu and has its offices in another building in Honolulu.^[10]

Notable residents

• Israel Kamakawiwoʻole (1959–1997), musician and singer^[1]