Walker Estate
Encyclopedia
The H. Alexander Walker Residence or Walker Estate is a historic home located in the upper Nuuanu Valley of Honolulu, Hawaii
.
of Hackfield and Company, a naturalised German immigrant. Originally the estate comprised a two-story home with a series of garden
s featuring ferns, rocks and orchard
s, sometimes called the oldest formal Japanese garden
in Honolulu.
Rodiek served as German consul as well as president of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association
. In 1917, he was accused of involvement in the Hindu German Conspiracy
to foment revolution in India
. Though subsequently given a presidential pardon, he sold the house to Alan Wilcox in 1918 and moved with his family to San Francisco, never to return. In the 1930s the house was owned by Henry Alexander Walker, president of American Factors, the successor firm to Hackfeld and Company, and another president of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association.
On April 24, 1973, the house was added as site 73000665 to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Oahu
and listed as a "valuable historic property" by Hawaii Historic Places. Una Walker, Henry's widow, maintained the premises by making the grounds available for weddings and visitors. The gardens were closed to the public in 1983. In 1989, two years after Una's death, the house and its 5.86 acres (23,714.6 m²) grounds were sold by the Walker heirs to Masao Nangaku of Minami Group (USA) Inc. for $8.5 million. His intention was to restore the original house to be used as a corporate retreat. He renovated the house and received a Preservation Honor Award from the Historic Hawaii Foundation, as well as a Grand Award in the Building Industry of America's Renaissance competition.
After Nangaku experienced financial problems, Richard Fried and partners took the property over and, in 1998, asked for planning permission to build a chapel
to facilitate weddings on the site. When this was refused, the estate was sold to Holy-eye the same day for $5 million. In 2005, Holy-Eye listed the estate for sale, asking $12.9 million.
In June 2006, the property was sold to real-estate developer TR Partners who planned to demolish the building.
Initial plans to subdivide and build 20 new homes were rejected.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
.
History
The house was built in 1903 by George RodiekGeorge Rodiek
George Rodiek was one of the defendants in the Hindu German Conspiracy Trial, in San Francisco, 1918.A former Bremen tobacco clerk, Rodiek migrated to Hawaii and took up a position with Hackfeld & Co in 1891. He became a naturalised United States citizen. In 1896 opened the Hilo branch of the...
of Hackfield and Company, a naturalised German immigrant. Originally the estate comprised a two-story home with a series of garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
s featuring ferns, rocks and orchard
Orchard
An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive...
s, sometimes called the oldest formal Japanese garden
Japanese garden
, that is, gardens in traditional Japanese style, can be found at private homes, in neighborhood or city parks, and at historical landmarks such as Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and old castles....
in Honolulu.
Rodiek served as German consul as well as president of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association
Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association
Founded in 1895, the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association was an unincorporated, voluntary organization of sugar plantation owners in the Hawaiian Islands. Its objective was to promote the mutual benefits of its members and the development of the sugar industry in the islands. It conducted...
. In 1917, he was accused of involvement in the Hindu German Conspiracy
Hindu German Conspiracy Trial
The Hindu–German Conspiracy Trial commenced in the District Court in San Francisco, California on November 12, 1917 following the uncovering of the Indo German plot for initiating a revolt in India...
to foment revolution in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Though subsequently given a presidential pardon, he sold the house to Alan Wilcox in 1918 and moved with his family to San Francisco, never to return. In the 1930s the house was owned by Henry Alexander Walker, president of American Factors, the successor firm to Hackfeld and Company, and another president of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association.
On April 24, 1973, the house was added as site 73000665 to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Oahu
National Register of Historic Places listings in Oahu
This is a list of properties and districts on the Hawaiian island of Oahu that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Oahu is the only major island in Honolulu County. The location of the city of Honolulu, Oahu is the most populous island in the state. There are 149 properties and...
and listed as a "valuable historic property" by Hawaii Historic Places. Una Walker, Henry's widow, maintained the premises by making the grounds available for weddings and visitors. The gardens were closed to the public in 1983. In 1989, two years after Una's death, the house and its 5.86 acres (23,714.6 m²) grounds were sold by the Walker heirs to Masao Nangaku of Minami Group (USA) Inc. for $8.5 million. His intention was to restore the original house to be used as a corporate retreat. He renovated the house and received a Preservation Honor Award from the Historic Hawaii Foundation, as well as a Grand Award in the Building Industry of America's Renaissance competition.
After Nangaku experienced financial problems, Richard Fried and partners took the property over and, in 1998, asked for planning permission to build a chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
to facilitate weddings on the site. When this was refused, the estate was sold to Holy-eye the same day for $5 million. In 2005, Holy-Eye listed the estate for sale, asking $12.9 million.
In June 2006, the property was sold to real-estate developer TR Partners who planned to demolish the building.
Initial plans to subdivide and build 20 new homes were rejected.