HistoricHawaii

Photos: Courtesy of State Historic Preservation Division Article Written By: Katrina Valcourt, HONOLULU Magazine What is it? Ancient Hawaiians used a system of trails called ala loa to travel between ahupuaa in precontact Hawaii. Over time, many evolved from footpaths tp our modern highways, but the routes remain. One of the best preserved examples is a 175-mile trail on the Big Island called the Ala Kahakai. Portions of it are on the National Register of Historic Places, however, there are many other "in-between" trails that are not, especially connecting trails running mauka to makai. What threatens it? All ancient trails are threatened by forces of nature (suck as lava flows or landslides), neglect or development. It's especially hard to preserve the trails that have not been identified as part of the ancient system; however, when they are identified, the State Historic Preservation Division takes measures to protect and preserve them, according to administrator Alan Downer. "The difficulty is that we are often working with fragmentary information. So we may have bits of trail segments identified in a report but nothing to put them in context of a system of trails," he says. "In such instances, it is difficult to make really effective management decisions because we don't have the information we need to make better ones." According to Aric Arakaki, superintendent of the Ala Kahakai with the National Park Service, "Everything is voluntary on the part of the land owners and the public to preserve it." He says that about50 percent of the trail runs through private property. "Any place that you see development coming up, we're kind of worried." What can be done? Arakaki says, "Trails that fall outside of our corridor, if they [...]

Article Written By: Katrina Valcourt, HONOLULU Magazine What is it? THis is one of the last remaining timber bridges in the Hawaii state highway system, according to the State Historic Preservation Division's files. Built in 1940 by engineer William R. Bartels, the 60-foot historic bridge carries Mamalahoa Highway over Ninole Strea. Though 76 years ole, its wooden columns and railings remain structurally sound, but it's not wide enough for modern transportation needs and does not match other bridges in the system. What threatens it? THe Federal Highway Administration's Federal Lands Highway Division and the state Department of Transportation have proposed a replacement bridge that would be able to accommodate larger vehicles and be safer. The project overview states that, as of Setp. 1 the final Environmental Assessment is being prepared, maps are being reviewed and the project is almost 100-percent designed. Funding, however, hasn't been acquired yet. What can be done? Because the bridge is eligible for the Hawaii Register of Historic Places, someone can nominate it to the state register without having to get the Department of Transportation's permission (this is not the case for sites nominated to the national register). Being listed on the register wouldn't guarantee its protection, but the State Historic Preservation Division would have to review the demolition first and could ask for other proposals to be considered. The current proposal calls for a temporary bridge to be constructed next to the current one whole the new bridge is being built. If the temporary bridge were built as the permanent replacement, the original bridge could remain for pedestrians and bicyclists.