Richard and Sooz Mirikitani own the historic “Carl and Florence Bayer House,” which is historically significant for its architectural style. It is an early and excellent example of the simple Craftsman style homes designed by Territorial architect Raymond Llewellen Morris of Lewers & Cooke. The house incorporates the graceful characteristics of the simple Hawaiian style house popularized by Morris with its high-pitched roof, extended eaves and lanai, as well as design aspects of a French farmhouse. The Mirikitani’s shared their perspectives on preservation with us.
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Historic Hawai‘i Foundation: How long have you owned the Bayer Estate and why did you decide to make it your home?
Richard’s family purchased the property from Mr. Walter Bayer (the only child of the home’s builders, Carl and Florence Bayer), who lived in the home until moving to the mainland after its sale in 1971. We eventually became the owners of the Bayer Estate, and were inspired soon after to breathe life back into this charming little seaside property. When we first acquired the property, we were living in Kailua and commuted back and forth on the weekends between home and Aina Haina, to work on restoring and furnishing the home and enhancing its gardens. While we were not originally searching for a historic property, we soon fell in love with the Bayer Estate and its “Old-Hawaii” ambience and charm, and ultimately decided to pull up stakes in Kailua, load all the dogs into the car, and make the Bayer Estate our home.
HHF: The Bayer Estate is listed on the Hawai`i State Register of Historic Places. What inspired you to nominate it for the Register?
As its owners and new “guardians”, we developed a feeling of obligation and stewardship to restore and preserve the home and property. A few aspects of the home had been modernized earlier for use as a rental property, but thanks to Richard’s aunt, who had managed it over the years since its purchase from the Bayer family, its unique architectural and structural characteristics were preserved and maintained in great condition. Although several contractors and others had suggested that we “build out” the home to maximize living space, or subdivide and build several more houses on the large lot, we felt that the better alternative was to restore and maintain the home, including its expansive “Hawaiian lawn” (as it was referred to by the State’s Historic Places Review Board), in perpetuity. We believed that placing it on the State Register of Historic Places was the right vehicle for doing that. Having received historic designation, we came to think of the Bayer Estate (in addition to being our home) as a community asset, and sharing the historic home with members of the public seemed natural. We were excited to discover that local preservation laws had some allowance for creative, adaptive reuses of historic structures to assist with the maintenance and restoration costs of older buildings. This was the beginning of our 5-year journey to obtain a special permit from the City to host intimate gatherings in the “old style”, thus encouraging public access to the home and gardens, and educating people on the importance of preservation. One of the greatest compliments we have received was when we were contacted by a woman several months after she had attended an event here to say that she was so delighted by the charming, “old style” feel of our home, that she was inspired to sell her home and purchase an older one. She was in the midst of restoring and repainting the interior, and called wanting to know the name of the paint color we had used so she could order the same paint.
HHF: Would you encourage other historic homeowners to seek to list their homes on the Hawaii State Register of Historic Places? If so, why?
Placement of a home on the State Register of Historic Places is a personal decision that has to fit one’s personal circumstances and perspective. A homeowner has to be willing to share, in certain ways, a very personal asset (one’s home) with the community—for example, being on a public list of historically significant homes and subjecting future improvements/repairs to extra step(s) and scrutiny. It comes with benefits and burdens that have to be considered in light of one’s lifestyle and circumstances. It constitutes a form of lien and encumbrance on title to the property, and comes with certain responsibilities and obligations, so it is not something that is done capriciously. There are also certain advantages to being on the historic register, which are provided as statutory/regulatory incentives to historic preservation, and which may or may not be attractive to a particular homeowner. To some, historic preservation sometimes suggests involuntary/mandatory powers, restrictions or obligations. However, placement of historic homes on the Hawaii Register of Historic Places is generally voluntary. Voluntarily doing so means that a homeowner has knowingly reviewed the benefits and the burdens of being on the historic register, and has determined that on balance, it fits and provides a positive benefit to the homeowner that enhances the rewarding experience of owning a historic home. When it works, the community is enriched and benefitted by the historic preservation program and incentives provided.
