Henry J. Kaiser of the Kaiser Aluminium Company wanted to build an auditorium in Honolulu. He acquired the right to produce a geodesic dome for the purpose.
The 145ft-wide, aluminium-skinned dome was manufactured at the company's plant in Oakland, California, to be shipped to Hawaii. When Kaiser heard that the materials had arrived in Honolulu he decided he wanted to be present during the first week's construction.
He booked a flight from San Fransisco. By the time he arrived the dome was completed and there were 1832 people in it listening to the Hawaiian Symphony Orchestra. The dome had been built in 22 hours.
© Paul Taylor 2001