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At a special ceremony on February 2, 2025, the Hawaiian Railway Society rededicated a historic railway car and shared a glimpse of post-World War II history. The “Merci” Boxcar came to Hawai‘i in 1949, one of 49 “Merci” boxcars sent by France to the U.S. filled with gifts to thank Americans for the “Friendship Train” that sent aid to post-WWII Europe in 1947. Despite post-war shortages, Hawai‘i contributed significantly to the Friendship Train, filling two boxcars with sugar. The reciprocal gifts from France two years later included gifts from every French province, transported in a boxcar that had been used during World War I. Originally the boxcar transported 40 troops or eight horses, earning the nickname ‘40 & 8’. The Merci boxcar was left by the American Legion Hawai‘i clubhouse in Waikīkī from 1950 until 1998, when it was moved to the Hawaiian Railway Society’s Museum and Base Yard in ‘Ewa. The restoration effort took shape in 2013, led by Glen Houlton until he passed away and then under the management of Jeff Livingston. The effort received a boost from the Aloha Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) when they adopted the project in 2015. The DAR provided volunteers to remove rust and repaint the boxcar and its heraldic shields representing 40 French provinces. Although Houlton did not live to see the end results of his efforts, his legacy lives on through the dedicated volunteers who continue to honor his vision. Livingston said that his example and the DAR volunteers’ commitment ensures that the restored Merci boxcar stands as a testament to Hawai‘i’s role in international goodwill and the enduring spirit of gratitude and friendship between nations. Photos by Historic [...]

In November 2024, Christ Church Episcopal in Kealakekua celebrated the completion of a significant restoration project to preserve its historic structure. The Church was constructed in 1867 and is one of only a few nineteenth-century frame churches on the island of Hawai‘i and is the oldest wooden Episcopal Church in the State. It is listed in the Hawai‘i Register of Historic Places. The building is a single-story, frame structure with a concrete outer foundation measuring 25’ x 50’ and raised on wood posts set on stone. The restoration project began in 2018 to provide structural support, resurfacing exterior walls and repairs to the roof and bell tower. Architect Jaime Bush, AIA played a crucial role in documenting the historic structure and securing permits for the restoration. Mark Hummel Construction was contracted to execute the work. Initial efforts focused on restoring the Sacristy, South Wall, and North Wall. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a suspension of work in 2020-2021. In 2022, with support from the grant from the Freeman Foundation in cooperation with Historic Hawaii Foundation, restoration efforts resumed. The remaining tasks included restoring the Mauka Wall, Makai Wall, Tower, and Steeple. Structural repairs and replacements of rotted wood ensured the stability and safety of the tower, while volunteers assisted in cleaning and painting the interior walls. The restoration of the steeple was made easier when a former Junior Warden came back to visit and admired the restoration done to date, assured the church leadership that previous reinforcements had secured its structure. A report was confirmed and only a few problematic wood supports had to be replaced. Throughout the restoration, the church community adapted by holding services in the Queen Emma Community Center. Despite [...]

The National Trust for Historic Preservation selected five historic small restaurants on Maui for grant support in response to the economic impacts from the 2023 fires. Small businesses on Maui, heavily reliant on tourism, have weathered a series of devastating challenges over the past five years. The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic led to travel restrictions, which resulted in widespread unemployment and the closure of numerous restaurants. While the easing of the pandemic brought some relief, labor shortages and soaring product prices quickly placed new pressures on already struggling enterprises. In August 2023, the island was hit by catastrophic fires in Lahaina and Kula, further stalling tourism and economic recovery. Against this backdrop, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, funded by American Express, launched a special grant program aimed at revitalizing historic restaurants on Maui. The initiative, an offshoot of the “Backing Historic Small Restaurants” program that started in 2021, offered $40,000 renovation grants to five selected eateries. The goal was to support these establishments in preserving their historical significance while navigating the financial strains of the past few years. The Trust worked closely with the Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation to identify and encourage potential grant recipients. HHF Trustees met with several of the grantees to encourage them to apply and to refine their applications. The selected restaurants, each representing different phases of Maui’s rich history, are essential community fixtures. The grants have not only provided financial relief but also renewed hope and optimism for the future of Maui. The selected restaurants are: Ichiban Okazuya is a traditional Japanese delicatessen near Wailuku. Established in 1982 in what was once a plantation house, it is one of the last remaining okazuya eateries on the island. Co-owner [...]

