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O‘ahu North Shore Chamber’s Signage Project Shares the History of Hale‘iwa

  11/23/2021: The North Shore Chamber's Historic Preservation Committee is happily witnessing 25 years of planning and volunteer work come to fruition.  Signage interpreting the history of Hale‘iwa is in the process of being installed on historic buildings along the town's main street.  To date, the narratives of 15 building plaques have been completed, involving countless hours of research, writing, and interviews with property owners and residents to supplement information collected during the 1960s.  The narratives highlight the history of each building and their unique role in the development of the town.  Illustrations by Ilona Hemperly add visual charm. The signage project also involves two additional components: a revision and reprinting of the Chamber's Hale‘iwa Walking Tour brochure and map; and the installation of four interpretive kiosks across town that will showcase historic events, photos, and maps for each location. "These signs will complement the Chamber's Walking Tour or stand on their own in telling Hale‘iwa's story to residents and visitors alike so they can learn about Hale‘iwa's unique history and character," explained Antya Miller, chair of the Historic Preservation Committee. Recent issues of the monthly North Shore News have featured short stories about each building with photos of property owners and tenants standing before the newly installed signs.  Click here to see the September 22nd issue and the October 20th issue. While there is more progress to be made, the staff of Historic Hawai‘i Foundation send cheers of congratulations and encouragement to Antya, Barbara, Boyd and the rest of the committee for their wonderful accomplishments. Hale‘iwa is designated as a Special Design District. In 2019, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation partnered with the Chamber to give a presentation on Hale‘iwa's zoning and Special District [...]

2022-01-12T12:47:12-10:00November 23rd, 2021|Categories: Blog|

Video replay available – Pathways to Place: An Ethnohistorical Study of the Merwin Conservancy at Pe‘ahi, Maui

Historic Hawai‘i Foundation in partnership with The Merwin Conservancy presents An Exploration of Land as a Repository of the Past Tuesday, December 14, 2021 From 5:00-6:15PM Virtual, via Zoom Cost: Free View the video recording below. A discussion exploring the theme of place literacy and land as receptacle of collective and multilayered histories with Kepā and Onaona Maly of Kumu Pono Associates and the Merwin Conservancy’s executive director, Sonnet Kekilia Coggins. The Merwin Conservancy is a small and thriving arts and ecology organization on the island of Maui. It conserves both an extraordinary place—a lush and rare, 19-acre palm forest planted and tended by two-time Pulitzer prize winning poet W.S. Merwin from land once designated as agricultural wasteland — and it preserves the sense of wonder that brought forth both Merwin’s poetry, and his garden. In 2012, Kepā Maly conducted a series of oral history interviews with W. S. Merwin, and in late 2020, he and Onaona were asked to assist the Conservancy in researching and preparing an ethnographic study of Pe‘ahi and neighboring lands. The study presents a rich resource for the development of  place-based, culturally literate interpretative themes and programs and opportunities for the enrichment of both resident and visitor experiences. It is also a tool to help with future stewardship of this unique place. The conversation will share the value and benefits of place literacy as a guide for protecting and sharing historic places. Presenters Kepā and Onaona Maly are the founders of Kumu Pono Associates LLC: Giving voice to the land, traditions and people of Hawai’i through ethnographic research, oral history studies and interpretive-educational programs. They have worked together [...]

2022-04-08T14:22:29-10:00November 22nd, 2021|Categories: Events - Past|Tags: |

Governor Issues Cabinet Directive to Improve Preservation Reviews

11/19/2021: Governor David Y. Ige has directed State of Hawai‘i Agencies to take specific steps to improve compliance with the statutes and administrative rules governing the historic preservation review and compliance procedures for both government projects and for private development that requires permits or other government approvals. In a Memo distributed to the State Agency Directors and Cabinet on November 2, Governor Ige said: “As part of our Administration’s ongoing effort to make government more efficient and effective, the staff (special kudos to Sara Lin)  has worked closely with your departments to identify chokepoints and roadblocks. DLNR’s State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) review touches almost everything: affordable housing, clean energy projects, infrastructure, etc. However, they receive more reports than they have time to review. “The Governor’s office has been facilitating a public-private Working Group to identify priorities and revise its Administrative Rules to address this issue, among others. “As a first step, the Working Group and SHPD staff wrote the attached Governor’s Memorandum aimed at helping State Agencies have a smoother path through the historic review process. This includes helping agencies better understand SHPD’s submission requirements and knowing how to hold your consultants accountable to good work, as SHPD staff currently spends a lot of time reviewing incomplete reports.” The Memo includes additional attachments and references, including: SHPD Mandatory and Unnecessary Submittal List SHPD Submittal Checklist SHPD Reviews and Hawai‘i Cultural Resource Information System (HICRIS) Submittals in Five Steps SHPD is planning to conduct one-hour training sessions with the agencies to assist them with compliance. The Memo and directive to the State Agencies is the first step in a longer process to update and revise the historic preservation review process that is required by Hawai‘i [...]

