#heritagetourism

Artist Kirk Kurokawa Brushes Strokes of Meaning into Nisei Veterans Memorial Center Mural

4/15/20: Historic Hawai‘i Foundation is honored to present a Programmatic Award to the Mural Wall at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center located in Kahului on the island of Maui.  Local artist Kirk Kurokawa created this larger-than-life mural on a bare concrete wall using ordinary house paint. The mural is being recognized as an educational resource reminding the public of a significant event in Hawai‘i’s history and how it impacted the Maui community. It is a reminder of what these men stood for and the sacrifices that is a made as a result of war. “The Nisei Memorial is accessible to the general public, both physically and in terms of its presentation and content,” remarked Adriane Truluck, a member of the Selection Committee after visiting the site. “Wordlessly and with striking imagery, it conveys an empathetic portrayal of the Nisei veterans, connecting today’s audience, be it descendants, residents, or visitors, to the veterans and their experience.” In his nomination of the project, Maui architect Jim Niess pointed out that, “Because these images were originally taken prior to (the use of) color photography, the artist reproduced them as the black and white originals which adds a subtle touch to its powerful imagery.”  Applying this approach, the artist was able to give the mural a true sense of integrity and connection to the past. Historic preservation has so many different aspects and the mural illustrates how important it is to recognize and celebrate all forms of interpretation.   “Art is absolutely important because it is universal,” states Kurokawa.  “Art can reach and speak to everyone no matter who they are and where they may come from. Particularly ‘public art’ has great potential to bring a community together and to [...]

Enjoy Hawaii’s Historic Places from Home

  Historic Hawai‘i Foundation wishes you and yours good health, safety and peace at this time of uncertainty. We invite you and your family and friends to visit the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation Heritage Tourism pages to experience virtual tours, maps, photos and histories of storied places in the Islands. Visit today and then check back weekly as we add content because connecting with places that embody our collective identity and memory is more important and meaningful than ever. Happy Travels! Photos above left to right; Honoka‘a People’s Theater, Honoka‘a Town Walking Tour, Hawai‘i Island; Loko ‘Eā Fishpond, Hale‘iwa Special District Story Map, O‘ahu; Pioneer Mill Smokestack & Locomotives (credit: Lahaina Restoration Foundation),  Lahaina Historic Walking Trails, Maui    

2020-07-28T16:18:57-10:00April 7th, 2020|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , , , , , |

Hawaii Tourism Conference to Feature Heritage Tourism Mobile Workshops

Two mobile workshops at this year's Hawaii Tourism Conference will provide an opportunity for members of the tourism industry to learn more about heritage tourism and how historic sites and attractions can be incorporated into visitors' island experience. Today's travelers are constantly in search of new experiences, and Hawaii's unique culture and heritage offers some of the best opportunities to attract and engage with both visitors and residents. For the first time, HTA is partnering with the Historic Hawaii Foundation to offer Heritage Tourism Mobile Workshops at historic sites on Oahu. Participants will learn about each area's cultural significance, impact and opportunities for incorporating and supporting these sites and experiences into offerings for visitors and residents. WHAT: 2015 Hawaii Tourism Conference  WHY: The Hawaii Tourism Authority, the state's tourism agency, will hold its annual Hawaii Tourism Conference. The two-day conference is Hawaii's premier tourism stakeholder event featuring local, national and international leading experts in their fields sharing insight on tourism issues and trends unique to Hawaii's visitor industry. The Conference is attended by all stakeholders of the Hawaii travel and tourism industry including hotels and resorts, bed & breakfasts, timeshares, restaurants, festivals & events, retail stores, attractions, cultural organizations, restaurants, community leaders, and other related organizations and businesses working together to attain the State’s vision for a Hawaii that is the best place to live, work and visit.  For the conference schedule and additional information on the Hawaii Tourism Conference, click here. WHEN:  August 27-28, 2015 WHERE: Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu 1801 Kalakaua Avenue Honolulu, Hawai‘i REGISTRATION IS OPEN: Registration fees include conference sessions, breakfasts, Tourism Legacy Awards luncheon and a pau hana reception. Early bird rates are available through Aug. 3 at $195 per person or $185 per person [...]

2017-04-21T01:01:17-10:00July 31st, 2015|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , , , |

Preserving Hawaii’s Historic Cemeteries – Experts Share Their Knowledge in Annual Series

Lecture series focuses on preserving cemeteries By Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi Honolulu Star Advertiser, Jan 25, 2015 Stones speak to Nanette Napoleon. A tombstone, she points out, can be a revealing snapshot of the deceased's life, sometimes providing information that's not documented elsewhere. "Besides the date and place of birth and death, you may find the person's occupation, talents, accomplishments, family relationships, military service, cause of death, and religious and group affiliations," said Napoleon, founder and director of the Hawaii Cemetery Research Project, which underscores the importance of cemeteries not just as repositories for the dead, but as valuable historical, cultural and genealogical resources. The scope of her work has ranged from giving lectures and leading walking tours to compiling cemetery directories and writing a book ("Oahu Cemetery Burial Ground & Historic Site," 1998). While on a 1972 backpacking trip on Maui when she was a college student, Napoleon camped in an old Hawaiian graveyard in remote Kaupo. "That got me thinking about life and death and why we have cemeteries," she said. "After that I started hanging out in graveyards a lot and found them more and more interesting. Over time this interest became a full-blown passion, prompting me to want to document older sites that were in danger of being destroyed through increasing development." Napoleon has been studying Hawaii's historic cemeteries for more than 30 years and is the state's leading expert on the subject. Her Thursday talk on "Gravestones and History: Cemeteries as Genealogical Resources" will kick off the 28th annual historic preservation lecture series, themed "Preserving Our Historic Cemeteries." Nanette Napoleon stands by the King Street Catholic Cemetery, across the street from Straub Clinic & Hospital. Her talk on “Gravestones and [...]

