FacebookTwitterYouTubeNewsletter SignupNewsletter Signup

HistoricHawaii

About HistoricHawaii

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far HistoricHawaii has created 1696 blog entries.

Preservation Month: Iconic Oʻahu Cemetery Celebrates its 175th Anniversary this August

Oʻahu Cemetery Burial Ground and Historic Site By Nanette Napoleon Along the busy thoroughfare which is upper Nuʻuanu Avenue in Honolulu, sits an 18-acre parcel of land adorned with large beautiful heritage trees and an array of thousands of lovely upright tombstones; each having a unique personal story to tell.  This place has the distinction of being an important historical site, inspiring outdoor museum, and beautifully landscaped Garden of the Dead, providing valuable park-like open space to a densely populated neighborhood. Historically, Oʻahu Cemetery—founded in 1844—is significant as Hawaiʻiʻs first public graveyard.  There are hundreds of notable permanent residents resting peacefully. Several notable ones include: Alexander Joy Cartwright, Jr. (1820-1892), the so-called “Father of American Baseball”; John Papa Iʻi (1800-1870), one of the most influential political leaders of his day; Benjamin Franklin Dillingham (1844-1820), railroad and land baron; Ululani Jabulka (1895-1970, international opera star; Henry Bond Restarick (1854-1933), first American Bishop of the Anglican Church in Hawaiʻi; Bina Mossman (1893-1990), Hawaiian musician and political leader; Dr. George Straub (1879-1966), pioneer group practice physician; Cherilla Lowrey (1861-1918), founder of the Outdoor Circle; Julie Swanzy (1860-1941), champion of public parks and children’s causes; Rev. Paul Osumi (1905-1996), author of newspaper column “Today’s Thoughts”; and Julia H. Afong (1840-1919), matriarch of the illustrious Ah Fong clan; to name a few. The most poignant gravesite at Oʻahu Cemetery is that of George Gill Jamieson (1918-1928) who was kidnapped and murdered in 1928.  The kidnapping of this young boy triggered an island-wide manhunt for the kidnapper and Jamieson.  After days of intense searching and community despair, little Gill was found dead in a dense grove of trees in Waikiki. The entire territory of Hawaiʻi went into mourning.  Soon after 20-year-old [...]

2019-07-08T15:38:48-10:00May 6th, 2019|Categories: Blog|

Celebrate Statewide Achievements in Preservation with HHF at the 45th Annual Honor Awards Program

Community advocate, Native Hawaiian consultant and preservationist Māhealani Cypher to Receive 11th Annual Frank Haines Award Historic Hawai‘i Foundation will honor exemplary achievements in historic preservation at a ceremony and reception at YWCA Laniākea in Honolulu on Friday, May 31, 2019 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM.  Presented annually since 1975, the Awards bring together architects, contractors, planners, historians, writers, archeologists, and all who contribute to the preservation of our historic places and stories. One of the highlights this year is the presentation of 11th annual Frank Haines Award* to Mahealani Cypher, a long-time community advocate and consultant on native Hawaiian issues, historic preservation and Hawaiian perspectives on planning and conservation. Inspired by the stories and wisdom she learned from her grandmother, Mahealani has devoted herself to the protection of Native Hawaiian rights and preservation of traditional Native Hawaiian cultural practices, values and wahi pana, particularly in the ahupua‘a of He‘eia. An active member in a number of community organizations since 1975, she advocates for the preservation of Kawa‘ewa‘e Heiau, Haiku Valley and the agricultural lands of Hoi in He‘eia, together with her colleagues of Koolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club (KHCC). This photo shows Māhealani with other KHCC members in 2011 with one of the State’s first official ahupua‘a boundary markers. Mahealani initiated the ahupua‘a boundary marker project in order to, in her own words, “connect island residents with the old names of the ahupua‘a in which they lived, and their kuleana to care for cultural and natural resources of these places.”  Today, awareness of ahupua‘a and the cultural values and practices associated with them have become a part of our public consciousness and what we value today as a community.   Please join us in honoring [...]

2019-05-01T15:54:05-10:00May 1st, 2019|Categories: Blog|

ACTION ALERT: National Register Nominations Under Threat!

Submit Comments by April 30th Opposing Proposed Rule Changes to National Register of Historic Places  WHAT Proposed revisions to the National Register of Historic Places would substantially impact how historic resources are nominated to the National Register of Historic Places and determined eligible. The National Park Service is accepting public comments on the proposed changes through April 30. The changes would allow federal agencies to block National Register nominations. They would restrict the availability of historic tax credits and give large land owners an outweighed ability to block historic district nominations. While the stated intent of the proposed rule changes is to bring regulations current with recent amendments to the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the proposed revisions clearly go far beyond that purpose and are inconsistent with the language in and intent of the NHPA.  IMPACT OF REVISIONS Federal historic properties. Federal agencies will be given total control of whether to nominate properties under their jurisdiction, meaning federally owned historic properties may no longer be added to the National Register of Historic Places. Federal ownership in a historic district. A historic district nomination can be blocked if only one property in the entire district is owned by the US Government and the agency that owns the property objects to listing. Property owner objections. Owners of large properties will be given an outweighed ability to block the listing of historic districts or other nominations to the National Register. Under the proposed revisions, objections to National Register listings will be based on the ownership of a majority of the land area in addition to the current counting of one private owner, one vote. There is no statutory authority to make this change and any such change would [...]

