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Ka Hale Lā‘au, the oldest still-standing, Western-style structure in Hawai‘i, also known as the "Old Mission House” and the “1821 Frame House”,  is celebrating its bicentennial year in 2021. Originally built as a residence for the first company of New England Protestant missionaries sent by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the structure became the first seat of the Sandwich Islands Mission and served as the Honolulu Mission Station. It was in active use from 1820-1862. The structure was delivered from Boston as cut lumber to be assembled upon arrival (what would be called pre-fabricated today). To get here, the structure travelled around Cape Horn aboard the brig Thaddeus with the first mission company, arriving first in Kona in April 1820. It was transported to Honolulu on board the ship Tartar on Christmas Day of 1820. After careful consideration by the ali‘i, in particular King Liholiho, the missionaries were given permission to build the structure in March of 1821. Construction for the first iteration of the house began the following month, and members of the first company were residing in it by August. The house remained in various stages of construction throughout the 19th century, changing to fit the evolving needs of the Honolulu Mission Station. The station compound grew, as did its community, and by the 1840s the house had two kitchens and up to 5 families living inside, each family occupying one room. When the active mission era concluded in the mid-19th century, the house became the primary residence of the Cooke family and remained their property until it was gifted to the Hawaiian Mission Children’s Society to be used as a historic site in 1907. Since then, due to numerous [...]

While it may not be the oldest in the islands, Saint Louis School can lay claim to being the most well-traveled and often-named one. By David Choo, guest contributor Saint Louis School, founded in 1846 as the College of Ahuimanu, was built on property on the Windward side of O‘ahu that was granted by King Kamehameha III to the Fathers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. One of the school’s most notable students was Jozef de Veuster, a 24-year old Belgian who arrived in Hawai‘i in March of 1864 determined to become a priest. Jozef would spend only a few months at the college, ordained at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in downtown Honolulu in May of that year and known thereafter as Father Damien. College of A‘ala courtesy: Images of Old Hawai‘i In 1881, the school moved to downtown Honolulu’s Beretania Street in a lot adjoining Washington Place. It was renamed the College of Saint Louis after France’s King Louis IX, who died leading his second crusade in the Middle East. Saint Louis had been the patron saint of the Hawai‘i’s bishop at the time.  However, just two years later, the collapse of a newly constructed building and the subsequent death of a student necessitated another move, this time to a site at the edge of downtown along Nu‘uanu Stream and fronting a street that would later be named College Walk. The school, now run by brothers from the Society of Mary, also known as Marianists, also got another name change, this time to the College of A‘ala. In 1914, the school added a high school and soon began to outgrow its downtown location. In 1923, the Marianists [...]

By Chipper Wichman, Ph.D., FLS President, National Tropical Botanical Garden Dr. Carlos Andrade, a noted historian and haku mele. Dr. Carlos Andrade is receiving a Preservation Award in Individual Achievement for his work in documenting and perpetuating the historical and cultural knowledge of Hā‘ena, Kaua‘i. I have known Carlos for most of my life and remember him as one of the pioneering surfers who came to surf the hollow barrels on the reefs in front of our home in Hā‘ena in the 1960s. Carlos’s love for surfing was second only to his talent and passion as a song writer and musician.  Inspired by the majestic beauty of the north shore of Kaua‘i and the epic stories of love, like Ko‘olau the Lepper, Carlos became a talented haku mele – one who weaves melodies and words into songs.  That many of his songs have been recorded by other artists is a testimony to their relevance and beauty. I believe it was Carlos’s love for music and Hawaiian culture that led him back to school late in life where he not only learned to speak and write in Hawaiian, but began to do research on the ahupua‘a of Hā‘ena, a place where he worked and surfed in his youth. As a student of the history of Hā‘ena myself, I was honored and pleased to see Carlos make Hā‘ena the focus of his PhD dissertation and was able to provide grant funding to help him with this research and writing.  The project resulted in countless hours of digital interviews with our kūpuna who shared their priceless memories of growing up in Hā‘ena when it was still an isolated community at the end of a long road [...]

