Beneath this low-pitched tile roof lies a story of ambition, legacy and a family’s profound impact on Honolulu. We are standing before the Dillingham Transportation Building. It is a monument to the Dillingham family’s vast influence in Hawaii. It also shows the significance of sugar to the islands.
Built in 1929, the Dillingham Transportation Building is an important landmark. It demonstrates the growing commercial development of Honolulu. It also signifies the Dillingham family empire and their businesses connected to Hawaii’s sugar industry.
Walter F. Dillingham constructed this building as a headquarters for his family’s expanding empire. He and his father, Benjamin Franklin Dillingham, left a lasting mark on Hawaii. Their entrepreneurial endeavors included railroads, dredges, docks and sugar plantations. The family was also responsible for many of the early docks at Pearl Harbor.
Benjamin Franklin Dillingham founded the Oahu Railway and Land Company in 1889. This spurred the development of the 160-mile Oahu Railroad. The Dillingham family became heavily involved in Hawaii’s sugar industry. They developed numerous sugarcane plantations along its route and on other islands.
By the 1930s, 50000 laborers in Hawaii produced over one million tons of sugar. The Dillingham family’s wealth came from the island’s sugar trade. Most of that wealth was concentrated in the hands of those connected to trade, finance and infrastructure development.
William F. Dillingham founded the Hawaiian Dredging Company. It evolved into the Dillingham Corporation. In 1909, W.F. Dillingham constructed a dry dock at Pearl Harbor. His company then enlarged the ports of Kahului and Hilo.
Look at the building’s design. The first story features a round, arched arcade. Upper story quoins and the low-pitched tile roof convey Italian and Spanish mission revival styles. This style was very popular in Hawaii during the 1920s. The arcades provide a sense of airy openness, ideal for Hawaii’s climate. The Dillingham Transportation Building also plays an essential part in the history of the architecture located in the Bishop Street area.
Architect Lincoln Rogers designed the building in the Italian Renaissance Revival style. He also designed the Hawaii State Art Museum. The Dillingham Transportation Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
The Dillingham Transportation Building stands as a reminder of the Dillingham family’s legacy. They shaped Hawaii’s commercial and transportation landscape. It is a testament to their vision and impact on the islands. It connects us to a time when sugar was king and Honolulu was transforming into the modern city we know today.