HistoricHawaii

  By Lilinoe Andrews Specialist, Chancellor’s Office, University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu Hawaiian diacritical marks comprise just two symbols: the glottal stop (ʻokina) and the macron (kahakō). Are they important? Worth the extra time it takes to insert them into your text? That depends, so let’s discuss. Simply speaking, the two diacritical marks are a way to show how a Hawaiian word should sound to a person unfamiliar with a particular word. More importantly, those two little marks are keeping the Hawaiian language alive. In 1826, a committee of seven missionary gentlemen thought diacriticals were important enough to wrestle mightily with them in the challenge to put the once oral language to print. They decided, after doing similar work in Tahiti, that Hawaiian should have just twelve letters. The ʻokina appeared in Andrews’ dictionary in 1865 and the kahakō in Judd, Pukui, and Stokes’ dictionary and grammar in 1945. In 1978 the ʻAhahui ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi published “Recommendations and Comments on the Hawaiian Spelling Project” and standardized the use of the ʻokina and kahakō. Not only do the ʻokina and kahakō change the sound of a word, they often end up changing its meaning. For example, these are separate words: pau=completed paʻu=soot paʻū=damp, soaked pāʻū=woman’s skirt Diacriticals are important to keeping Hawaiian (the fastest growing native language in the U.S.) alive because they help expand the lexicon and give the language the subtlety that fluent speakers know by heart. And they are helpful for those unfamiliar with the language, like little cheat marks to keep you from getting your pāʻū all paʻū. Your kumu hula would not be happy. There are a few contexts where diacriticalizing is not seen. For example, in the Niʻihau church [...]

Last Remaining Building at Mānana Barracks Reveals Rich History By guest contributor Deloris Guttman, founder and curator of the Obama Hawaiian Africana Museum (formerly known as the African American Diversity Cultural Center Hawaii). Naval Aviation Supply Depot (NASD) Personnel Quonset Hut 33 is a one-story former military building on the grounds in the Urban Garden Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources in Pearl City on O‘ahu. There were a 100 Quonset huts constructed in 1944.  Quonset Hut 33, the only structure that remains, served as galley storehouse at the segregated housing Manana Barracks for African American military personnel in the Naval Aviation Supply Depot.   In the midst of World War II, several factors led to the U.S. Navy’s construction of a segregated encampment between Pearl City and an area known as the Waiawa Gulch.  Among them were various racial tensions at housing areas for African American Cargo Handling Units at Pearl Harbor and surrounding areas, the arrival of over a dozen predominantly African American Construction Battalions (CBs or “SeaBees”) to the Fourteenth Naval District in July 1943, and the construction of two supply centers in Waiawa Gulch where many African American navy men worked. Under “Jim Crow” law, black servicemen could not socialize with white servicemen in Hawai‘i. A separate USO facility was setup.   The Manana Barracks housed over 1,800 African Americans that worked at the Waiawa Gulch Naval Aviation Supply Deport as stevedores and cargo handlers.  The contributions of these men who lived at Manana Barracks provided vital service to World War II war efforts in the Pacific Theater. During World War II, the majority of African American military personnel in Hawai‘i served in the [...]

Lili‘uokalani Protestant Church's History Spans more than 190 Years and Four Structures Submitted by the Historic Preservation Committee of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce; working to preserve and perpetuate the legacy of historic Haleʻiwa.  Reprinted with permission. The area that now surrounds the intersection of Haleʻiwa Road and Kamehameha Highway has seen many changes over the years. The iconic Haleʻiwa Hotel was built there in 1898. The Sea View Inn was built on the site in 1955, became the Chart House in 1990 and then Haleiwa Joe’s in 1998. But nearly two centuries ago, it was the location of O‘ahu’s second oldest Hawaiian Church built by a missionary couple whose beloved legacy is the Liliʻuokalani Protestant Church in Haleʻiwa. Between 1820 and 1863, twelve companies of missionaries were deployed to the Hawaiian Islands by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. The Reverend John Smith Emerson and his new bride Ursula Sophia Newell Emerson were part of the Fifth Company. After six months on a whaling ship that set sail from New Bedford, Massachusetts, they arrived in Honolulu in May of 1832. The Emersons were assigned to serve the 8,000 residents along Waialua’s thirty-mile coastline. High Chief Gideon Pele’ioholani La’anui, the Konohiki of Waialua and one of the first Hawaiians to become literate in both English and his native language, helped them to establish a simple church near the Anahulu Stream’s outfall at Waialua Bay in July of 1832. The chartered name of the church was Ka Ahahui Kahu Malama Waiwai O Ka Ekalesia O Kawailoa Ma Waialua, more often called the Hawaiian Church in Waialua or simply the Waialua Church. By 1841, an adobe church with a high thatched roof [...]