2019-05-02T15:42:51-10:00April 25th, 2019|Categories: Advocacy, Blog|

Preservation in Practice Seminar Series – June 2019

In June 2019, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation, in collaboration with the National Park Service, continued its popular statewide educational seminars providing training on historic preservation lessons learned from regional preservation case studies. DOWNLOADS PRESENTATIONS + RESOURCES Case Study: Glenn Mason, Mason; Stevie Whalen, Hawaii Agricultural Research Center, Kunia Plantation Village Project Case Study: Notes - Mahealani Cypher, Koolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, Ahupuaa Boundary Markers Project Case Study:  KT Eger, Friends of Liliuokalani Gardens Case Study: Greg Chun, Awa Kele LLC, Hapaialii Heiau Kona Handout - Project Evaluation Model Case Study: Adam Johnson, National Park Service, Puukohola Heiau National Historic Park, Hawaiian Legacy Program Case Study: Chris Faye, Hui o Laka, Kokee Civilian Conservation Corp Camp Rehabilitation Case Study: Tommy Noyes, Kauai Path, Puna Moku Coastal Heritage Trail Case Study: Jonathan Starr & Linda Clarke, Kaupo Community Assocation; Jim Niess, Maui Architectural Group, Kaupo School & Teacher's Cottage Project Case Study: Kona Coffee Living History Farm, Gavin Miculka, Kuulani Auld,Kona Historical Society & Paul M Donoho Case Study: Mary Orwing, Makawao History Museum Case Study: Victoria Wichman, State Parks, Presley Wann & Emily Cadiz, Hui Maka’ainana O Makana, Haena State Park Loi Kalo Project Case Study: Theo Morrison, Lahaina Restoration Foundation, Pioneer Mill Co. Smoke Stack Case Study: Tonia Moy, Fung Associates, Hobron-Lai Residence Overview of Historic Preservation Grant Funding in Hawaii, Historic Hawaii Foundation Historic Preservation and Land Use Permits - Kathy Sokugawa, City & County of Hawaii, Dept of Planning & Permitting Navigating the County of Hawai‘i’s Land Use Regulatory Framework - Alex Roy, Certified Local Government Coord., County of Hawaii Planning Department Historic Tax Incentives, State Historic Preservation Division The half-day seminars will [...]

2020-03-30T10:10:06-10:00April 24th, 2019|Categories: Events - Past|

4578 Kahala Avenue Residence

Address 4578 Kahala Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816 TMK (1) 3-5-004:013 SHPD Historic Site Number 50-80-14-08807 Abstract Approved for Criterion C (Architecture and Engineering).  The residence at 4578 Kahala Avenue was completed in 1935 and is a single-story Tudor Revival home with elements of Craftsman detailing.  The style was popular from the 1890s through the 1940s, and this is a good example with a steeply pitched roof and prominent steeply-pitched cross gables.  Wood cladding was somewhat uncommon for the style, but with Hawaii's climate and remote location, wood was the building material most employed for residences. This list of Hawaii’s historic properties is provided as a public service by Historic Hawaii Foundation. It is not the official list of properties designated on the Hawaii State Register of Historic Places. For official designations and determinations of eligibility, contact the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources of the State of Hawaii at 808-692-8015.

2019-04-18T12:51:09-10:00April 18th, 2019|Categories: Historic Properties|Tags: |

4369 Aukai Avenue Residence

Address 4369 Aukai Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816 TMK (1) 3-5-013:025 SHPD Historic Site Number 50-80-14-09824 Abstract Approved for Criterion C (Architecture and Engineering).  The 4369 Aukai house is architecturally significant as an example of a modern residence designed by Honolulu architect George Hogan.  Within the home, each room has views to one of the three main viewpoints - the front Japanese garden, the side landscaped walkway on the west side of the west wing, or the rear lanai space surrounded by lush landscaping obstructing the view of surrounding properties. This list of Hawaii’s historic properties is provided as a public service by Historic Hawaii Foundation. It is not the official list of properties designated on the Hawaii State Register of Historic Places. For official designations and determinations of eligibility, contact the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources of the State of Hawaii at 808-692-8015.