2022-01-12T12:45:52-10:00November 19th, 2021|Categories: Advocacy|

Support HHF’s Annual Fund

People like you who have a special appreciation of Hawai‘i's rich heritage are part of an indelible legacy. By supporting our shared kuleana to protect the important touchstones of Hawai‘i's landscape, you help ensure that the people of Hawai‘i retain a lasting connection to their ancestral roots, cultural traditions, and places of remembrance--a connection that will be passed forward to future generations. Help continue this legacy by making a gift to HHF's Annual Fund.

2022-01-12T12:46:22-10:00November 19th, 2021|Categories: Blog, Support, Uncategorized|Tags: , , |

Summer Scholar Nicole Bowman Shares Impact of Collaborative Internship

Pilot Internship Develops a Use and Management Plan for the Jean Charlot House In January 2021, Nicole Bowman, a fourth-year architecture student at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, completed a pilot summer internship through a May 2020 agreement with the University of Hawai‘i’s Community Design Center (UHCDC). The goal was to develop a use and management plan for the Jean Charlot House.* See “Innovative Partnership with University of Hawai‘i Advances Plans for Charlot House” in the HHF November 2020 newsletter for background on the program and goals. *Learn more about the Jean Charlot House in this 2016 Honolulu Star Advertiser exclusive article, “The Jean Charlot House in Kahala is a Wonderful Integration of Art and Architecture”: https://historichawaii.org/2016/03/08/jeancharlothouse/ In September 2021, HHF Education Program Manager, Andrea Nandoskar,  sat down with Nicole (via Zoom!) to learn more about her experience. Historic Hawai‘i Foundation: Please share a little about yourself and your current studies. Nicole Bowman: I’m currently in my second year of the Doctorate in Architecture program at UH Mānoa and am set to graduate next year. I’m from Kawaihae area on Hawai‘i Island and have lived in Hawai‘i since moving here from southern California with my family when I was six. My dad is a contractor and my parents run a construction company. I have full intentions to stay within my community after graduation and give back to the people who helped raise me. Nicole shared she’s been interested in impacting people’s lives from a young age. Being homeschooled her education was very hands on throughout. Her parent’s work was integrated into her schooling. As a youngster she attended many of their meetings often drawing in the background while her parents discussed the projects with [...]

2021-11-16T16:57:10-10:00November 15th, 2021|Categories: Blog|

I just bought an old house and want to research its history. How do I start?

Conducting historical research for your home can seem initially overwhelming, but once you know where to start it can become a fun and enjoyable project. You should start with a clear vision of what you want to know: Who built the house and when? What did the original house look like inside and out? Who owned and lived in the house? What was happening both locally and nationally at the time the house was built? What changes have been made to the house and when were they made? To find this information you will need to consult a number of different sources. First, find the property’s address and Tax Map Key (TMK) number. The TMK number is located on the Real Property Tax Bill or from the real property assessment division of the County. Using this number you can find the house’s permit history, which may help you to find dates of alterations, names of owners, possibly the name of the architect, and floor plans. You can look up some permits online via your county’s Planning Department website, but you will likely have to visit the Planning Department in person to see the entire permitting history for your home. The real property tax records should be part of your research as well; they will help you establish a “chain of title” that shows who owned the residence and when transfers of ownership occurred. Records at the State Bureau of Conveyances will also help establish a “chain of title,” as this is where the original deeds are located. The next step is to find information about the house’s architect, individuals who lived in the house, and the house’s original appearance. The Hawai‘i State Archives has old [...]

