When Hawaii became the 50th state of the USA in 1959, a period of intense construction and a growing tourism industry followed. Luckily, this coincided with the most creative phase of the mid-century modern masters, who designed buildings that took full advantage of the archipelago’s unique, consistently pleasant climate. Tropical modernism is therefore one of the main focuses of this guide, which presents the architectural history of Honolulu – Hawaii’s capital city on the island of Oahu – through almost 150 buildings. The selection ranges from vernacular architecture and nineteenth-century churches right through to war memorials, iconic 1960s hotels, and recent exclusive and inclusive condominiums and apartments, concluding with evolved proposals addressing the climate and housing crisis.

Compiled by four leading experts and longtime Honolulu residents, this book is more than just a reliable travel companion. With extensive map material, a large number of archive images and color photos, in-depth essays, and extra YouTube viewing material, it also invites armchair travelers to dream of Hawaii.