2019-04-18T12:06:44-10:00April 18th, 2019|Categories: Historic Properties|Tags: |

Stroll Back in Time at Dillingham Ranch on May 11

More than 80 people gathered on beautiful, sunny, Saturday, May 11 at historic Dillingham Ranch. Guests strolled the property, enjoyed fine cuisine catered by North Shore’s Ke Nui Kitchen and learned more about this exquisite property and its related stories. Volunteer docents shared the history of ranching, the Dillingham Family, the Dollhouse and origins of Daughters of Hawai‘i, Hawaiian legend and archaeology and architecture of the main Lodge House. Chris Dawson, Founder and chairman of Hawaiian Native Corporation (HNC), and president and CEO of the DAWSON companies, an avid, longtime polo player, opened the event with a brief history of polo in Hawai‘i followed by a short exhibition of riders on beautiful polo ponies. Everyone was thrilled to be part of this unexpected and unique experience. It was a day to remember and a true stroll back in time. Did you attend the event? Your feedback is important to us. Click here to take a short survey. Interested to learn more about the property and its history? Click here to learn more about future plans for the property. Read about the archaeology here. Learn more about the architecture here. Enjoy a photo gallery of the event below. Join us for an Exclusive Historic Open House Event Take advantage of a rare opportunity to experience tranquil Dillingham Ranch on the slopes above Mokulē‘ia, a historic property rich with stories from Hawai‘i’s past. From the welcoming lanai of the 1913 Dillingham family home, you’ll feel transported back in time to a simpler landscape and lifestyle as you gaze across the pastures [...]

2019-05-17T13:48:21-10:00April 15th, 2019|Categories: Events - Past|

Democracy by Design: A Symposium Celebrating the Hawai‘i State Capitol at 50

Democracy by Design   Historic Hawai‘i Foundation was honored to be part of a task force appointed by the State Legislature and Governor David Ige to commemorate and celebrate the milestone 50 year anniversary of the Hawai‘i State Capitol Building. Other members of the task force included the Hawai‘i State Archives, State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, DAGS, local architects and planners, legislators and First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige. Senator Brian Taniguchi served as chair. On Saturday, March 16 more than a 130 people gathered in the Capitol auditorium for the Democracy by Design Symposium, featuring six enlightening and inspiring sessions. (Videos of all six sessions are available below. To view the speakers'  individual PowerPoint presentations click the green buttons to your right.) The day-long event was free and open to the public. State Senator Brian Taniguchi and Kiersten Faulkner, Executive Director of Historic Hawai‘i Foundation, welcomed attendees and Faulkner served as moderator throughout the day. Democracy by Design - Part 1 https://youtu.be/lCwU7zPKghc Democracy by Design - Part 2 https://youtu.be/RiOzEhTCYLo Democracy by Design - Part 3 https://youtu.be/1ti-aoDhVBU Democracy by Design was the theme of a full-day symposium exploring the role of design in fostering open government and democratic engagement planned for the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Capitol. ABOUT THE CAPITOL The Capitol was dedicated on March 15, 1969 on the tenth anniversary of the passage of the Statehood bill by Congress. Governor John Burns used his opening address to the legislature to expound on the openness and spirit of Hawai‘i: “The open sea, the open sky, the open doorway, open arms and open hearts—these are the symbols of our Hawaiian heritage…It is by means of this striking architecture of this new [...]

2019-07-03T12:35:34-10:00March 27th, 2019|Categories: Events - Past|

Beadie Kanahele Dawson celebrated as the 2019 Kama‘āina of the Year

On October 19th, over 450 guests joined Historic Hawai‘i Foundation at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel to recognize Beadie Kanahele Dawson as the 2019 Kama‘āina of the Year for her lifelong commitment to helping others. Beadie was honored for her leadership in the restoration of Iolani Palace, her pivotal role in the reorganization of Bishop Estate Trust and her advocacy to support the native Hawaiian community. […]

2019-12-11T14:38:54-10:00March 14th, 2019|Categories: Kamaaina of the Year|

Moiliili Japanese Cemetery

Address 2642 Kapiolani Blvd, Honolulu, HI  96826 TMK (1) 2-7-018:024 SHPD Historic Site Number 50-80-14-07748 Abstract Approved for Criterion C (Architecture and Engineering, specifically monument and landscape architecture).  The cemetery was founded in 1908, and sits atop a basalt lava flow that left the site with poor agricultural potential but ideal for the development of a cemetery.  Grave sites were needed as large numbers of the ethnic Japanese community expanded exponentially with an increasing birthrate and migrations from the plantations into Honolulu, and from the 1886 and 1900 fire-ravaged Downtown/Chinatown neighborhoods. This list of Hawaii’s historic properties is provided as a public service by Historic Hawaii Foundation. It is not the official list of properties designated on the Hawaii State Register of Historic Places. For official designations and determinations of eligibility, contact the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources of the State of Hawaii at 808-692-8015.

2019-02-22T11:14:24-10:00February 22nd, 2019|Categories: Historic Properties|Tags: |

501(c)3

Historic Hawaii Foundation is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit organization dedicated to saving Hawaii’s historic places. Historic Hawaii Foundation exists because of the financial support of its members. Please do your part to keep Hawaii’s past preserved by becoming a member today. FEIN: 23-7441972

Sign Up For E-News

Receive HHF Newsletters to stay updated on preservation news and events.
Go to Top