Our Mission
- To preserve and encourage the preservation of historic buildings, structures, objects, sites and districts relating to the history of Hawai‘i;
- To promote awareness of and respect for all that is historically significant and architecturally distinctive in our State; and
- To keep alive and intact for the enrichment of present and future generations the inherent beauty of the Hawaiian Islands and its unique historic role in the development of the Pacific Basin.
Our Vision
The unique history of the Hawaiian Islands is alive and intact for the enrichment of present and future generations and is stewarded by a community that understands, embraces and supports historic preservation.
Our Guiding Principles
LEADERSHIP: We champion historic preservation in the halls of legislative bodies, in the meeting rooms of community and business interests, and across the State.
CREDIBILITY: Understanding that our credibility is our greatest asset, we operate with integrity, courage and transparency, building on an organizational history of significance.
DILIGENCE: Time is of the essence and we commit to bring a sense of urgency to the preservation goals. We appreciate that achieving preservation as a community value is a long term pursuit, and pledge to be diligent and committed to its achievement, now and in the future.
NOHONA HAWAI‘I: (Living Hawaiian Culture): The heart of Nohona Hawai‘i is a fundamental focus on people interacting and experiencing the world around them in Hawaiian ways. We honor the wahi pana (storied places) of Hawai‘i, understanding and adapting, where possible, the values and protocols of Native Hawaiians relative to those sites and cultural practices.
DIVERSITY: We embrace the multi-cultural richness of Hawaii’s peoples, and respect their unique as well as their intertwined histories.
RESPECT: We foster cultural diversity and pluralistic values and treat all people with dignity and respect. We deal fairly with all participants in our activities, programs and engagements.
RELEVANCE: We find that effective preservation requires honoring the past while integrating it into present needs. As advocates and stewards of Hawaii’s cultural heritage, historic sites and structures we are usually not the owners, so we strive to meld harmoniously contemporary needs with preservation objectives.
COLLABORATION: Preservation is a shared responsibility and we commit to cultivate and maintain partnerships with agencies, organizations and individuals that further the objectives of Historic Hawai‘i Foundation.