2021-12-03T16:22:49-10:00November 12th, 2021|Categories: Ask an Expert|

Video Replays & Resources – Preservation Funding for Community, Public and Nonprofit Stewards Workshop

Preservation Funding Training Workshop for Stewards of Historic Properties Historic Hawai‘i Foundation, in partnership with the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service and Office of Native Hawaiian Relations, will offer a free workshop on preservation funding. Date: Wednesday, December 8, 2021 Time: 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. Cost: Free Virtual Workshop via ZOOM VIEW THE VIDEO REPLAY OF THE MAIN PRESENTATION BELOW Scroll down to view additional resources for specific funding opportunities. Additional Resources Click on the graphic at left to view the workshop slide deck. The workshop provides training to members of the public, nonprofit or government sectors who own, manage, steward or are interested in preserving historic & cultural sites.   Preservation Funding for Community, Public and Nonprofit Stewards Date: Wednesday, December 8, 2021 Time: 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. ABOUT THE WORKSHOP The workshop will present National Park Service, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation and other funding from foundations and government agencies that help with stewardship and rehabilitation efforts for historic properties. The workshop will also address funding for educational, interpretive and other heritage programs. Stewards of historic properties need to have access to the tools that make historic preservation possible and affordable to ensure that the special places of the Hawaiian Islands are preserved. Appropriate stewardship depends on both financial and organizational resources available to caretakers and advocates. The workshop will include a formal presentation followed by breakout sessions where participants will learn more about specific funding programs, receive tips and best practices, and have the opportunity to ask questions and learn from the presenters and other attendees. WHO SHOULD ATTEND? • Public and nonprofit [...]

2022-01-12T12:46:00-10:00November 10th, 2021|Categories: Events - Past|

Support HHF’s Restore + Reenergize Campaign

People like you who have a special appreciation of Hawai‘i's rich heritage and places of history are part of an indelible legacy. By supporting our shared kuleana to protect the important touchstones of Hawai‘i's landscape, you help ensure that the people of Hawai‘i retain a lasting connection to their ancestral roots, cultural traditions, and places of remembrance--a connection that will be passed forward to future generations. Help continue this legacy by making a gift to HHF's Restore + Reenergize Campaign. Due to the cancellation of our annual Kama‘āina of the Year fundraiser, we call on everyone who cares about Hawai‘i's historic places to please make a donation today. Your gift will help put preservation tools and resources in the hands of those in need. Join HHF in making a positive difference towards revitalization and recovery! [Click here to make a donation online]

2021-11-19T13:11:09-10:00November 9th, 2021|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: |

A Mystery at Iolani Palace

Where is King Kalākaua’s Bed? By Zita Cup Choy, Iolani Palace Historian When Iolani Palace was under construction in 1881, Colonel Charles H. Judd, the King’s Chamberlain and private secretary, traveled with his wife to the United States. While on the continent, they visited many furniture manufacturers and settled on the A. H. Davenport Co. of Boston. The King’s bed is visible in the mirror reflection (on right) in this early 1880s photo of the King’s bedroom (at left). Photo courtesy: Hawai‘i State Archives. This large set of Gothic Revival style furniture was for the public rooms on the first floor and the Royal Family’s private living quarters on the second floor of Iolani Palace. The Boston Herald reported that the furniture for the King’s Bedroom was all made of ebony, with the exception of the bedframe. The bed was another type of wood, decorated with ebony and gold moldings. The Queen’s suite was of mahogany, while the furniture for the guest bedrooms, adjacent to the Queen’s bedroom, were made of cherry and oiled walnut. We are fortunate that the furniture of the four bedroom suites were each made with a different wood, making it easier to identify them over a century later. Each bedroom set included a bed, two wardrobes, two dressing tables, 12 chairs, lounges, and drapery poles. On August 21, 1882, the furniture arrived in Honolulu.  In 1893, after the Palace became a government office building, furniture that could not be used was sold. The Friends of Iolani Palace has been quite successful in locating and welcoming back much of the furniture. Currently in our collection are three of the four original beds. The big mystery is where is King Kalākaua’s [...]

2021-12-03T16:23:07-10:00October 29th, 2021|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

Andrea Nandoskar

Historic Hawai‘i Foundation Andrea Nandoskar is the Education Program Manager at Historic Hawai‘i Foundation. Nandoskar oversees HHF’s educational programs, including organizing seminars, workshops, lecture series, tours, advocacy campaigns and communications. She manages HHF’s social media program and facilitates traditional media and outreach, including site-specific campaigns and educational initiatives. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature from the State University of New York at Purchase.

2021-10-26T14:52:24-10:00October 26th, 2021|Categories: NHO Stewardship Training Committee|Tags: |
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