Hart Wood (1880-1957), often referred to as the “dean of Hawaii architects,” was one of the principal drivers of an architecture that took account of Hawaii as a specific environment with a unique culture.

Wood was born in in Philadelphia and began his architecture career as a draftsman in Denver; in 1902 he moved to California. In 1911 he became a licensed architect. During World War I, architecture work was much reduced and Wood worked in a shipyard to make ends meet. Before coming to Hawaii he worked with Bernard Maybeck in Berkeley

He came to Honolulu in 1919 to begin a partnership with architect Charles Dickey whom he had known in California. Their dedication to a Hawaiian regional style produced landmark buildings such as Honolulu Hale (1928) and the Alexander and Baldwin Building (1929), both still in use today and still helping to define local architecture. The partnership dissolved in 1928 and Hart continued in a solo practice. During the depression he also designed buildings for sugar plantations.

His admiration for Asian objects and buildings influenced his designs which can be seen in the Chinese Christian Church in Honolulu, Spalding House (1925), the Gump building in Waikiki and the Board of Water Supply’s administration building. Other significant buildings designed by Wood include the First Church of Christ Scientist (1923), the bandstand in Kapiolani Park, and several Board of Water Supply pump houses which won awards.

He was one of the three founders of the Honolulu Chapter of the American Institute of Architects(1926), and the only one of its fourteen charter members to be elected a Fellow of the AIA (1948). He served as Territorial architect during World War II.

Hart died in Honolulu in 1957 at age 76.