History
Lili`uokalani Gardens History
On April 3, 1917, through Act 53, the land for Liliʻuokalani Gardens was designated for a public park by the Legislature of the Territory of Hawaiʻi. This land is dedicated to the memory of Queen Liliʻuokalani and her enduring love of Hawaii's people. Queen Liliʻuokalani was the queen regnant and the last sovereign monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom, ruling from January 29, 1891, until the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom on January 17, 1893. She was born on September 2, 1938 and died on November 11, 1917. Although the Queen was aware of the plans for a park bearing her name, she was not able to see it completed.
Much like the modern history of Hawaiʻi itself, Liliʻuokalani Gardens is the result of a blending of cultures and traditions. Liliʻuokalani Gardens in Hilo currently is composed of four parks: Rakuen (Happiness Park), Isles, Moku Ola (Coconut Island) and the tropical Japanese landscape many old timers call Nihon Koen. The size of Lili`uokalani Gardens is 24.67 acres, with the Japanese style garden accounting for slightly more than 20 acres and Moku Ola measuring slightly more than three acres.
A Japanese garden and tea house was a dream of many Hilo residents dating back to the early 1900s. Hawai`i residents traveled to Japan, the mainland U.S. and other countries where World's Fairs and Expositions featured garden exhibits. Residential, commercial, and public Japanese gardens were built in Honolulu dating back to the first Japanese immigrants (Gannenmono in 1868). There was a surge of garden construction with the arrival of more Japanese immigrants (Kanyaku Imin in 1885 through 1924).
King David Kalakaua had two Japanese gardeners on staff at Iolani Palace, Kawamura Magochaya and Imoda Hidigiro. They built gardens for Queen Kapi`olani at a property she owned on Beretania Street and another for the King's ambassador to Japan, R.W. Irwin and his wife, on the Plains.
By the Federal Census of 1910, Japanese immigrants accounted for 43% of the population of Hawai`i, and most of that percentage lived in Hawai`i County where the majority of sugar production happened.
In Hilo, Japanese women formed a beautification committee, Hilo Fujin Shinkokai. One of their goals was a tea house and garden. Some thought placement near Mo`oheau bandstand was desired.
Meanwhile, in 1912 sugar mill manager Charles Clark Kennedy retired after 37 years building and managing Waiakea Sugar Mill. Kennedy also was president of HELCO, president of the First Bank of Hilo, and publisher of the Hilo Tribune, predecessor to the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. They had a beach home on the Waiakea peninsula that became the first Hilo Yacht Club and later the first Naniloa Hotel. They had a mountain home known as Bide-A-Wee in Volcano. In 1913, they participated in the formation of the Hawaiian Volcano Research Association.
C.C. Kennedy was president of the Hilo Board of Trade, a position that gave the couple entrée to a Honolulu businessmen’s tour of Japan in 1914 organized by S. Sheba editor of Hawaii Shinpo. The excursion group traveled from Yokohama to Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe, Miyajima, and other locations.
1914 Hawaiʻi Tour of Japan
In 1914, C.C. Kennedy and his wife Laura toured Japan with a group of business leaders and newspaper editors from Honolulu. This tour of Japan inspired Laura Kennedy to support the building of Liliʻuokalani Gardens in Hilo. The photo below was taken on this tour.
photo courtesy of Bide-A-Wee estate in Volcano Village, Hawaiʻi
Tour Passengers:
1, 2 Professor M.M. Scott and Mrs. Scott, principal of McKinley High School, former residents of Japan
3, 4 Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Kennedy of Hilo, Hilo Board of Trade
5, 6 Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Mott-Smith, Honolulu Chamber of Commerce
7 Mr. Roderick O. Matheson, editor of the Advertiser
8 Mr. Ridley H. Allen, editor of the Star Bulletin
9 Mr. George B. Isenberg, H. Hackfeld & Co.
10, 11 Rev. and Mrs. W.D. Westervelt
12 Master Andrew Westervelt
13, 14 Mr. and Mrs. H.E. Westervelt
15 Miss Mildred Westervelt of South Bend, Indiana
16 Miss Helene Westervelt of South Bend, Indiana
17 Miss Alice Summers of South Bend, Indiana
18 S. Sheba, editor of Hawaii Shinpo, Hawaii organizer for the tour
19 J.H. Makino of Yokohama, Japan organizer for the tour
(brother of Fred Makino, editor of Hawaii Hochi)
Uncertain of placement of each person in the 1914 photograph except Laura and C.C. Kennedy are in the front row, fourth and fifth from the left.