What is a Historic Structures Report and When Do You Need One? A Historic Structures Report (HSR) is a widely used preservation tool, ideally an important first step, toward obtaining maximum knowledge about a structure in order to help maintain and/or preserve it. HSRs are generally commissioned by a property owner for an individual building and its site that is historically and/or architecturally significant. The report documents physical information about a structure’s history, significance, composition and existing condition. It includes recommendations for the most appropriate approach to treatment for the repair and/or maintenance of the property and outlines the scope of suggested work to be done. It can also include information about the owner or management goals for the current use of the property. What information is collected? A variety of sources comprise the report and research. These usually include a preliminary walk-through as well as physical records such as architectural blueprints, record photography and archival documentation and a survey of the existing condition of the property as it relates to interior and exterior architectural elements and mechanical and structural systems. The site is also evaluated for its historical significance. Discussion with the owner and users about current and future uses is an important part of the process. As additional information is learned relevant to the history of the building, and as work on the historic structure is implemented, the report can be amended and supplemented. The size and complexity of a property will determine how extensive the HSR will be.  How is it used? HSRs provide comprehensive documentation of a site and help determine work recommendations for its preservation, guide budget needs and serve as a scheduling tool for work to be done. [...]

The Sam and Mary Cooke Preservation Fund for Hawai‘i Supports Local Preservation Efforts The Sam and Mary Cooke Preservation Fund for Hawaii helps preserve and enhance historic places in Hawai’i for future generations. The grants are administered through the National Trust for Historic Preservation in cooperation with Historic Hawai’i Foundation.  In October, 2022, three iconic Hawai’i sites received grants to help them properly assess and protect their historic properties. The Grantees                   Liljestrand Foundation | Honolulu, O‘ahu $5,000 to conduct an existing condition survey for the Liljestrand House, Vladimir Ossipoff’s work of mid-twentieth century Hawaiian modern architecture that is now open to the public as a historic house museum and programmatic space. Built on the slopes of Pu`u Ohia (Mount Tantalus), overlooking Honolulu, the Liljestrand House is recognized as an outstanding example of Vladimir Ossipoff’s work and of mid-twentieth century modern architecture. Howard and Betty Liljestrand originally intended to design the house themselves with the help of a friend, but quickly realized that they needed more than just appreciation for good design to build a house. After a search, Vladimir Ossipoff was selected. The Liljestrands gave Ossipoff a brief list of requirements that shaped the house. The family and Ossipoff worked collaboratively throughout the project. Betty Liljestrand was engaged on a daily basis as general contractor, supervising the crew of craftsmen and carpenters. Even with the language barrier between the Japanese craftsmen and Betty Liljestrand, they found creative ways to communicate when making adjustments throughout the process. Learn more.                         Hui Noeau Visual Arts Center | Makawao, Maui $3,500 to restore original doors and [...]

What are maintenance plans and why do one? By Virginia Murison, AIA A Maintenance Manual or Plan identifies those character-defining features of a historic structure that convey its significance and provides guidance for the routine maintenance, as well as repair methods, that will preserve the feature, material or finish.  Often, these will include historic materials or finish methods that are not common to contemporary buildings. This documentation is a valuable part of preservation literature for educational purposes as well as practical in-the-field guidance. As a companion to a Historic Structure Report, a Programmatic Agreement or a Preservation Plan, a Maintenance Plan is a valuable component in the documentation of a historic property. All Federal Agencies are required by the National Historic Preservation Act to identify the historic resources under their control and to protect those properties to the maximum extent possible. Private sector owners, organizations and commercial management concerns are also custodians of significant historic structures which require sensitive and routine maintenance.  Historic materials and finishes often exist which would be difficult to replicate or replace if they were lost, emphasizing the need for maintenance and care to prevent loss or damage. Property owners applying for the City & County of Honolulu’s property tax exemption for historic commercial properties are required to develop and submit a 10-year maintenance plan as a condition for receiving the exemption. The maintenance plan helps ensure that the characteristics that convey the historic significance will be retained and the property maintained in good condition. The Secretary of the Interior defines “preservation” as “identification, evaluation, recordation, documentation, curation, acquisition, protection, management, rehabilitation, restoration, stabilization, maintenance, research, interpretation, and conservation” (emphasis added) A maintenance manual is intended to assist facility managers, planners, [...]