8 march 2018 |
Built in the early 1900s by a prominent hilo
businessman, the legendary Bide-a-Wee
estate welcomed dignitaries of the day
including Queen Lili‘uokalani. The Japanesestyle
grounds were designed by the same
Kyoto landscaper who created hilo’s famous
Lili‘uokalani Gardens in 1919.
FEaTurE
Historic estate in Volcano Village
has been lovingly restored
ucked away on 13.6 fernshrouded
acres Volcano Village,
the legendary and historic
residence “Bide-A-Wee” beckons
guests to “stay a while.” And
that’s exactly what Hilo businessman Charles
Clark Kennedy intended when he built his
idyllic summer home in the early 1900s.
Stately lava-rock columns stand sentry at the
entrance of the gated property, echoing the
home’s many architectural pillars both inside and
out. From elegant crown moulding and fi nely
crafted wainscoting to board-and-batten ceilings,
cozy window seats, a wood-burning fi replace, builtin
bookshelves and an enclosed lanai, the many
beautiful details of this architecturally distinctive
residence make it one of the most unique historic
estates on the Big Island.
The home served as a majestic retreat for the
Kennedys to escape the hot Hilo temperatures
of the high season, and to entertain friends and
family. To access the neighborhood, Kennedy
constructed Old Volcano Road.
In his day, C.C. Kennedy was manager of Waiakea
Mill Company, which encompassed 95,000 acres
of sugar cane. Enterprising and entrepreneurial,
Kennedy invented a locomotive-style cane loader.
He was also president of Volcano Stables and
Transportation Company, as well as president of
First Bank of Hilo in 1916.