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Hawaii Historical Homes
The 19th century arrival of missionaries and their knowledge of building homes gave Hawaii an entirely new way to define shelter. Many of these Hawaii historical homes are available to visit today offering free or admission for a nominal fee. Here are the most historically significant of the major Hawaiian Islands.
Wai‘oli Mission House Museum Along Kuhio Highway Hanalei HI 96766 Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 9am-3pm Phone: (808) 245-3202 Lat: 22.200765 Lon: -159.502975 Located at the foot of the 245 foot high waterfall laden Kamoo Koleaka mountain peak in Hanalei Valley on the Garden Island of Kauai, the Waioli Mission House has been sitting for over 175 years. Originally built in 1837 by Abner Wilcohandicap and loving restored in 1921 by his grand-daughter, this home and grounds still retains much of the character and charm of when it was originally built. Today a museum, visitors are welcome to join one of the guided tours to enjoy the furnishings, gardens and more.
Bailey House Museum 2375A Main Street Wailuku HI 96793 Phone: (808) 244-3326 Hours: 10am-4pm Mo-Sa, closed Sunday Admission: $7 per adult discounts for students, seniors and children Lat: 20.885771 Lon: -156.50708 Located in the heart of Wailuku, this small but significant mission house museum offers a look back into the days when missionaries came in droves to save islanders from their heathen ways. Along with guided tours of the home, the museum offers special exhibits, a valuable research archive along with special events throughout the year.
Shipman House 131 Kaiulani Street Hilo HI 96720 Phone: (808) 934-8002 Hours: call ahead for arrangements Lat: 19.724893 Lon: -155.093700 Located tucked away in a corner of sleepy Hilo Town known to locals as Reed’s Island, on the Big Island of Hawaii, this home was designed and built in 1899 by Honolulu architect Henry Livingston Kerr, who designed and built many stately home in the Manoa and Nu’uanu area on Oahu. The house is considered to be the finest example of a Queen Anne Victorian on the Big Island and only one of just a couple intact Victorians left in Hawaii. This home is operated today as a bed and breakfast by descendants of the original owner. Guests are welcome to visit, but are advised to call ahead to make arrangements.
Washington Place 320 South Beretania Street Honolulu HI 96813 Phone: (808) 586-0248 Hours: advance arrangements required Lat: 21.308618 Lon: -157.856865 The gleaming Greek revival mansion can be found in the heart of historic Honolulu wedged between Saint Andrews Cathedral and more modern government buildings under a bevy of beautiful mature and unique trees. Built, designed and constructed by Isaac Hart for trader John Dominis in1841.The home was built for the son of the trader and his future bride the last reigning monarch of Hawaii Queen Liliuokalani. In later years the house served as the official residence f the Governor of Hawaii until 2008. Today it is being maintained by the Washington Place Foundation dedicated to preservation of the history of Hawaii.
Founder & certified Hawai'i travel expert with 20+ years in Hawai'i tourism, University of South Carolina climate-research training, and NOAA weather-station experience.
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Trade winds are strong right now, with high surf hitting the south shore today. Windward areas are seeing frequent showers through the weekend.
South-facing beaches have dangerous surf today through Sunday—stay out of the water unless you're an experienced swimmer. East-facing shores will build rough water by Sunday or Monday. The bigger picture is a tropical system, Fausto, heading our way. It's weakening but should arrive near the islands by Tuesday or Wednesday as a tropical storm or weaker system, bringing strong winds, rough seas, and heavy rain. The exact track is still uncertain, so check the forecast daily.
Get your beach time and water activities in today through early next week on the leeward side, where conditions stay calmer. Be ready to shift plans by midweek when conditions turn rough.
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Windy conditions across Maui right now, with trade winds gusting strong. South-facing shores have high surf today and will see another big swell Saturday and Sunday—the water's dangerous unless you're an experienced ocean swimmer.
Through the weekend, windward areas will get frequent showers while trade winds stay gusty. The bigger picture arrives midweek: Hurricane Fausto is weakening as it moves toward the islands and should reach Maui as a tropical storm or weaker system Tuesday or Wednesday. That'll bring rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain. Track and timing are still uncertain, so check updates daily.
Hit the leeward beaches and snorkel south Maui coasts today through early next week, but stay out of windward and south-facing waters through Sunday.
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Windy conditions dominate right now with strong trade winds pushing across the island. South-facing shores have high surf today—dangerous water if you're not an experienced swimmer.
Through the weekend, those south shores see another big swell Saturday and Sunday, and east-facing shores will build dangerous conditions by Sunday or Monday. Windward areas get frequent showers. A tropical system—the remnants of Hurricane Fausto—is weakening and headed toward the islands as a tropical storm or weaker system by Tuesday or Wednesday, bringing rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain midweek. Timing and track are still uncertain, so check updates daily.
Leeward beaches on the Kona side stay your best bet today through early next week, but avoid the water on the windward and south shores through Sunday.
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Strong trade winds are pushing showers across windward areas through the weekend. On Kauaʻi, expect frequent showers on the windward side.
High surf is running on south-facing shores today and will build again Saturday and Sunday—stay out of the water unless you're an experienced swimmer. East-facing shores will also see dangerous swell by Sunday or Monday. Hurricane Fausto is weakening as it moves toward Hawaii. By Tuesday or Wednesday it should reach the islands as a tropical storm or weaker system, bringing rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain. Track and timing are still uncertain, so check updates daily through midweek.
Beach time on leeward shores works through early next week. Plan water activities for today, but be ready to shift if Fausto's track becomes clearer—conditions will deteriorate by midweek.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out