Lili`uokalani Gardens History
While there viewing The Golden Pavilion at Kyoto, Laura Kennedy "conceived the idea that the old Waiakea fish ponds could be turned into a park just as beautiful." Hilo Fujin Shinkokai (the Japanese Women's Friendship Association) under its president Mrs. Machida agreed. By March 1917, with assistance from Norman Lyman, 17 acres including the ponds were set aside for a Japanese garden. Act 53 was signed into law by Gov. Pinkham in April 1917. "Mr. C.C. Kennedy donated the first thousand dollars.”
Construction began on Lili`uokalani Gardens in November 1917. A small tsunami inundated the area in September 1918 and again in February 1923. Larger tidal waves brought destruction in April 1946 and May 1960. Significant reconstruction efforts were done in 1949 and 1964-1968. Additions were made to the park in 1933, 1972, 1976 and 2000 and now Lili`uokalani Gardens is slightly larger than 24 acres including three nearby parks.
Mrs. Kennedy was on the Hilo Park Commission and helped in efforts to beautify Hilo. She donated three big Monkey Pod trees and a row of Golden Shower trees in Mo`oheau Park "so that baseball players could in part at least avoid the hot sun."
She continued to support Lili`uokalani Gardens and the larger Hilo community throughout her life.
Throughout its 100 year history, noted landscapers from Japan have helped local garden contractors and community businesses to improve the gardens. They include: Y.K. Yamamoto (1917-1920?), Kiyoshi Takano Nakamura (1930s), Nagao Sakurai (1949 restoration), Kinsaku Nakane (1968 restoration), Kazuo Nakamura (1964 and 1976), Takuhiro Yamada (mid-2014 to present), and Hiromu Terashita (2022 suhama restoration). [partial list]
Liliʻuokalani Gardens Archives
The following maps, records, and newspaper articles document the history and creation of Liliʻuokalani Gardens, in Hilo.
Lili`uokalani Gardens moves from dream to reality. Act 53 was introduced in the Territorial Legislature in March 1917. Honolulu Star-Bulletin, March 10, 1917
Act 53 of 1917 set aside this acreage for a public park. image courtesy of Hawai`i State Archives
Act 53 set aside 17 acres at Makaoku for a public park to be known as Lili`uokalani Gardens. image courtesy of Hawai`i State Archives
Act 53 was signed into law April 3, 1917. Construction began in November 1917. courtesy of Hawai`i State Archives
November 9 1917, Hawaiʻi Tribune Herald article: Construction began on Lili`uokalani Gardens at Makaoku in November 1917.
Mrs. Machida was president of Hilo Fujin Shinko Kai, a women's frendship association devoted to beautification. They were among founding groups involved with Lili`uokalani Gardens. Hilo newspaper August 18, 1917
Mrs. Machida led Japanese women of Hilo in the creation and beautification of Liliʻuokalani Gardens, Hilo. On the way into Onekahakaha Beach Park, this lane sign is visible marking the Machida property in the area. photo courtesy of Friends
Machida Drug Store celebrated 25 years in business in 1917 with a luau that hosted 2,000 people. The Machida property was located in Keaukaha near Onekahakaha Beach Park. Hilo newspaper July 18.1917
1942 Hawai`i Tribune-Herald article: Shinto Shrine in Liliʻuokalani Park Razed By County
Map of 1945 Waiakea Town Retail Stores, displayed at the Pacific Tsunami Museum in Hilo
View of the Isemoto bridge from Lihiwai Street after the May 23, 1960 tsunami. photo by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Hilo Tribune Herald, November 28th 1967: Japanese lanterns Presented To County
Hawai`i and Japan mark the centennial of Gannenmono with gifts of stone lanterns. Hawai`i Tribune-Herald article and photo December 1967 courtesy of Carol W. Tsunezumi
A closer look at photo- Hawai`i and Japan mark the centennial of Gannenmono with gifts of stone lanterns. Hawai`i Tribune-Herald article and photo December 1967 courtesy of Carol W. Tsunezumi