Blog – Page 12 – Historic Hawaii Foundation

Poetry Reading: Vanessa Lee-Miller Recites her Poem, “Wailuku”
Poetry Reading: Vanessa Lee-Miller Recites her Poem, “Wailuku”

Poetry Reading: Vanessa Lee-Miller Recites her Poem, “Wailuku”

This summer, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation launched a virtual art exhibit entitled Serendipity: Expressing the Connection of People, Place and the Past to showcase art inspired by historic places in Hawai‘i. Artists of all ages and experience were welcome to submit works of visual art, including collages, drawings, paintings, photography, printmaking, and poetry. Wailuku, a poem by Vanessa Lee-Miller is especially captivating, capturing the mysterious power of the Wailuku River and the mo‘ōlelo it is associated with. 28 miles long, the Wailuku River flows downward from the eastern slope of Mauna Kea to Hilo Bay, where it joins the Pacific Ocean. It is the longest river in the Islands and is known for the scenic points of Waiānuenue (Rainbow) Falls and Boiling Pots. Poet, playwright and freelance journalist Lee-Miller is a native of Hilo and grew up with the river in her backyard. Her poem exhibits an intimate awareness of its enchanting beauty. Please enjoy her reading of Wailuku and the insights she shared about it. Wailuku by Vanessa Lee-Miller Wailuku, the raging kahawai, the river. Her kāholo, Her long sinuous journey begins, as a watery, pencil-thin line, a mere trickle. Mauka, way up high, looking towards nā lani, on Mauna Kea. Her 'auana is a graceful journey iho, downslope, towards rainy Hilo. 'Ae, Hilo, i ka ua kanilehua. As she continues to iho, journey downslope, a magical transformation ensues from her embodiment of a graceful, delicate trickle. She widens, becoming voluptuous, she's now a raging beast, plunging turbulently downward, full of ʻenaʻena. Capable of arbitrarily grasping in her watery fist, a young, reckless life and smuggling it into one of her many deep, cavernous pockets, in her slimy "ana". She'll stash it [...]

HistoricHawaii2021-10-22T08:46:50-10:00August 19th, 2021|Categories: Blog|Tags: #wailuku #poetryreading|

HHF’s New President and Members of the Board of Trustees
HHF’s New President and Members of the Board of Trustees

HHF’s New President and Members of the Board of Trustees

8/19/2021: Historic Hawai‘i Foundation invited the six new members of the Board of Trustees who were officially appointed at yesterday's Annual Meeting to tell us about their personal interests and the path that led them to HHF. Vernon Wong, who was elected board president, also reciprocated. We hope you will appreciate their candid and thoughtful responses. Q&A with the Trustees Elected to Serve a First Term on the Board The questions asked: Tell us a little about yourself and what motivated you to join the HHF board. Please name one of your favorite historic places in Hawai‘i and describe what makes it special to you. (Imagine where you'd take an out-of-town guest, for example.) Have you learned anything about yourself during the Covid-19 pandemic that you would be willing to share? Do you have a favorite book (provide the title and author), poem, or quote that you would like to share? What are you most proud of? JEREMY BALDWIN Jeremy Baldwin’s roots on Maui and O‘ahu go back six generations. He is manager and part owner of JKT Partnership which owns a number of historic buildings in Makawao Town on Maui. He has a BS in physics from Harvey Mudd College but has always been more interested in building and architecture. Many historic properties of the family led to repairs and renovations relying on traditional methods and the making of many sash windows. Single wall construction is the most fun to restore because it was often covered up and is more unique to the islands. He serves on the boards of Seabury Hall, Montessori School of Maui and the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation. I enjoy being involved with small historical projects and always viewed the [...]

HistoricHawaii2021-10-14T13:29:52-10:00August 19th, 2021|Categories: Blog|

Hāmākua Jodo Mission: Past, Present and Future
Hāmākua Jodo Mission: Past, Present and Future

Hāmākua Jodo Mission: Past, Present and Future

By: Sandy Takahashi, Hāmākua Jodo Mission Member The First Buddhist Temple in Hawai‘i In 1894, Reverend Gakuo Okabe was sent to O‘ahu, Hawai‘i as an officially selected Jodo Shu priest. Approximately two months later, Okabe left for Maui and then headed to Hawai‘i Island. After arriving in the County of Hāmākua, Reverend Okabe garnered a strong following among the Japanese immigrants living on the plantations who felt he was a sincere and honorable priest. Recognizing this, they rented him a house and placed a sign in front that read “Sacred Altar of Amida Buddha from Japan.” Tanikichi Fujitani Reverend Okabe worked tirelessly to spread his mission work of the teachings of Buddhism by visiting many locations, giving sermons and performing special memorial services for unknown deceased people, carrying an Amida Buddha statue on his back wherever he went. After some time, the Japanese community felt it was time to have a home temple built with Reverend Okabe as their sensei (“teacher” is its proper translation; however, this term is also used to address ministers, as well as doctors and lawyers). Hisashi Shimamura, the Imperial Consulate General of Japan to Hawai‘i, soon paid a visit. Members of the Japanese immigrant community mentioned the idea of building a home temple in Hāmākua. Consulate General Shimamura was so pleased with the idea that he pledged $300 to begin construction. Led by Reverend Okabe, the Japanese immigrant community worked extra hard to raise additional funds. This was a seemingly impossible task, but Reverend Okabe and one of the founding members, Tanikichi Fujitani persisted by going house to house on foot seeking donations within the plantation camps. They often subsisted on bananas on their journeys, all to make [...]