For us, it is an honor and a privilege to be able to spend our days living in a charming little Craftsman style home where so much history has occurred – a survivor of Hawaii’s past – a cultural vestige where others can come and enjoy a taste of the Hawai`i of yesteryear. And we never tire of the exclamations of visitors who say that there is such a wonderful feeling here: “like we’ve stepped back in time”. They often say that it reminds them of their grandmother’s home, or where they grew up, or like a place they once visited on a family vacation when they were young. One man told us that the only other place he felt the same “chicken skin” feeling was in a cabin that is located on the field where the Battle of Gettysburg was fought. That was a delight to hear! And what we hear the most is: “We don’t want to leave. When can we move in?!” So we always tell them “Come back, and we’ll pull out some hammocks for you!”
HHF: Tell us a little about the estate and what makes it historic.
The Carl and Florence Bayer House is recognized most notably for its architectural significance. It is an early and excellent example of the simple Craftsman style homes designed by Territorial architect Raymond Llewellen Morris of Lewers & Cooke. The house incorporates the graceful characteristics of the simple Hawaiian style house popularized by Morris with its high-pitched roof, extended eaves and lanai, as well as design aspects of a French farmhouse. Mrs. Bayer had fallen in love with a photograph of a French farmhouse, and collaborated with Morris in the design of the house. Built in 1936 for Carl Bayer and his wife, Florence Gurrey (daughter of insurance executive/maritime artist Alfred R. Gurrey, Sr.), the Aina Haina home was among the first homes along this southeastern shoreline which at that time was primarily pig farms, chicken farms, the Hind-Clarke Dairy and groves of kiawe trees. The home sits on an expansive, un-subdivided parcel that runs from Kalanianaole Highway to the ocean, which has become an endangered site for passers-by on the highway.
Mr. Bayer’s biography is published in Men of Hawaii and The Story of Hawaii and Its Builders. He was born in Germany in 1884 and arrived in Hawaii in 1901 after being recruited by H. Hackfeld & Company. In 1908 he accepted the position of store manager for the Hutchinson Sugar Plantation Company in Naalehu on the Big Island, and in 1910, he became store manager for Hawaiian Sugar Company in Makaweli, Kauai. Mr. Bayer was instrumental in the organization of the Kauai Chamber of Commerce, and served as a Director. After moving to Oahu, he became the sole proprietor of Rice Stix Dry Goods Company on Bethel Street in Honolulu.
Mrs. Bayer was an expert horsewoman and a champion of animal rights, serving as Secretary for the Hawaiian Humane Society. She, with Lucy Ward and others, was instrumental in forming the Society as a group interested in, among other matters, protecting the dray horses of Manoa quarry from abuse by their drivers. Her father was Alfred Richard Gurrey, Sr., an insurance adjuster and Secretary of the Board of Fire Underwriters for the Territory of Hawaii. He was an artist whose Hawaiian landscape paintings depicted his love of the ocean and sailing. The Bayer family donated many of his paintings to the Kauai Museum in Lihue, where they have been featured in exhibitions. He was an early member of the Outrigger Canoe Club and Commodore of the Corinthian Yacht Club in San Francisco. His love of sailing is reflected in one of the bedrooms at the Bayer Estate (designed for his grandson Walter Bayer), which resembles a ship’s cabin with its curved ceiling and lateral wood planks.
HHF: What is the most fascinating story you’ve heard related to the property and its history?
A couple of interesting stories were told to us by Walter Bayer, who grew up in the home. The house has an unusual five-foot thick foundation, designed at the request of Carl Bayer, anchoring the house with steel bolts. This foundation has withstood several tidal waves in the area, the worst of which was in 1946 when tsunami waves hit the coastal property. Walter said that they just opened all the windows and doors “to let the waves roll right on through the house”. They were fortunate, as the neighboring home was carried off its foundation, and ended up on the 2-lane Old Government Road, (which is currently the busy 6-lane Kalanianaole Hwy.) and although the neighbors survived, they were trapped inside since the doors were jammed shut when the frames bent, and had to be rescued.
