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Aloha United Way has been a driving force here in Hawai‘i for the past 100 years! AUW has done so much for the community; they have been a beacon of hope and inspiration. Over the past century, AUW has raised a staggering amount for the community, more than $677 million. We were humbled to celebrate and recognize AUW for their milestone anniversary at our 45th Annual Preservation Honor Awards Ceremony this past May. To really implement change and provide support, we must come together as a community. AUW’s tagline for their Centennial Celebration is, “Creating Change Together.” This is such a simple yet important sentiment. Maura Dolormente, Director of Marketing and Communications at AUW provided an incredible statistic; last year alone, AUW invested in $16.2 million into the community and supported 315 non-profit partner agencies. It truly is beautiful to see the amazing things that can happen when we support, lift up, and work with one another. Transforming Lives and Spreading Aloha are two big parts of AUW’s outreach; and they have done just that since 1919. As an organization, they have been able to support and address the various issues our community here in Hawai‘i faces on a daily basis. I wholeheartedly believe AUW will continue on this amazing path of creating a better future for Hawai‘i and to remind us all to, “Live United.”   *Photo from the Aloha United Way Instagram Page

Historic Hawai‘i Foundation's executive director and education program manager enjoyed a site visit to the Hakalau Jodo Mission, perched on the stunning Hamakua Coast on Hawai‘i Island, on Kamehameha Day 2019 while on island for HHF's annual preservation seminars co-hosted by the National Park Service. Community engagement and ongoing stewardship of this beautiful and significant historic place is notable and inspiring. An upcoming  presentation on the history and meaning of Obon and Bon Dance lent an air of great excitement and a multitude of other activities and events such as yoga, farmers market and senior luncheons help introduce new members and local community to the rich history of the Mission and plantation era. The Mission received a preservation grant through Historic Hawai‘i Foundation in 2018 that will help repair leaks and water damage in the temple and social hall; restore the decorative medallions on the temple facade; repair windows and doors and install safety barriers at the remains of the former language school. Community member and Mission steward, Susan Forbes, DrPH, who co-authored the Historic Register nomination with architectural historian Don Hibbard, PhD, gave HHF a tour and shares more below about the preservation of the Mission and what makes Hakalau unique. Historic Hawai‘i Foundation: What were some of the threats that this area or property faced? Susan Forbes: Hakalau Jodo Mission has a small, aging membership. Sustainability is a challenge. Fortunately, the Mission is viewed as an important part of the community. The threat is being viewed as irrelevant in a changing environment. The Hakalau Jodo Mission works hard to remain relevant by engaging the community as well as other Buddhist sects. HHF: What was most needed to preserve the Hakalau Jodo Mission? SF: [...]

by Phil Deters and Beth Iwata Have you ever wandered past the YWCA building on Richards Street in Honolulu and wondered when and how the conception of this fabulous building came about?  You might be surprised that the building has been a landmark in downtown Honolulu for more than 90 years.  You may find it even more intriguing that the building was designed and supervised by architect Julia Morgan (1872-1957) of Oakland, California, the first female architect licensed in California and the first woman admitted to the prestigious L'Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. When she undertook the Honolulu YWCA project in 1925, Morgan had already designed several YWCA buildings and other institutions in California, Hawaii, and elsewhere, many serving primarily women and girls.  Her work included buildings at the University of California, Berkeley; Mills College; numerous residential projects; and, notably, the William Randolph Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California. Julia Morgan first worked for the YWCA in Hawaii around 1917, when she remodeled a beach house in Waikiki for the Atherton family and later their Fernhurst homestead, both of which eventually became property donated to the YWCA.  For the Richards Street YWCA, she managed final design and almost-daily long-range supervision of construction long distance while remaining in California where she continued to oversee building at San Simeon.  The almost exclusive and graceful use of stucco reinforced concrete for the building and earthquake-resistant design demonstrated her early UC Berkeley training as both an architect and a civil engineer.  The Spanish style three-sectioned building, with its "gently advancing and receding bays," surrounds a courtyard, a two-story central arcade, and large outdoor swimming pool and dining area.  Ornamental ironwork at key points casts changing shadows while [...]

Program to receive Commendation Award at Honor Awards Ceremony on May 31 By Michelle Kiczek, Development Associate, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation Besides Hawai‘i being a visually breathtaking paradise, it is a place that is home to rich and diverse cultural histories. Culture is such an important aspect of life here in Hawai‘i; being able to experience and immerse yourself in various cultures and traditions is one of the reasons Hawai‘i is such an incredibly unique place. We are lucky to live in such a special place, that brings people together from all walks and backgrounds of life. In Kona, there is a wonderful place where one can be transported back to another time. The "Hands on History" at the Kona Coffee Living History Farm allows you to go on a self-guided experience where “you’re free to walk among the coffee trees, meet a ‘Kona Nightingale’, or watch how farmers used the kuriba (coffee-processing mill) and hoshidana (traditional drying platform) to mill and dry their world famous coffee. (You can) visit the original 1920’s farmhouse where you may find the homemaker starting the fire to cook rice or making musubi for the farmer’s lunch.”* Backyard Groceries - Vegetable gardening. For a couple hours out of your day, one can engage in talks and hands-on demonstrations that “highlight Hawaiian, Japanese, and other cultural practices important in the daily lives of Kona coffee pioneers.” Various activities are offered such as: Lauhala Weaving, Traditional Medicinal Gardening, Japanese Pickling, Tofu-Making, Ikebana (Japanese Floral Arranging), and Calligraphy. You may also run into HHF’s 2018 Preservation Individual Achievement Award Honoree Miki Izu who will be “roasting green coffee beans over an open fire and gently coaxing them to a beautiful brown [...]

