The hall has been restored through the efforts of the Friends of Kalaniana'ole Hall and many other organizations and volunteers.

Kalaniana'ole Hall

Kalaniana'ole Hall was built in 1937 on a one-acre beach tract at Kalama'ula , Molokai, the first homestead land to be developed under the Hawaiian Homestead Act of 1921, initiated by Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana'ole during his tenure as a delegate to the U. S. Congress.

The hall was the center for the activities of the Ahahui Kalaniana'ole, a club formed to provide coffins and funeral services for the dead and comfort for the grieving families in their Hawaiian community. Despite the solemnity of its storage room for coffins, the 60' x 40' plantation-style wooden hall was used for many years for parties, weddings, song and hula contests, and weekend movies as well as funerals.

Over the years, the hall's condition had deteriorated; its collapsing roof, broken windows, and damaged walls and ceilings posed safety problems.

The Friends of Kalaniana'ole Hall pledged to bring it back to life through grants from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Molokai Enterprise Community, as well as help from Lokahi Pacific, USDA Rural Development, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and Halau O Kawananakoa Helu Elima, and a the work of volunteers.

Mason Architects planned the renovation and guided the repairs to the historic building, listed on the Hawaii Register of Historic Places.

Photos: MAI