WWII: After the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Army sought to fortify Hawaii’s shorelines against further attack, under the command of Colonel Merrick, a personal friend of the Bayer family. The coastline near the Bayer home was considered strategic, due to the depth of the flat reefs, shallow enough to easily accommodate enemy landing craft. The Army leased the backyard of the Bayer home for $1 and set up a temporary installation, with the Bayer family remaining on site, as they refused to vacate their home during the war. A telephone communications center, range finders and telescopes were set up at the Diamond Head, makai corner of the yard and a 75 mm French Howitzer was placed in the opposite corner, awaiting enemy landing. Walter related that the home was used for R&R purposes for the “big brass” officials, and he remembers waking up with a start to the loud boom of the Howitzer being fired during target practice every morning. His mother, he said, had a great sense of humor, and had their gardener tie coconuts up in the milo tree. “She thought it was quite funny”, he shared, “that some officers left the islands thinking that coconuts grew on big bushy trees.”
HHF: Can you offer any words of advice for navigating the Historic Register nomination process?
Research and familiarize yourself with the regulatory process and standards, as well as the statutory/regulatory benefits and burdens of being on the State Register of Historic Places. It may be helpful to seek the advice and assistance of an expert (e.g. a land use/zoning consultant and historic preservation consultant/architect) who can explain the process, estimated time and cost and the various consequences of being on the historic register.
HHF: What does the word preservation mean to you and why is it important?
Preservation of historic properties is an important aspect of the history and character of our community. It balances and provides perspective on inevitable and necessary growth and change. Historic properties provide us an important sense of place and a reminder of, and connection to, a cultural legacy and heritage, the relevance of which seems more important the more things change. Old cars, watches, jewelry and people are not merely “old”—they are invaluable, classic, irreplaceable treasures. Old homes can be architectural and cultural assets that become more and more important and treasured as time passes. However, as much as we love historic homes and believe in the vital role that historic preservation serves for the welfare of our community, we also acknowledge some related qualifications. First, that historic preservation is one important part of the mix of many important policy considerations that are crucial for our community’s welfare. Just one example of another very important consideration is the development of new and affordable housing opportunities for residents and future generations. Preservation of historic homes can be very expensive and inefficient in terms of maximizing opportunities for home ownership or rental units, and unfortunately, sometimes could even compete with affordable housing initiatives for scarce land, funding and subsidies. When a unique old home in a neighborhood is demolished and a dense, modern apartment complex is constructed in its place, our community tragically suffers the loss of an historic asset, but also gains important housing inventory. Well-considered balance may seem like the compromise of an ideal and principle, but it is a reality and necessity given the scarcity of resources to address all important things. Second, especially in light of the various personal circumstances and related decisions facing owners of any property, it’s great to see historic preservation effected on a voluntary basis that respects property rights of owners, and achieves preservation goals through education and incentives, and not by mandates or coercion.
HHF: The estate serves as Steve McGarrett’s home on the popular TV series, Hawai‘i Five-O and has become a popular destination for Hawaii 5-0 fans, including those from Hawaii Jeep Tours’ Five-0 tour. How have you leveraged this opportunity to promote understanding of and advocacy for preservation?
