Kakaako Pumping Station

The Kakaako Pumping Station is a single-story concrete and bluestone structure with green tile roofs and a prominent two-story central section. The building stretches along Ala Moana Boulevard and displays the thick stone walls and heavy detailing typical of Richardsonian Romanesque style.

The building was constructed in 1900 to power Honolulu's first professional sewage disposal system. It represented a major shift in how the city managed waste and public health infrastructure.

The building combines Hawaiian bluestone with Industrial Romanesque design, showing how early 1900s American urban planning shaped local architecture. The green tile roof and heavy stone walls reflect the construction styles that defined Honolulu during that era.

The site sits along Ala Moana Boulevard and is easily accessible from the street. You can view the building from the exterior, though interior access is limited as the building undergoes conversion into a new community facility.

The facility operated until 1955 using steam-powered pumps and pioneered the separation of stormwater from sewage. This advanced approach to wastewater management was ahead of its time in addressing environmental concerns.