Join us for a Docophoto of the Pearl City Public Library on Saturday, May 11th at 10am. Docophotos are our opportunity to document, photograph, and tour mid century modern buildings in Hawaii that are either of note, or in threat to alteration. Docophoto events are free to all.

More on the Pearl City Public Library:

Ground breaking for the Pearl City Library occurred in August 1968 and the building was formally dedicated on November 15, 1969.  As the fourteenth, and final, new library building constructed on Oahu during the 1960s, the Pearl City Library culminated a decade of steady expansion of the State library system.  In addition, it was planned and constructed at a time when a re-organization of Hawaii’s library system was underway.  In 1967, the Board of Education implemented the concept of establishing regional libraries, which were to serve as intermediaries to augment the resources of the community libraries, with Kaimuki to be the regional library for east Oahu, Kaneohe for windward Oahu and Pearl City for west Oahu.  These regional centers were well supplied with multimedia equipment and reference materials, and supported bookmobile services to more rural areas.  In addition, they held larger book collections upon which the community branch libraries could draw.  Of the three regional libraries, Pearl City was the largest and the only one housed in a building specifically designed to be a regional center.  Its territory ran from Pearl City to Kaena Point and from Pearl City to Pupukea.  Community libraries under its purview included Waipahu, Waianae, Wahiawa and Waialua.  In addition, Ewa Beach and its proposed community-school library fell within Pearl City’s region.

The building was the largest branch library in the State system, and was equipped with the latest audio-visual equipment and resources.  As was the norm by 1969, the library was air conditioned, and its meeting room had a 180 person capacity.  In addition, the library featured separate children and adult reading rooms, with the circulation desk centralized in order to manage both areas, as well as the two entry lobbies.  Offices for both the regional librarian and the branch librarian were also provided, as well as a garage for the two bookmobiles which operated from the library, covering a 35 square mile area. In 1987 a 5,000 square foot addition greatly expanded the adult reading room, and the public restrooms were remodeled.  

The architect for the library and its addition was Honolulu architect Arthur Kohara (1927-2016).  The son of architect Charles Kohara, he was born and raised in Honolulu and graduated from McKinley High School in 1945.  After serving in the armed services in occupied Japan, he graduated from the University of Oklahoma’s School of Architecture, having studied under Bruce Goff.  Goff is recognized as one of the foremost twentieth century architects in the United States, and is known for his highly original designs.  He was one of the few American architects who Frank Lloyd Wright considered to be “creative.”   After remaining several years at the University of Oklahoma as an assistant professor, Kohara returned to Hawaii in 1960 and in the following year opened his own office, which he operated until his retirement in 2004.  Besides the Pearl City Regional Public Library, he also designed the Wahiawa Public Library, Hongwanji temples in Kona on the island of Hawaii, Kahului on Maui, and Kapaa and Lihue on Kauai, plus the Buddhist Study Center in Manoa.  In addition he handled many residential and commercial commissions.  

Kohara was one of four architects in Hawaii who obtained his training under Goff.  The others were Edward Aotani, Shuzu Oka, and Robert Matsushita.  In addition to Kohara, both Aotani and Matsushita also designed buildings for the Hawaii State Library, with Aotani doing the Aina Haina Public Library and Matsushita doing both the Waianae and McCully-Moiliili libraries.

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