Hundreds of visitors tour our historic home every year. Beyond the many guests who enjoy the property at weddings and other special events (under a conditional use permit from the City for special use of this historic property), we are also visited by historic preservation enthusiasts and by “Hawaii 5-0” fans almost daily. Hawaii Jeep Tours is one of the sources of Hawaii 5-0 fans who are thrilled to get a historic tour of the television home of Steve McGarrett on the new Hawaii 5-0 series. Visitors often exclaim how charming the historic home is, and how privileged they feel to experience a piece of the “Old Hawaii”, and some even asked if they could make a donation to historic preservation. It was notable that many visitors to the Bayer Estate, as a result of their brief experience, exposure and education, were voluntarily wanting to donate to historic preservation. While the Bayer Estate does not ask for or receive compensation for tours of the property, we saw a great opportunity to help raise funds for historic preservation, and contacted Bruce Fisher, owner of Hawaii Jeep Tours to request that a portion of his commercial tour proceeds be donated to historic preservation. Bruce and his wife liked the idea, and they have generously agreed to periodically donate a portion of tour proceeds to historic preservation (Historic Hawaii Foundation, specifically) in recognition of the importance of your statewide efforts in maintaining and preserving Hawaii’s important cultural assets and unique sense of place for both residents and visitors. In December 2015, we were pleased to present to Historic Hawaii Foundation the first of these donations that we hope marked the onset of a continuing flow of proceeds from appreciative residents and visitors touring the Bayer Estate. We understand that many Hawaii Jeep Tours customers have expressed both pleasure and pride that a portion of their tour proceeds is being donated to Hawaii’s historic preservation.
HHF: You qualify as preservation avatars! You own a historic property and share it liberally with the community even as it functions as your personal family home. You evidently care deeply about preserving Hawai‘i’s unique history. What advice can you offer to others who may want to embark on a commercial venture with their historic property?
Preserving and maintaining a historic property is a privilege and a responsibility. Among the significant burdens is the cost of repair and maintenance (for example, general upkeep of an old structure and utilities, including potential overhaul of obsolete plumbing and electrical), costs of any restoration work and the cost of lost opportunity, i.e. foregoing subdivision/condominiumizing and development to maximize units, floor area and monetary value. Over the years, we have received numerous offers and suggestions to develop or sell the property, and it is not difficult to imagine how many historic homes succumb to practical considerations over time and generations. This is what makes regulatory support and incentives to encourage historic preservation so important. In keeping with national historic preservation trends, the Hawaii Revised Statutes recognizes the importance of historic preservation and encourages State agencies and Counties to promote stewardship and preservation of Hawaii’s historic assets for the welfare of residents and future generations. In turn, the City and County of Honolulu has provided certain incentives for owners of historic homes to place their homes on the State historic register, including real property tax incentives and provisions in the Land Use Ordinance allowing some leeway in the adaptive reuse of historic properties, in recognition of the high costs of preserving, restoring and maintaining historic homes. We are grateful to the State and the City for their support of historic preservation. We are also grateful for organizations like Historic Hawaii Foundation (and its members) who are vigilant in reminding policy makers of the importance of historic preservation when allocating and balancing funds and subsidies for various important policies and goals.
That being said, subsidies and other incentives can help to offset and justify the economic burdens of preserving, restoring and maintaining a historic property. However, any use of an historic property should be done in compliance with all state and county zoning and other laws governing allowable uses which, among other matters, are designed to ensure appropriate uses and mitigation of potential impacts on neighboring properties. In that regard, it would be important to enlist the assistance of an expert to ensure appropriate compliance with (not evasion of) statutory standards and rules. Historic preservation and the State Register of Historic Places can be a vehicle for good work, but are not a license for non-compliance with land use or zoning statutes/ordinances.
HHF: What else would you like to share with our readers?
We appreciate the efforts of Historic Hawaii Foundation and are happy to play a role in supporting its preservation goals and projects.
Finally, on a much more personal note, we have recently starting thinking about the possibility of preserving another historic cottage on the property. We have the privilege of living with and caring for two of our beloved kupuna, (Sooz’ mom and aunt, 89 and 92 years old) and we realize that one day soon, climbing the home’s staircase may prove to be too daunting a task for them. For safety reasons, we were envisioning finding another quaint little cottage that we could save from demolition and transport here, so our senior family members can remain here with us and live more safely on one level. We would greatly appreciate it if, through Historic Hawaii Foundation’s widespread “preservation grapevine”, word of our future preservation hopes could be spread, and we could be notified/informed (808/377-9359; info@bayerestate.com) of any such cottages that we might be able rescue from demolition.