In 1923 a New York architect firm was commissioned to design a building that represented the story of the Hawaiian Islands in stone.

Elements of Chinese and Mediterranean architecture, along with the pitched roof popular in Hawai‘i, created a new Hawaiian architectural style. The architects used paving stones made from Chinese granite slabs (which in the early 1800s served as ballast in ships transporting Hawaiian sandalwood); Chinese green glazed tiles; Hawaiian lava rock from Kaimuki; and flagstones cut from aggregate stone from Molokai. In 1927 the museum opened its doors to the public.*  

In 2018, the Honolulu Museum of Art commissioned James Thomas Stone LTD to repair and restore the historic stone to its original condition. In addition to restoration, ADA compliant ramps were installed using the existing historic stone, maintaining the integrity of the architect’s original design.