Ka Hale Lā‘au, the oldest still-standing, Western-style structure in Hawai‘i, also known as the "Old Mission House” and the “1821 Frame House”,  is celebrating its bicentennial year in 2021. Originally built as a residence for the first company of New England Protestant missionaries sent by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the structure became the first seat of the Sandwich Islands Mission and served as the Honolulu Mission Station. It was in active use from 1820-1862. The structure was delivered from Boston as cut lumber to be assembled upon arrival (what would be called pre-fabricated today). To get here, the structure travelled around Cape Horn aboard the brig Thaddeus with the first mission company, arriving first in Kona in April 1820. It was transported to Honolulu on board the ship Tartar on Christmas Day of 1820. After careful consideration by the ali‘i, in particular King Liholiho, the missionaries were given permission to build the structure in March of 1821. Construction for the first iteration of the house began the following month, and members of the first company were residing in it by August. The house remained in various stages of construction throughout the 19th century, changing to fit the evolving needs of the Honolulu Mission Station. The station compound grew, as did its community, and by the 1840s the house had two kitchens and up to 5 families living inside, each family occupying one room. When the active mission era concluded in the mid-19th century, the house became the primary residence of the Cooke family and remained their property until it was gifted to the Hawaiian Mission Children’s Society to be used as a historic site in 1907. Since then, due to numerous [...]

A Preservation Award will recognize the Allerton Cottage and Montgomery House Restoration at the 2021 Preservation Honor Awards Virtual Ceremony on May 21st. Click here for further information. The project is being awarded for the restoration of two historic buildings within the Hā‘ena State Park on Kaua‘i, an integral component of the park’s Master Plan. At the start of the project, both structures were extremely deteriorated. Restoration included replacing the corrugated roof and frame, damaged or missing foundation members, wood decking and siding and reconstruction of wood single-hung multi-lite windows and five panel doors. The Montgomery House and the Allerton Caretaker’s Cottage can now be actively used by both park rangers and cultural practitioners, including lineal descendants of inhabitants of the area. This project exemplifies the hands-on work of historic preservation and highlights the Plan’s commitment to preserving the complete history of Hā‘ena State Park. The restoration also underlines how deeply preserving places can touch people's lives. Below, Alan Carpenter, the assistant administrator of the State Parks Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources shares a heartwarming recap of his experience participating in the project. Montgomery House front elevation after restoration. Photo credit: MASON. Alan Carpenter via Facebook February 11, 2021 A kūpuna unlocks the door to a humble plantation home in Hā’ena and the moment becomes an instant highlight of my park career. Kimi broke this story a few days ago, but I feel compelled to add some more context. One of the aspects of the Hāʻena State Park Master Plan closest to my heart was the proposed restoration of two humble plantation homes within the park landscape, among the last remaining vestiges of early 20th century life in Hāʻena [...]

Historian Zita Cup Choy (image @SoundCloud) Competent and unflappable aptly describe Zita Cup Choy. Her interest in history began in childhood and has fueled her nearly 45 year-career in research and education at Iolani Palace and Washington Place.  Zita has helped lead and develop countless exhibits, tours, media presentations, and training classes. Her command of research, documentation and recovery of knowledge is well-respected among her colleagues and peers. She has also contributed to the recovery of royal possessions. After chatting with her for this interview, I also formed the impression that for Zita, learning and sharing knowledge almost come as naturally to her as breathing! While the pride she has for her work is apparent, her personable, not-on-a-pedestal approach is what  distinguishes her. The historical narrative she maintains at both the Palace and Washington Place are accessible and relevant to her audience. Zita deftly bridges professional standards with great storytelling. HHF: How did you become involved with the Friends of Iolani Palace and Washington Place? How did it lead to your current role? ZCC: I was recruited by the Friends via a letter they sent to every O‘ahu Hawaiian Civic Club and signed up to train to become a docent in 1977, the year before the Palace opened.  Jim Bartels, the curator at the time, trained us.  He continued to be involved in docent training until he was hired by Mrs. Cayetano to work at Washington Place.  In 2000, Jim needed docents for Washington Place and figuring he would not need to teach Palace docents about the monarchy period or public speaking/customer service skills, he recruited Palace docents to become docents at Washington Place, with a clear understanding we were not to leave [...]