HistoricHawaii2021-10-22T08:46:57-10:00August 12th, 2021|Categories: Blog|

The O-bon Tradition in Hawai‘i
The O-bon Tradition in Hawai‘i

The O-bon Tradition in Hawai‘i

In Hawai‘i, the Japanese o-bon season is widely known for its bon odori (dance festivals) which are held across the Islands, attracting crowds of people throughout the summer. The festival season traditionally kicks off in early June at the Hawai‘i Plantation Village in Waipahu and at least one festival is held every weekend thereafter. The simple joy of gathering with friends to dance, donning a colorful yukata (cotton kimono) or hapi coat, following the rhythmic beat of taiko drums on a hot summer evening is a special memory for many. Although this year live bon dances in Hawai‘i have been cancelled again due to the covid-19 pandemic, many temples are offering virtual celebrations (see notes below). Beyond the merrymaking--what is the meaning of o-bon? Reverend Junshin Miyazaki of Hakalau Jodo Mission offered these reflections to share. O-bon Sermon by Reverend Junshin Miyazaki of Hakalau Jodo Mission Depiction of obon customs, 1867 (courtesy Hakalau Jodo Mission) O-bon is a mixture of many religions and cultures. The customs, the expression of O-bon, vary by region. Generally, the belief is that the spirits of the deceased come back from the other world to this world during O-bon. People welcome the deceased by having a minister officiate at a service at the home altar, making cucumber horses and eggplant cows to ride, making a fire and hanging lanterns outside so the deceased do not get lost, offering good foods, and dancing all night under the full moon. The deceased who passed away after the previous O-bon come back to this world for the first time. They are called Hatsu-bon or the First O-bon and people made much of it. The family hang a white chochin outside the [...]

HistoricHawaii2021-10-14T13:29:36-10:00August 6th, 2021|Categories: Blog|

Grassroots effort honors Kāne‘ohe wahi pana’s place in history
Grassroots effort honors Kāne‘ohe wahi pana’s place in history

Grassroots effort honors Kāne‘ohe wahi pana’s place in history

Earlier this week the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported a local effort to drive awareness to the historic significance of Kāne‘ohe Beach Park and restore its Hawaiian place name, Naoneala‘a, meaning "the sands of La‘amaikahiki.” This coastal area of Kāne‘ohe is named after the famous chief La‘amaikahiki who is said to have come from Tahiti. Mo‘ōlelo tell us that the newly appointed chief sailed by canoe around the island and decided to stop at this beach. From his canoe, he announced his official presence, throwing sand onto the shore. The beach was then named Naoneala‘a after him--“naone” means sand and “la‘a” is an abbreviation of his name. The new chief resided here through his reign and built three heiau in the area. His descendants became ali‘i on Hawai‘i, Maui, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i. Naoneala‘a is also significant as the site of a major peacemaking ceremony. In 1737, after years of war among the islands, ali‘i of Maui, O‘ahu, Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i Island gathered at Naoneala‘a. Hundreds of warriors from O‘ahu and Kaua‘i stood on the hillsides above the beach, and hundreds more waited aboard canoes along the coastline from Naoneala‘a to Mokapu. On the beach at Naoneala‘a, Chief Alapa‘i of Hawai‘i Island and Chief Peleioholani of O‘ahu, adorned with ceremonial capes and helmets, came together and declared an end to war--that "all shall be as it was before." The original name of this popular beach park and its historical significance will now be more widely known thanks to the efforts of the Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club (KHCC). On July 30th, members of the civic club celebrated the dedication of a new storyboard at Naoneala‘a that shares its origins. The signage project was funded through a grant from the [...]

