HONOLULU SEEKS NEW NAME FOR CIVIC CENTRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17881, 24 June 1926, Page 8

HONOLULU SEEKS NEW NAME FOR CIVIC CENTRE.

WANTS MORE ROMANTIC TITLE FOR ITS SQUARE. (Special to the “Star.”) HONOLULU. June 1. Because the name “ Civic Centre ” smacked too much of the mainland city style, Honolulu is advocating a more romantic title for its municipal locality. “ Palace Square ” is the most favoured. “ Palace Square ” is derived from the fact that the centre of the locality is occupied by Tolani Palace, wherein royaiity of Hawaii held sway before annexation of Hawaii to the United States. The palace is now territorial government headquarters. Opposite the palace stands the statue of Kamehameha the Great, first monarch of all Hawaii. A touch of human interest is added to the square, for early every morning the “ statue worshipper, ” an elderly resident of Honolulu, is seen pacing in front of the monument waiting for Kamehameha to step from his pedestal and take control of the islands again. The “ statue worshipper ” has kept this vigil for many* Behind the Kamehameha statue is the judiciary building, formerly the “House of Chiefs,” now- occupied by the various courts of Hawaii. Near this structure is the new federal building, a new business block under construction, and the new territorial building nearing completion. Other buildings of the square include the newnational guard armoury-; the old quartermaster’s depot, now a service chib headquarters; Carnegie library; Kaw aiahao Church. “ The Westminster of Hawaii; Mission Memorial Ilall, a civic auditorium; and the first frame building to be erected in Hawaii, a simple residence erected by' an early' missionary, who had to obtain permission from the Hawaiian King to reside there, for at the time it was considered a better abode than the King’s residence. The palace grounds, which include species of practically every tree and flower of Hawaii, foremost of which is an immense banyan, under which royalty entertained visiting nobility and diplomats, adds colour to the square, and gives it the appearance of a large garden.