Right in front of you, the Volcano Block Building stands tall and proud with its striking cream facade, red accents, and three grand arched windows looking out over Waianuenue Avenue-just watch for the sign that says “1914 VOLCANO BLOCK” at the top.
Alright, let’s set the clock back to a Hilo that’s in the middle of an epic growth spurt. In 1914, while most buildings were still cozy single-purpose wooden shops, this grand two-story structure burst onto the scene like a fashion-forward friend at a family reunion! Reinforced concrete in elegant Italian Renaissance style, it became Hilo’s modern marvel-its very first commercial building to host several businesses under one roof. Imagine, bustling entrepreneurs, fresh paint, and maybe the odd horse looking over from the old Volcano Stables, which once stood right where you’re standing.
Step inside (well, in your mind for now), and you’d once find separate retail shops, each with its own entrance, while upstairs, busy office workers haggled away as ocean breezes drifted through open windows. For extra drama, the ground floor even had a bank vault. The People’s Bank of Hilo set up shop here in 1916-perhaps thinking their new fireproof home would bring fortune. But by 1922, a “bank disaster” swept through town and the vault grew quiet, as the Peoples Bank closed its doors. Rumor has it, Hawaii’s powerful “big five” sugar and banking families may have had a hand in their troubles. Drama, intrigue, and a bit of sugar dust!
As decades passed, the building saw new tenants-from C. Brewer & Co. moving in, to the Hilo Chamber of Commerce settling upstairs, to a mattress company calling it home. It’s been a silent witness to Hilo’s fortunes, always adapting-proof you should never underestimate a building with good bones and a touch of old-school Italian style. And don’t worry, that roof is definitely volcano-proof!