HistoricHawaii2021-10-14T13:29:25-10:00August 5th, 2021|Categories: Blog|Tags: #savingplaces #HistoricHawaii|

Kalākaua Park Restores Original Landscape Design
Kalākaua Park Restores Original Landscape Design

Kalākaua Park Restores Original Landscape Design

Kalākaua Park on Hawai‘i Island has served as Hilo’s town square since it was dedicated in 1877 by King David Kalākaua. A recent project restored the historic stonework that defines the amphitheater and brought back key elements of the landscape design. Working on the path restoration. The park contains several historic features, including the stone-lined tiers of the amphitheater that was installed in the 1930s. Over time, the stones have settled, been covered by lawn and maintenance ramps, or have been dislodged. The disrepair made the space less inviting and usable. Other historic features of the park include the original shade trees, said to have been planted by Kalākaua himself. A sundial donated by the King also helped the people of Hilo set their watches for decades. A pond and marble monument honor community members who died in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. The park is surrounded by historic buildings, including the Federal Building, the former courthouse and police station (now the East Hawai‘i Cultural Center) and the Hawaiian Telephone Company. On April 26, the restoration work began with a blessing of the place, crew and tools. Work had progressed enough to allow the traditional May Day festivities and rededication of the park on May 1. Work continued through the month, with a closing blessing on May 26. “The park looks stunning and is admired by a great many old timers who remember how it looked before, and great many newcomers who appreciate the strong design lines of the Thompson landscape design firm,” said Cannon-Eger. During the course of the project, the crews found a previously unknown line of stones under one of the terraces. The cut stones were different [...]

HistoricHawaii2021-10-14T13:27:14-10:00July 15th, 2021|Categories: Blog|Tags: #kalakauapark #HistoricHawaii|

Threading the Needle: Susan and Ken Forbes
Threading the Needle: Susan and Ken Forbes

Threading the Needle: Susan and Ken Forbes

KEEPING HAKALAU’S HISTORY AND VALUES ALIVE* From the 1880s, Hakalau Sugar Plantation steadily supported a growing community. Immigrants—first from China, Portugal and Japan; then from Korea, Spain and other parts of Europe—fulfilled the need for laborers, some settling in independent homesteads. By the early 1940s Hakalau had a new hospital, school gym, theater, and bridge over Hakalau Stream; its businesses were thriving. The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 contributed to a more urgent need for both labor and housing. Economic uncertainty and World War II only made the situation more acute; the use of machinery for harvesting became more prevalent. In 1943, the Wailea Mill merged with Hakalau Sugar Plantation, bringing production to its all-time highest. This all changed, however, after the devastating tsunami of 1946. The Hakalau Mill and some railroad bridges were destroyed, causing production to shut down for a year; the first industry-wide labor strike created further disruption. Resulting financial losses and heavy debt compounded by labor strife made it impossible for Hakalau Plantation to recover. The process of abandoning outlying villages and selling houses to workers on a removal basis began. By the 1960s the sugar industry began consolidating--Hakalau Plantation was merged with Pepe‘ekeo Sugar Company, which later became a part of Mauna Kea Sugar Company. The business was diversified into macadamia nut and bio-mass tree farming. Around 2000, parent company C. Brewer started to subdivide its agricultural lands, offering them for sale in ten-acre lots. Except for the manager’s house and a few other structures, the homes and plantation buildings below the highway were demolished for the development of new oceanside estates and subdivisions. Despite these dramatic changes, the spirit of the Hakalau community has remained strong through present [...]

HistoricHawaii2021-10-14T13:26:44-10:00July 2nd, 2021|Categories: Blog|Tags: #hakalau #hakalaujodomission #HistoricHawaii|

W. S. Merwin and the Merwin Conservancy: Reflections on Poetry and Nature
W. S. Merwin and the Merwin Conservancy: Reflections on Poetry and Nature

W. S. Merwin and the Merwin Conservancy: Reflections on Poetry and Nature

The Merwin Conservancy is located in a rural neighborhood in Ha‘ikū, in the moku of Hamakualoa, and the ahupua‘a of Pe‘ahi. The property spans the slopes on both sides of the Pe‘ahi Stream. It is the site where renowned poet, W.S. Merwin, and his beloved wife of 40 years, Paula Dunaway, slowly and artfully manifested their vision for living in harmony with and regenerating the land. When Merwin purchased the 19-acre plot of former agricultural land in 1977, his intention was to restore native Hawaiian ecology. The neglected landscape proved too lacking in nutrients to support the native tree species that once lived there. So, Merwin turned to palms. The Merwins’ thoughtful and steady efforts to, in William’s words, “try to restore a bit of the earth’s surface that had been abused by human ‘improvement’ " grew to encompass one of the largest and most extensive palm collections in the world with over 2,740 individual palm trees, featuring more than 400 taxonomic species and 125 unique genera, with nearly 900 different horticultural varieties. While living here, W.S. Merwin was named U.S. Poet Laureate (2010-11), and won the National Book Award and his second Pulitzer Prize. Photo from The Garden Gallery, https://merwinconservancy.org/garden-gallery/ The Merwins' ensuing lifestyle embodied their love of art and nature. As they restored the land they aligned their lives with the natural environment surrounding them. The home that Merwin designed and helped build, is self-sustaining with solar energy electricity, natural shading from the tree canopy cooling the house and cisterns throughout the property collecting rainwater and filtering it for daily use. The Man and the Poet A Renaissance man, W. S. Merwin had a long and illustrious career as a poet, [...]