By Mindy Pennybacker It began with plaque envy.  In 2015, after my husband, Don Wallace, and I had purchased 3052 Hibiscus Drive from my four brothers, we noticed that more than a dozen homes in our neighborhood boasted elegant, bronze plaques identifying them as City and County Historic Residences. We wanted a plaque of our own for three reasons. We wanted to commemorate my late grandparents, Lawrence and Mary Kang, who had bought the house in 1951, and my mother, Dolly Kang Lott, who maintained it with care and resided in it until she died. At times, it had housed up to nine family members from four generations. It is filled with memories of loved ones and big parties, and Don still cooks Korean barbecue on the cinderblock grill my grandfather built. Don and I had a big mortgage and small salaries, and the city’s property tax exemption for historically designated homes would help us afford to keep the house in the family. My family has always been proud of the tall, three-story, white wooden house with its peaked, gable roofs and big, double-hung windows admitting air and light from all directions. Don and I thought its age and unique style deserved recognition. It was built in 1929, and the architect was Swedish, my grandfather had said, although he couldn’t recollect the name. Neighbors said they’d hired architectural specialists who did all the research and filled out the historical designation nomination forms submitted to the Hawai‘i State Historic Preservation Division, known as SHPD. But we heard they charged thousands of dollars. Impecunious and underpaid journalists who prided ourselves on our research skills, we decided to do it ourselves. We quickly realized we would [...]

By Laurel Margerum Growing up, I did not pay much attention to the 120 to 140-year-old windows at my family’s seasonal camp in Maine. I was much more interested in the world to be explored on the other side of the glass, from the rocky islands to be reached by dinghy to the mossy hiking trails explored on foot. I first took notice of the windows when my mother pointed out an iridescence splash of light from their wavy glass on the hardwood floor. As I got older, I also began to understand how much work my parents and my mother’s parents put into maintaining the house. By the time I went to graduate school for Urban Planning and Historic Preservation, I was determined to contribute to the caretaking of the house that had always been my favorite place in the world. One thing needing urgent caretaking was our windows. My grandmother had restored them once in the 1970s after she and my grandfather purchased the camp. But almost fifty years later, most needed reglazing again, and no one really knew how to do it. During the summer between my first and second years of grad school, I interned with Maine Preservation’s Summer Fellows program. The program included a five-week placement with Bagala Window Works, a premier historic window restoration firm based in Westbrook, Maine. Over the course of the placement, I learned how remove old glazing putty and glass (in one piece!), prepare sashes for reglazing, reglaze with linseed oil putty, and repaint. Those five weeks were some of the most rewarding, valuable, and fun weeks of my life. I loved the challenge and endurance of glass removal and the quiet concentration [...]

For over 40 years, the historic former courthouse and police station in downtown Hilo has been home to the East Hawai‘i Cultural Center (EHCC), a nonprofit arts organization serving Hilo’s creative community since 1969. On the ground floor, galleries and exhibition spaces showcase the work of local and international contemporary artists while upstairs, an intimate 100-seat theater hosts performances, film screenings, lectures, and poetry readings. Constructed in 1932 and listed on the National and Hawai‘i Registers of Historic Places, the iconic two-story structure on Kalākaua Street has anchored Hilo’s town square since the Territorial Era. Over the years, the paint on the front lanai started to crumble as invasive species steadily overtook the surrounding landscape, prompting EHCC to embark on a transformative landscaping project in 2023, with a grant from HHF’s Hilo Preservation & Beautification Program. EHCC’s Native Plant Revitalization Project aimed to beautify and revitalize the grounds by reintroducing native plants and providing educational resources for visitors and passersby. The new Native Plant Garden was officially unveiled at Center’s Native Plant Pā‘ina on May 18, a celebration that brought together over 150 people with performances of oli and hula, ‘ukulele music, local food, keiki activities, and information about native plants. Designed in partnership with Laulima Nature Center, master gardener Yoga Ida Bagus and artists Sculptural Accents, the garden features native kalo, hāpu‘u, pōhinahina, tī plants, naupaka, and kupukupu ferns in planter boxes, gracefully spanning the building’s front facade. “As you know, how something looks on the outside matters. The improvement of our outside grounds has already changed how people feel about EHCC—from our staff to volunteers to visitors. ~Laurie Rich, Executive Director, East Hawai‘i Cultural Center Rich continues, “The improvement of our [...]