Director Hull pictured here in front of the saved post office. Coconut “postcards” played a part in a successful community effort.

5/15/20: Kaua‘i Planning Director Ka‘āina Hull recognizes the crucial function of cultural sites and historic properties in place making.

The Kamehameha Schools and University of California, Berkeley alumnus began work at the Kaua‘i Planning Department in 2007; he later served a few years as its deputy director before being named to the top post in 2018.

Always interested in urban planning, Hull understands that government can play a significant role to protect and preserve our cherished places through its ability to establish and enforce building regulations. To further those goals, he has strengthened the Kaua‘i Historic Preservation Review Commission, which reviews applications to alter historic places, by providing the group both legal analysis and an in-house planner to write reports of its recommendations based on current preservation standards. These changes have formalized the commission’s determinations and increased its authority with decision-making bodies such as the Kaua‘i Planning Commission and Planning Department.

Hull has further sought to advance county awareness of historic preservation by encouraging planning department staff and other county employees to attend preservation conferences and training workshops.

He has also gone well beyond the call of duty to ensure the preservation of endangered places, such as the unique Līhu‘e Shell station, designed in the 1930s to resemble a traditional Hawaiian hale and the historic Lihue Post office, where he took the lead in the Kaua‘i government’s efforts to preserve the important site, which the United States Postal Service had targeted for disposal.

Historic Hawai‘i Foundation is pleased to recognize Ka‘āina Hull with an Individual Achievement Award for his leadership in planning and preservation.

The 46th Annual Preservation Honor Awards Ceremony was originally scheduled to be held in May 2020. However, the current public health crisis caused by COVID-19 has resulted in postponement of the public event. A new date will be selected and notices sent at a later date.