HistoricHawaii2021-10-14T13:25:43-10:00July 1st, 2021|Categories: Blog|Tags: #wsmerwin #merwinconservancy|

Lynette Hi‘ilani Cruz recognized with Individual Achievement Preservation Honor Award
Lynette Hi‘ilani Cruz recognized with Individual Achievement Preservation Honor Award

Lynette Hi‘ilani Cruz recognized with Individual Achievement Preservation Honor Award

Educator and advocate Lynette Hi‘ilani Cruz, PhD was born in Hilo and grew up on O‘ahu, eventually settling in Wai‘anae. She holds a PhD in Anthropology. For most of her adult life, Cruz has been a strong and effective advocate for the preservation and maintenance of ancient Hawaiian historic places. During her years as a professor of cultural anthropology at Hawai‘i Pacific University, she has inspired hundreds of students to volunteer and mālama historic sites primarily on the island of O‘ahu. By promoting place-based learning, Cruz encourages students to put into practice what they learn in the classroom. Since her retirement from HPU, she continues these efforts as a professor at Leeward Community College Wai‘anae. She also maintains her advocacy work via Hui Aloha ‘Āina o Ka Lei Maile Ali‘i, an organization which she formed to involve people in cultural service work and learning in honor of Queen Lili‘uokalani. After years of practice, Cruz has established relationships with a considerable number of caretakers and supporters. Under her leadership, volunteers have completed restoration or rehabilitation work at dozens of sites, including: Hālawa Valley, Ho‘oulu ‘Āina (Kalihi), Huilua Fishpond (Kahana), lo‘i kalo in Ka‘ala, Kanehekili Heiau (Haiku), Kanewai loko i‘a (Kuli‘ou‘ou), Mākua Valley, Ulupō Heiau (Kailua), Kaniakapūpū (Nu‘uanu), and many others. “Lynette has been a tireless voice of na kūpuna kahiko (the ancestors), teaching others about the value of these wahi pana and wahi kapu (famous and sacred places) as well as introducing and connecting them to modern historical events,” says fellow advocate Mahealani Cypher. “Her strong heart and love for history has nurtured and inspired many to follow in her footsteps to support and preserve the history of our ancestors.” This 1897 article by Miriam [...]

HistoricHawaii2021-08-02T09:27:17-10:00June 16th, 2021|Categories: Blog|

What’s to Become of Kaniakapūpū?
What’s to Become of Kaniakapūpū?

What’s to Become of Kaniakapūpū?

By Donne Dawson, HHF Trustee At this year’s Preservation Honor Awards, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation honored a protection measures project installed at the beloved and very fragile Kaniakapūpū, the 176-year-old summer home in Nu‘uanu Valley of King Kamehameha III, Kauikeaouli, and his queen, Kalama. Kauikeaouli was the second son of Kamehameha the Great and the longest reigning monarch in the Hawaiian Kingdom. His majestic 12-foot tall statue stands today in Thomas Square in Honolulu in honor of Lā Ho‘i Ho‘i Ea, one of the first national holidays of the Hawaiian Kingdom when Admiral Richard Thomas was sent by England’s Queen Victoria to restore the Hawaiian Kingdom after rogue agents of the British Crown temporarily seized control of the Hawaiian government. Kauikeaouli proclaimed these now famous words, Ua mau ke Ea o ka ‘āina i ka pono, “the sovereignty of the Hawaiian Nation is restored by righteousness,” as the Hae Hawai‘i, the Hawaiian flag, was raised again supplanting the Union Jack. A lū’au is said to have happened at Kaniakapūpū where 10,000 people marched up Nu‘uanu Valley to the King’s summer estate to celebrate the return of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Since Kaniakapūpū was built prior to the lush Nu‘uanu forest we know today, it’s likely that the giant Hae Hawai‘i--atop what was probably a 100-foot flagpole--was the most prominent feature of the 18-acre site, visible from Honolulu Harbor a mere 4 ½ miles away. The Preservation Award was given to Kaniakapūpū in recognition of recent mitigating efforts by the State Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife; Honua Consulting, LLC; Omizu Architecture and ‘Ahahui Mālama o Kaniakapūpū—kahu ‘āina of the area led by Dr. Baron Ching, Kapukini Kalahiki, Dr. Lynette Cruz and others [...]

HistoricHawaii2021-08-13T13:55:49-10:00June 8th, 2021|Categories: Blog|