7. Wooden Pavilion Bridge

Perhaps the most iconic view of Liliʻuokalani Gardens in Hilo, this brightly colored wooden pavilion bridge arches over Waihonu.

The original bridge was constructed in Kyoto, taken apart, and shipped to Hilo. Put together without nails, the original utilized Japanese joinery techniques. That original bridge was destroyed by the 1946 tsunami. Then the reconstructed bridge was demolished by the 1960 tsunami. The bridge has been rebuilt using Western carpentry methods (nails) while maintaining a similar design. The wooden bridge has been several colors in its lifetime: green, brown, tan, red, and now vermillion which is a color recommended by a garden designer from Kyoto. Missing carpentry elements were restored in 2019 using 1930s and 1940s photographs to guide design decisions.