The Pinkerton Beach House, located at 922 Mokulua Drive in Lanikai, Hawaii, tells the story of a developing community, an influential family, and the evolution of a historic home. Built in 1926 during the early years of Lanikai’s transformation into a residential beach haven, the house remains a physical connection to Lanikai’s housing development.
John Walker was a pioneering contractor celebrated for developing unique construction materials, including his patented textured concrete blocks that mimicked the appearance of natural lava rock. Walker-Moody Construction shaped Hawaii’s infrastructure and iconic landmarks, including the Hawaii Building and Honolulu Hale. However, Walker also sought to create a personal retreat where his large family—consisting of his wife, seven daughters, and one son—could enjoy the tranquility of island life.
As an upcoming bank executive, Robert McCorriston hired an up-and-coming architect, Robert G. Miller, to build one of the “more extensive” beach houses on Lanikai Beach — the McCorriston Beach Home. Robert Miller, along with architects Hart Wood and C.W. Dickey, spearheaded the Territorial Era’s style of houses in Hawaii. As he worked on the McCorriston home, he also built many of Hawaii’s treasured landmarks of the era, including Honolulu Hale and the now historic homes for J.P. Mendoca, Riley Allen, Claude Swann, and the Richard Botley residence.