Honokaa: Culture, Cinema and Nature on Hawaiʻi

Honokaa combines impressive architectural heritage, a lively cinema experience and nature in the surrounding area. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home for their stay can consider the town as a starting point for a variety of holiday days: cultural discoveries can be followed by a rainforest loop trail or a visit connected with regional markets and events.

Cinema and Culture in Honokaa

A prominent attraction is the Honokaʻa People’s Theatre. The theatre was built in 1930 and has 525 fixed seats. It primarily serves as a cinema and shows a mix of popular and independent films on five evenings per week. This makes it possible to round off a day of the holiday with a shared film evening, even without an extensive programme. At the same time, the building is recognised locally as an architecturally significant theatre in the Classical Revival style. It is therefore an example of theatres built in rural Hawaiʻi in the 1920s and 1930s.

The Honokaʻa Heritage Center, located in the historic Botelho Building, offers further insights into the town’s history. The M.S. Botelho Building and Garage was built in 1927 and served as the town’s USO headquarters during the Second World War. Those interested in architecture will also find several different styles: the Hasegawa Building is considered a good example of commercial wooden architecture in the regional Plantation style. The Seishiro Hasegawa Ltd. Store Building is classified as worthy of preservation under criteria A and C. The Honokaʻa Catholic Properties combine the Plantation Vernacular style with the Late Gothic Revival style of the late 19th and 20th centuries.

Religious Buildings and Local History

The religious buildings tell the story of the communities that shaped Honokaa. Since the first services in Honokaa in 1904, the Honokaʻa Hongwanji Buddhist Mission was a centre of religious and social activities for several generations of the local Japanese population. Its temple building combines architectural elements from Indian, Japanese and Western traditions. The Our Lady of Lourdes Sanctuary dates from 1926. The Honokaʻa Methodist Church was historically significant because it served the religious needs of immigrant groups in Hawaiʻi; at the same time, it is a good example of the Gothic Revival style executed in wood. The Honokaʻa Catholic Properties are also significant as a religious institution in a small town.

Nature, Markets and Events

For a change from culture to landscape, the Kalopa Nature Trail in the vicinity of Honokaa is a good option. The easy loop trail leads through a native ʻŌhiʻa rainforest.

Regional offerings can also complement your travel planning. The Hāmākua Harvest Farmers Market features local farmers, food vendors, live entertainment and educational programmes. The Honokaʻa Western Week event series has developed into a full week of activities. When looking for accommodation, the desired mix is therefore particularly important: a holiday apartment in Honokaa is a suitable search option for travellers who want to include cultural sightseeing, a nature trail, cinema and regional offerings in their plans. Those wishing to bring together different interests within the family can alternate between quieter discoveries, shared entertainment and time outdoors.

More Destinations for Travel Planning

For further orientation, you can also view Eden Roc, Kukuihaele, Fern Forest, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Fern Acres, Waimea, Kapaau and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

To the higher-level travel overview: Hawaii.