Arts District in Honolulu in Honolulu County, Hawaii — Hawaiian Island Archipelago (Pacific Ocean)

Old Police Station 1930

842 Bethel Street

— Chinatown —

Old Police Station 1930 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, Oct 2016

1. Old Police Station 1930 Marker

Inscription. In 1885, King Kalakaua's administration purchased this lot in Merchant Street to be a new courthouse and detention area. The 1886 Chinatown fire necessitated moving the police operations to this building also. The original building was demolished by the Territorial Government in 1930, and this Spanish Colonial and Art Deco style building was built using Waianae sandstone and French marble. Local architect Louis E. Davis joined other twentieth century architects in giving Hawaii architecture a more distinctive and "tropical" sense of place. During WWII, the police station and the Alien Custodian agency occupied this building. The police department vacated in 1967, while the district courts stayed until 1983.

Erected by City and County of Honolulu, State of Hawaii.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Law Enforcement • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Art Deco series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.

Location. 21° 18.579′ N, 157° 51.813′ W. Marker is in Honolulu, Hawaii, in Honolulu County. It is in the Arts District.

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It is on Bethel Street west of Merchant Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 842B Bethel St, Honolulu HI 96813, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in North America,

Polynesia,

the Pacific Ocean,

North Pacific,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Kamehameha V Post Office 1870 (within shouting distance of this marker); Hawaii Theatre 1922 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Iolani Palace (approx. 0.4 miles away); Aliiolani Hale (approx. 0.4 miles away); King Kamehameha I (approx. 0.4 miles away); Site of the First Royal Mausoleum and Crypt (approx. 0.4 miles away); Paepae Kapu o Liloa or The sacred threshold of Liloa (approx. 0.4 miles away); Capt. James Cook (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Honolulu.

Old Police Station image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, Oct 2016

2. Old Police Station

Marker is in the wall beside the door.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 71 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 16, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.