HistoricHawaii

Wes and Jane Guinn did not plan to buy a historic home. Wes had recently retired from active duty in the US Navy’s Submarine force and after three decades of moving every 2-3 years, the Guinns were looking forward to settling down in a “beautiful home of their own in a welcoming place”.  They chose Hawai‘i and the island of O‘ahu as their destination and sought a residence that would embody the Hawaiian spirit. We recently asked the Guinn's to share more about their home and experience living in their neighborhood, Alewa Heights. Historic Hawai‘i Foundation: Why did you choose to purchase a historic home? Wes Guinn: When we made the decision to settle in Hawai‘i, my wife and I did not set out to buy a historic home.  As we researched and shopped for homes on O‘ahu, we found many good, practical, modern homes, but the majority of them felt ordinary, like any house you might find on the mainland.  We didn’t want just a nice house that happened to be on the island.  We wanted something that felt like Hawai‘i.  We learned early that we would rather have a home that better represented the beauty and the rich, diverse Pacific cultures of Hawai‘i. This historic home invited us to plant those roots and stay and enjoy the Aloha lifestyle during our post-Navy career. The home we found had the distinctive character we wanted, and is in a neighborhood that has many Hawaiian and Asian kūpuna living there.  When we discovered that the house was on the Hawai‘i State Register of Historic Places, and read about how the house and its owners had contributed to the architectural, economic, and cultural development of Honolulu for [...]

Just before Veteran's Day last week, we reached out to Mo Radke, the president of the Friends of the Natatorium, and asked him to provide an update on their efforts to preserve the historic memorial. HHF: Last year on Veteran’s Day, the City and County of Honolulu issued the final Environmental Impact Statement for the rehabilitation of the historic War Memorial Natatorium. The City’s proposed action is to retain the physical structure of the memorial with a new sea wall and perimeter deck, while maintaining the historic integrity of this iconic structure that has been part of Waikīkī for over 90 years.  Have any further actions taken place since this announcement? MR: To date, a design needs to be formalized and the City and County of Honolulu administration would need to release funding for that to take place. HHF: How does the Friends of the Natatorium plan to keep the project moving, especially given HART will remain a priority for some years ahead? MR: This year was a difficult year to keep the ball rolling. A Natatorium restoration would provide a much-needed respite to Hawaii residents in the form of a large, socially-distanced venue for fitness and relaxation. Because HART demands a great deal of funds now and into the future, all fiscal streams need closer scrutiny – including government support for projects like the Natatorium.  It’s not likely the present city administration will make any quick moves to fund the design, so some other options are appropriate: Engaging the new city administration, developing a solid public, private partnership where some funds come from the city and some funds come from the private sector. The National Trust for Historic Preservation was instrumental in the bringing [...]

Trees For Honolulu’s Future (TFHF) is a nonprofit organization founded by Tom Dinell, emeritus professor of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (and  member of Historic Hawai‘i Foundation).  TFHF's vision is "A tree-filled island that preserves and enhances our quality of life, especially in the face of climate change"--a mission which aligns with many of  HHF's goals. TFHF's current newsletter Tom's son, Dan Dinell, has stepped into the role of president and together they have launched several exciting community-based  initiatives. Here Dan tell us more about the organization and its plans in his own words: Dan Dinell: "The vision of Trees For Honolulu’s Future is to have Honolulu achieve a 35% tree canopy coverage by 2035. To give you a sense of perspective, Washington D.C. today is about 35% and Honolulu, the last time it was measured was around 20 or 22%, so we got a ways to go. Our full strategic plan is on our website. Currently we are honed in on our ongoing Trees for Kaimukī initiative, which is a community-based partnership focused in a single neighborhood (obvious in the project name that it’s Kaimukī, of course!) with the idea that it will become a replicable model for other neighborhoods in urban Honolulu. This initiative is focused on the public realm--street trees and trees in parks. We also believe there is an opportunity to address environmental/social inequities by planting on private property in lower income areas that also have a dearth of trees. It's interesting, and disheartening, to look at heat maps of Honolulu--where it's hot, and getting hotter. We're currently working on securing funding support. Recently I was inspired by a 12 year old student from Hawai‘i Technology [...]

USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor National Memorial Built to commemorate the lives lost on the USS Arizona on December 7, 1941, the USS Arizona Memorial marks the final resting place of over 1,100 sailors killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor and the island of O‘ahu that brought the United States into World War II. Built some 20 years after the end of the war, Alfred Preis’ award-winning Arizona Memorial of 1962 has both New Formalist and Expressionist qualities. In 1966, the Memorial was included in the list of the nine best examples of contemporary architecture by the Hawai‘i Chapter of the AIA. Preis explained his design: “Wherein the structure sags in the center but stands strong and vigorous at the ends, expresses defeat and ultimate victory… The overall effect is one of serenity. Overtones of sadness have been omitted, to permit the individual to contemplate his own personal responses…his innermost feelings.” Photo by David Franzen Accessible only by boat, the Memorial is a 184-foot-long bridge over the wreck of the USS Arizona. The structure contains three rooms: the Entry, the Assembly Hall and the Shrine. The center hall is dominated by seven large openings on each side. The solid floor is interrupted by an area open to the water, through which the wreckage of the Arizona can be seen below. The wreck of the USS Arizona is designated a National Historic Landmark, as is the entire Pearl Harbor Naval Base, which encompasses all of Battleship Row. The Memorial itself, as well as the Battleship Row Mooring Quays, the nearby Chief Petty Officers Bungalows on Ford Island, and the Pearl Harbor Visitors Center, are part of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial (originally [...]

