Historical Central Fire Station, Honolulu

Honolulu didn't have a formal system for fire protection until November 6, 1850. On that day, the city established its first volunteer fire brigade. Later, on December 27, 1850, King Kamehameha III officially formed the Honolulu Volunteer Fire Department through an ordinance.

In August 1851, Honolulu bought a second-hand fire engine through public funding, marking the start of Engine Company No. 1. Within a decade, the city had expanded to four engine companies. Notably, Engine Company No. 4 was entirely made up of Hawaiians and had the active participation of Kings Kamehameha III, IV, V, and Kalakaua.

By 1870, the highest structure in Honolulu was the bell tower of the Central Fire Station on Union Street. Lookouts in the tower would alert the city in case of fire.

In 1897, the Central Fire Station moved to Beretania and Fort Streets, merging Engine Companies 1 and 2. This station was known for its efficiency and served as both a functional and aesthetic addition to the city.

However, the Central Fire Station became outdated and was replaced in 1934 with a new building designed by Dickey in the Moderne/Art Deco style. This reinforced concrete building was engineered by Kohn M Young. It featured distinctive Art Deco aluminum doorways and decorative elements, including aluminum panels and a set of windows. It also had a unique tower and a decorative belt course with an octagonal HFD motif.

In 1949, an additional one-story structure was added for extra office space. The northwest side of the building showcased a balcony with Deco designs and a set of windows supported by rectangular pillars.