A City Walled Off By Topography
Natural Centrality
The centrality of Honolulu has changed slightly over time. When the city was founded in the mid 19th century during the Hawaiian Kingdom the center was the natural spring in Waikiki. This fresh water source on an isolated island was crucial in sustaining the life and development of the early settlement. As the sanitation and transportation infrastructure improved around the turn of the century (also at the same time of American annexation) the center of the city reflected a more commercial focus. As a result, the central business district migrated westwards towards the commercial driving force of the city, Honolulu and Pearl harbors. With a burgeoning sugar cane and later pineapple trade, this new center became home to the state ‘capital district’ included Lolani Palace (1879), Honolulu Hale (1928), and the Hawaii State Capital (1954-1969) (It should be noted that though not completed until 1969, the Hawaii state capital building began construction in 1954, five years before Hawaii achieved statehood), and a growing financial district.
Suburbs in the Hills
The story of decentralization in Honolulu is not akin to most sprawling American cities. Not to say that suburban sprawl has not become a paralyzing issue for the city’s transportation and utility infrastructures, but the centrality of the economic bases of tourism, manufacturing, trade, and technology have remained in the city basin south and west of Oahu’s massive volcanic ridges and valleys. The fact that decentralization of industry has not occurred while the population of the city and island has continued grow, and the there has not been an investment in necessary transportation infrastructure was contributed exponentially to the congestion experienced on the H-1, Honolulu’s only major federally funded transportation corridors.