S. Hata Building

[3] This gave him the inspiration to start his own business at Hilo on the Big Island on January 3, 1896 called S. Hata Shoten, Limited.

Sadanosuke planned a new $25,000 structure on wetlands on Front Street (later renamed Kamehameha Avenue) near the railroad tracks to the plantations.

The train tracks of the Hawaii Consolidated Railway were destroyed in that tsunami, so the building now is on the commercial street nearest the ocean.

[10] The path of the railroad was used for the new Hawaii Belt Road (state route 19), called the Waterfront Highway at this point.

David Levenson bought the property from Hata's descendants, renovated the interior while restoring the exterior, and rented it to a number of local businesses.

The Hilo Farmers Market was started on this block in 1988, held every Wednesday and Saturday at the end of Mamo Street.

[1] The family formed the Sadanosuke Hata Charitable Foundation in 1999 which supports the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii in Honolulu.

After the 1960 tsunami, the original wholesale building on Ponahawai Street was abandoned, and offices were moved to a new industrial area, 300 Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo, and 285 Sand Island Road in Honolulu.

[20] It displays educational interactive exhibits on the Leeward Islands, which are protected along with their surrounding waters as the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

This name was used in chants of Ancient Hawaii, perhaps referring to the area now known as French Frigate Shoals, or the northwestern islands in general.

One entire wall is covered by a large mural painted by local artist Layne Luna depicting the coral reef ecosystems found in the leeward islands.

Layne Luna also created several life-sized models of life sized sharks, fish and manta ray that hang from the ceiling.