YWCA renovations honor architect's original design

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Staff Writer

The architect of the Richards Street YWCA went on to design buildings for William Randolph Hearst. The YWCA is celebrating its 75th anniversary with an open house today. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser Open house 11 a.m.-7 p.m. today Laniakea YWCA, 1040 Richards St. Entertainment, a special Jamaican-themed lunch at Cafe Laniakea, fitness demonstrations and guided tours throughout the new health and fitness center, Mermaids Hawaii synchronized swimming at 6-7 p.m. in the pool. Also: Free fitness assessments, aerobics classes and swim coaching, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 538-7061, ext. 216

"For anybody who has seen or used the facility over the years, they are going to see some dramatic improvements," said Cheryl Kauhane, president and chief executive of the YWCA of O'ahu. "There will be some brand-new facilities, and some old features that no one has seen in a long time."

Today's event celebrates the 75th anniversary of the original building, the opening of a new $1 million health and fitness center, and dozens of other improvements at Laniakea. In addition to the fitness area, there will be new restrooms, a family changing room, and a front desk and administrative center that will make working out easier than ever.

Of course, the refurbishing brought in thoroughly modern plumbing, electricity and air conditioning, but it also included work that helped recover some of the original architectural features that had been hidden by decades of "improvement."

High ceilings once covered by drop panels have been restored. Large rooms that were subdivided again and again are being returned to their original dimensions. Architectural details, such as arches that had been concreted over, have been returned to their original splendor. There's even a new skylight in the fitness center that adds to Morgan's original open-air design.

Thousands of O'ahu residents remember the Laniakea YWCA on Richards Street as the place they first learned to swim, took a pottery class, attended dances or social events, or took time out from downtown jobs for exercise. Over the years, that kind of use took its toll on the building, which is still considered one of the classic works of Hawai'i architecture.

Officials raised almost $8 million for improvements, which include more convenient shower facilities, Kauhane said. Some of the money is being used for improvements at other YWCA facilities around the island.

"We really tried to go for functionality, to make everything more convenient," she said. "But we made sure we did it in tune with the historic background of the building."

Morgan, dubbed one of the top 100 women of the 20th century by Women.com, was an architect ahead of her time. Born in 1872, she was the first woman to graduate from the College of Engineering at the University of California-Berkeley and went on to study at the Ecole de Beaux Arts in Paris.

By the time she was picked for the Honolulu job in the mid-1920s, her practice was thriving, and she created a masterpiece at the YWCA, with its open courtyards and outdoor pool balanced by fine details and delicate wrought-iron grillwork that still enchant regular users and tourists alike.

The restoration work strived to bring back more of the 1920s feel, which still can be seen in original millwork, furniture, moldings and other details throughout the building, Kauhane said.

Morgan, who went on to spend years designing William Randolph Hearst's ever-expanding castle at San Simeon, Calif., was justifiably proud of the YWCA building, saying it was "unusually frank and sincere architecturally. There is practically no false work."

Kauhane said there's more work to be done, including building a new bathroom facility on the second floor, refurbishing the large gymnasium, and creating a 300-seat hall that will be used as a youth leadership center. That work is awaiting an additional $2 million fund-raising campaign.

Starting today, however, you can see much of the building as it was originally meant to look and feel.