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific and Honolulu Memorial Commonly known as Punchbowl and historically known as Puowaina Crater, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific was originally listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 as “Puowaina—Hill of Sacrifice.” The historic designation was updated in 2014 to include the Honolulu Memorial and to update the documentation about the design significance of the entire district. The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is located within a caldera that was formed about 275,000 years ago. The Cemetery was established in 1948 as burial space for U.S. military dead from the Pacific Theater of World War II. From January 4 – March 25, 1949, nearly 10,000 World War II casualties were laid to rest; another 1,777 were interred in June that year. It remains an active cemetery. The Cemetery is designed to fit within the caldera. The interior walls form a green backdrop while an 800-foot long central boulevard provides a formal central east-west axis connecting a circular flagpole plaza at the entrance and an imposing marble memorial as a focal point at the western end. Two circular drives wind around the crater floor and sides. Granite markers lie flush with the lawn while Chinese banyan trees line the central drive. Monkey pod, shower trees and other landscaping contribute to the lush and serene setting. The substantial Honolulu Memorial was planned from the beginning and opened in 1964. The crescent-shaped building is centered on an 80-foot tall tower which carries a 33-foot-high sculpted figure of Columbia. In her left hand she holds a laurel branch, symbolizing valor or victory, and stands on the prow of a Navy carrier. The central galleries include a chapel, flanked [...]

Waikīkī War Memorial Natatorium The Territory of Hawai‘i built the Beaux Arts-style Natatorium in 1927, dedicating it to those from Hawai‘i who served in World War I. With its salt-water pool intended for healthy recreation, it was the nation’s first “living” war memorial. Duke Kahanamoku was the first to plunge in on opening day. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for both its historic and architectural significance. The War Memorial Natatorium contains a swimming complex that is situated along the oceanfront in Kapi‘olani Park and is surrounded by expansive lawns, coconut and banyan trees, and other vegetation. The property contains a 100-meter saltwater swimming pool, a set of concrete bleachers that rises thirteen levels high, a main entryway that includes an elaborate sculpture and triumphal arch entablature supported by Ionic pilasters and flanked by two lesser round arches, a set of locker rooms, and a volleyball and basketball court. The War Memorial Natatorium is significant as a major social and recreational local landmark and for its association with the history of competitive swimming. Closed to the public since 1970, the fate of the Natatorium has been the subject of fierce public debate for over 50 years. It is listed on both the Hawai‘i and National lists of Most Endangered Historic Places due to the years of neglect and failure to follow a preservation plan. In November 2019, the City and County of Honolulu issued the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the rehabilitation of the historic structure. The City’s proposed action is to retain the physical structure of the memorial with a new sea wall and perimeter deck, while maintaining the historic integrity of this iconic structure that has been part of [...]

HHF is pleased to share this personal reflection written by Nathan Valera, a senior at Inderkum High School in Sacramento, California. The essay was written as part of his senior independent volunteer-work project. Nathan contacted HHF with the intention of volunteering (virtually) with a community organization that aligns with his interest in perpetuating Hawaiian history and culture.  He will share a second essay later this month. Puka mai ka lā i ka wena o ke ao I ke aʻo kūpuna mālamalama The sun rises in the rosy glow of dawn like the enlightened ways of our ancestors. - Randie Kamuela Fong* The sun was still tucked away in her slumber when we awoke. Excitement-filled young children who had just finished our first year of middle school, we jumped out of our sleeping mats and ran to get into a line even before our kumu instructed us to. We walked outside single file towards the beach, our feet digging into the wet dirt of the backyard before reaching the cool sand and our eyes still adjusting to the darkness around us. Barely able to see ahead, we strode forward into the calm kai (ocean), allowing the warmth of the water to envelope us like a blanket against the cool morning wind that blew against us.   "We are at a program to learn...embrace...and lead by Hawaiian cultural values," wrote Nathan during his first Hoʻomākaʻikaʻi experience. “All the way! Get your head under!” instructed our kumu of Kamehameha Schools’ Ho‘omāka‘ika‘i Explorations** program. Like every morning that week, we did as we were told, and lowered ourselves under the warmth. It did not always begin as easily as this though. Curly hair was my biggest enemy growing [...]