2017-04-21T01:01:20-10:00January 26th, 2015|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , , |

Public Meeting to discuss Wainiha Bridges Rehabilitation on 12/9 in Hanalei

PRESERVATION NEWS UPDATE:  The Wainiha Bridges, listed on the 2007 Most Endangered Historic Places list, were demolished in 2010 as a result of structural failure from overloaded vehicles exceeding the bridge weight limit. (Click here to read more about their Most Endangered listing.) Three temporary bridges currently replace them as the re-design project is completed. The community is encouraged to attend a public meeting to hear more about rehabilitation efforts and provide feedback and input. The bridges are located on historic Route 560 from Princeville to Kee which is on the National Register of Historic Places and the intention is for the re-design to incorporate the look of the old historic bridges.  Meeting details below.    

2017-04-21T01:01:21-10:00December 3rd, 2014|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , , |

Inaugural Forum Convenes to Discuss Growing Heritage Tourism in Hawaii

PRESERVATION IN THE NEWS:  The inaugural Hawaii Heritage & Hospitality Forum on October 31 brought together a diverse group of Hawaii professionals and cultural stewards to share ideas on how to thoughtfully expand heritage tourism in the islands.  Allison Schaefers of the Star Advertiser shares some insights gleaned from members of the forum's planning committee on the eve of the event. Tourists will be encouraged to look beyond the beach By Allison Schaefers What will bring visitors back to Hawaii once they've experienced its famous sun, sand and surf? And, how can the state get first-timers to visit if they aren't beachgoers? The Historic Hawai'i Foundation and the Hawaii Tourism Authority aim to answer those questions and more during a one-day inaugural forum on heritage tourism scheduled Friday at the Hawai'i Convention Center. There some 150 travel industry professionals, cultural stewards, nonprofit organizations, ecotourism groups and other community stakeholders will explore ways to preserve Hawaii's unique sense of place while providing a high-quality visitor experience that goes beyond Hawaii's traditional leisure branding. he Historic Hawai‘i Foundation and the Hawaii Tourism Authority will hold an inaugural forum Friday on heritage tourism. Promoting the islands’ history and culture is a way of getting travelers to return to Hawaii. Visitors arrive at Iolani Palace during the commemoration of King Kala­kaua’s birthday. (Photo credit: Krystle Marcellus / 2013) "We are proud to facilitate this discussion dedicated to preserving Hawaii's diverse and unique history," said Kiersten Faulkner, executive director of the Historic Hawai'i Foundation. "This is the first time that the visitor and heritage industries will come together. While Hawaii has done an outstanding job in explaining the aloha, culture, nature and beauty that makes it different than [...]

2017-04-21T01:01:21-10:00November 3rd, 2014|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , , |

Get the Scoop On: HCPO Conference 2014

Preservation Resource Center Blog Series No. 1 Last week Historic Hawai‘i Foundation attended the Hawai‘i Congress of Planning Officials Conference, a yearly meeting of public and private planners and associated professionals. Held at the Sheraton Maui Kā‘anapali, this year’s conference focused on the theme of SHIFT – Shaping Hawai‘i for Tomorrow. Who better to analyze this topic than Hawai‘i’s planners? As preservationists, we know that Shaping Hawaii for Tomorrow starts with looking at the past; so we chose to participate in the walking tour of Lahaina Historic District on the first day of the conference. Annalise Kehler and Erin Wade of Maui County Planning Department organized the tour which was led by Theo Morrison, Executive Director of Lahaina Restoration Foundation. This was an all-day insider’s tour of the preservation work happening in Lahaina. Starting with the Wo Hing Museum, along Front Street to the Kings Taro Patch, through the Baldwin Home, and up to Hale Paahao, the old prison, we learned about the Hawaiian, Missionary, and Whaling history of this significant town. We then made our way down to the harbor, seeing the Old Lahaina Courthouse and park along the harbor, the former site of Kamehameha’s Brick House. While enjoying lunch, Lahaina Restoration Foundation filled us in on plans to rejuvenate the harbor access area while providing interpretation for visitors and locals on the history of the area. The walking tour provided a foundation to begin the conference which consisted of plenary and breakout sessions. Experts from across the islands and the mainland shared their insights and experiences of planning for Hawai‘i’s future. A main theme of the entire conference consisted of ways that people were planning in response to larger factors such as climate [...]

2017-04-21T01:01:21-10:00September 19th, 2014|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , , , , |
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