Hosoi Garden Mortuary

Hosoi Garden Mortuary was founded in 1900 to serve the Japanese and Asian communities of Honolulu. Originally located on North Kukui Street, it adopted its namesake from Foster Gardens. In the late 1950s, a newer and more modern facility was built on Nuuanu Avenue, at the edge of Chinatown and downtown Honolulu, to better serve the greater multi-ethnic needs of Oahu.

In 2010, Ferraro Choi was retained for the design of the new parking structure, Phase 1 of the long range master plan for redevelopment of the Hosoi Garden Mortuary site. The 3-level garage features decorative architectural and structural pre-cast concrete. A micro-pile foundation was selected to address poor soil conditions, decrease construction time, and minimize the impact of construction noise on mortuary operations.

Design strategies included the use of aluminum slats and tubes to provide decorative planes and enclose the stairwells. The use of decorative stainless steel mesh for security complemented the architectural design without sacrificing function. The elevator and stair tower feature architectural metal grillwork and are enhanced by accent lighting to promote wayfinding.