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The Honolulu Water Works was established by Section 192 of the Hawaii Civil Code of 1859, which made the Minister of the Interior responsible for the pipes and conduits of water to supply the town and harbor of Honolulu, for the establishment of rates of supply for same, for making rules as necessary and for appointing a superintendent of the water-works. The latter was responsible for maintaining the system and collecting rates. The Act of August 18, 1860 empowered the Minister of the Interior to take possession of such lands as were required for the use and maintenance of the Honolulu Water Works.

Under the Organic Act (sec. 75), the Ministry of Interior was disestablished and the agency came under the Department of Public Works.

The Honolulu Water Works was disestablished by Act 138 SLH 1913, which transferred its functions to the City and County of Honolulu effective July 1, 1914. It was succeeded by the Board of Water Supply of the City and County of Honolulu.

On June 23, 1915, John C. Lane, Mayor of Honolulu, signed the Board of Supervisors' Juncture Resolution 150 which gave hint the authority to appoint a commission to investigate water supplies available to residents of the City and County of Honolulu. He named Charles R. Forbes, Jorgen Jorgensen, John H. Wilson and James Gibb commissioners and appointed Lorrin A. Thurston chairman. The Commission was given the power to determine the status of the water supply of Honolulu, to investigate and determine whether an adequate supply of water could be secured for Honolulu, and to work on necessary preliminary surveys, explorations and water development. With this in mind, they developed a plan of procedure which involved compiling, investigating and classifying all available information relating to the Commission's problems under six different headings. To this end, they hired two men: James T. Taylor to do the technical work of surveying and locating springs, streams, and reservoir sites, making maps and tables of them, and preparing plans for using these areas; Thomas F. Sedgwick, a future member of the Territorial Water Commission, was hired to secure, compile and index all available reports, articles and other data relating to the subject being considered. The Board of Supervisors decided on the grounds of economy to modify the scope of investigation and on December 11, 1915, requested that a report be made of the results to date. The Commission then requested and was allowed to spend up to $6,000 of its original $20,000 allotment to complete its work and investigations in progress. The preliminary report was completed in November 1916; the final report in 1917, and published in 1918.

The Honolulu Symphony Society, sponsor of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, had its first meeting on August 27, 1902. Its major goal was, "To encourage the cultivation of
the art of music, and to promote sociability among its members." The Society's orchestra made its debut concert, given at its clubhouse on the slopes of Punchbowl, in October
1902 in honor of the officers of the visiting German cruiser Cormoran. The society's first public concert took place in the Hawaiian Opera House on May 2, 1903 with W.F. Jocher leading twenty-nine musicians in works by Schubert, Bach, Mozart, Mascagni, and Wagner. The Honolulu Symphony Orchestra presented several concerts annually from that time
until the early teens. It lapsed into inactivity for a decade during and after World War I, and then reorganized on a more lasting basis in 1924. At the outset of World War, and especially after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, it was feared the society would go into inactivity once again. Many of the performers were men and women from the Army and Navy. However, the Society members felt it important to continue some semblance of normal life, and so, arranged for at least one concert. It proved successful and established day concerts for Honolulu residents for the entirety of the war. From 1942 to 1964, subscription performances were held at McKinley High School's, Scott auditorium. This facility was used intermittently with the Princess Theatre on Fort Street, until the construction of the Hawaii International Center, later renamed the Blaisdell Concert Hall, at the old Ward estate.
With the growth and expansion of the Orchestra, it became increasingly important to find corporations and individuals willing to donate the necessary funds to pay for supplies, rent, and wages. Following the example of many symphony orchestras throughout the nation at that time, the Society created the Women's Association in 1949. To this organization fell most of the burden of organizing and conducting fund raisers as well as other things. The Honolulu Symphony Society became more involved with opera and ballet performances in the 1960s, and helped to establish a regular opera season. In 1961, together with the Hawaii Opera Theater, the Society celebrated the first opera production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly. The last few decades have brought further growth and development for the Society. With a mission to educate Hawaii's school children, the Society has obtained funding through the State, allowing them to expand their influence over the islands.

1898--Honolulu Stock and Bond Exchange founded in Honolulu, August 25. Organized by 12 securities dealers, including James F. Morgan and Harry Armitage, for the purpose of forming a single market for securities in Honolulu; governed by Principals' Meetings consisting of all members (fluctuating over life of Exchange between 9-15); officers included: president (principle executive officer of Exchange) and general secretary (or, executive secretary); administered on a daily basis by the general secretary, a full-time position. The general secretary reported to the president and the Principals, kept minutes of proceedings of Exchange, other books and records, a record of the purchases and sales of securities (in the Sales Record Book and Odd Lot Sales Book), and also conducted the correspondence of Exchange.
1935--Beginning of federal Securities and Exchange Commission regulation following passage of Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
1961--High water mark of trading volume on Exchange: $25.3 million.
1977--December 30; Exchange dissolved itself because of consistently falling volume of trading in 1970's; records turned over to Hawaii State Archives for public information and consultation purposes