Definition and Overview

Modern architecture is a loose term applied since the late 19th century to buildings in a variety of styles, in which emphasis is placed on functionalism, rationalism, and current methods of construction, in contrast with architectural styles based on historical precedents and traditional methods of building (Harris 2000).  

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The history of architecture in the Pacific is interwoven with ideas of Westernization. The indigenous peoples of the islands had no use for architecture. The discussion of pre-contact dwellings in the Pacific is its own subject; traditional building techniques are not a part of this pathfinder. However, modernism and the architecture that evolves under this period, is concerned with a western ideal of social progress supported by new technology. The language made by modern architects is often debated and full of paradox. People either love new buildings, hate them or both. Modernism is supposed to draw criticism and there is much room for discussion with its architecture.

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Much of the collection in Hamilton Library is devoted to Hawai'i, with a bulk of information on modern architecture and preservation from the continental United States. Hawai'i is the primary focus of this guide, while the term "Pacific" describes island groups outside of Hawai'i. 

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