Hawaii’s style of architecture is a compendium of different architectural styles that are either native to the Islands or brought in my various incomers. The rich culture and range of input reflect the range of contributing styles. Today’s Hawaii has everything from the simplest of structures to the most elaborate, and everything in between. The Beginnings Early Hawaiian buildings were typical of the Polynesian hales, or grass houses, which also contained ridgepoles, purlins, and rafters to give it structure. These are considered to be the earliest form of Hawaiian architecture. The thatching material (usually grass) was attached to purlins with more thatching at the ridgepoles, braided with layers to keep the elements out. There were no nails, so the thatch tied with coconut husk … [Read more...] about Brief History of Hawaiian Architecture