Yokohama Specie Bank, Honolulu

The Yokohama Specie Bank was founded in Yokohama, Japan, back in 1880. This bank played a significant part in Japanese trade with the rest of the world, particularly China. It was also the first successful Japanese bank in Hawaii.

The building that housed the Honolulu branch of the Yokohama Specie Bank was designed in 1909 by Henry Livingston Kerr. This branch of the bank was originally intended for Japanese people living in Hawaii at the turn of the century. Needless to say, this caused some problems after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the U.S. Army seized the bank as a result. For the remainder of the war, the building was used as a military police station. For years, customers of the bank were unable to retrieve their money. This continued until 1960, when litigation forced the funds to be released to their rightful owners.

The building is two stories tall, and constructed of brick and steel. The corner arch is terra cotta-clad, and the windows and doors are adorned with copper casings. Inside, the building features Carrera glass wainscoting, marble trim on the windows and stairs, and painting by artist William Wiley. One notable feature of the building is that it has an L-shape, with separate reception areas for Japanese, Chinese, and other customers.