My experience as a docent For a high school senior interested in history, the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation was an ideal place to learn more about the preservation of our shared heritage. I had always been unsure about what a preservation/history oriented career would involve outside of teaching. By the time my tenure as a volunteer had finished, not only did I learn about my subject matter, but I had gained professional experience in a real world environment. I met and spoke with community organizers, preservationists, historians, and history professors who all shared their viewpoints and experiences with me. As a result, I've become more confident about what I can look forward to in a career in historical studies and preservation. As a volunteer, my role was docent and presenter at Historic Hawai‘i Foundation's public event, "Stroll Back in Time", a historic open house held at Dillingham Ranch in Waialua, O‘ahu on May 11. My duties prior to the event involved performing research about the Dillingham family, and creating a script derived from my research. On the day of the event I presented that information to the guests. The extensive planning, collaboration, and research was made easy by the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation leadership. Every step of the way they provided advice, resources, and guidelines for me to ponder. I never once felt lost or overwhelmed by my docent duties. The culmination of this work at the Dillingham Ranch event was an experience akin to taking a trip back through time with great food, scenery, and people to accompany me. It goes without saying that the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation is run by proactive and capable organizers who are volunteer-friendly and supportive. The workplace environment is professional, cooperative, [...]

Preserving Historic Sites on Military Bases Marine Corps Base Hawaii Environmental Division welcomed their historic preservation partners for annual meetings and site visits to discuss the implementation status and progress on various preservation agreements with a look-ahead on planning and resource management issues. Historic Hawaii joined partners from Marine Corps’ cultural resources office, National Trust for Historic Preservation, National Park Service and Hawaii State Historic Preservation Division on this site visit to an archaeological site in the Aviation Historic District at the Kaneohe Bay base. Other site visits included a stop at Hangar 101 in the National Historic Landmark that included discussion of ways to demarcate and protect a bomb crater from December 7, 1941; a walk-through of a new Bachelor Enlisted Quarters building in the Administration Historic District to confirm compliance with the previous planning and design guidelines; and a check on materials longevity and appearance for a special project in the Heleloa Housing District. In attendance from left to right in photo above: Wendy Wichman, Marine Corp Base Hawaii Cultural Resources; June Cleghorn, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Cultural Resources Manager; Betsy Merritt, Deputy General Counsel, National Trust for Historic Preservation; Elaine Jackson-Retondo, Preservation Partnerships and History Program Manager, National Park Service; Tania Gumapac-McGuire, architectural historian, Hawai‘i State Historic Preservation Division.  Photographer: Kiersten Faulkner, executive director, Historic Hawai‘i  Foundation.

PLACES, ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES IN HAWAII CELEBRATING 100, 125, 150 AND 200 YEARS At this year’s Preservation Honor Awards, we have the pleasure of recognizing the major anniversaries of seventeen local organizations, companies and historic places, honoring their success and longevity as a vital part of our communities. Here’s a brief note on how each began.  175 YEARS – DODRANSBICENTENNIAL Photo courtesy of O‘ahu Cemetery & Crematory O‘ahu Cemetery & Crematory Hawai‘i's oldest public cemetery was established at the height of the whaling era to meet the burial needs of a growing foreign population in Honolulu, particularly  sailing crew on whaling ships. Sitting on 18 acres of land, the cemetery is an important historic site reminding us of the personal stories of influential leaders and public figures of Hawai‘i’s past. 150 YEARS – SESQUICENTENNIAL St. Joseph School, Hilo St. Joseph School was established in 1869 as a small parish school of 42 students in Hilo. King Kamehameha chartered the school to teach English to Native Hawaiian and immigrant children. Today it provides a rigorous education to students in pre-school to grade 12. Original home of YMCA, 1915 YMCA of Honolulu The YMCA of Honolulu was founded in 1869 and incorporated under the laws of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i in 1882.  It began with prayer meetings, as an aid to Sunday Schools, and with the operation of a reading room. Today it is one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the state, serving more than 100,000 individuals in a variety of programs.   125 YEARS – QUASQUICENTENNIAL Hawai‘i Electric Light Company, Hilo Began in 1894 as the Hilo Electric Light Company. The company’s growth coincided with the rise of the sugar industry. [...]

By Michelle Kiczek, Development Associate, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation As someone who frequents events at the Hawai‘i State Art Museum (HISAM) in downtown Honolulu, I had no idea of the history behind the No. 1 Capitol Place building, formerly known as The Armed Services YMCA building. In 1872 this property served as the site of Hawaii's first hotel, the Hawaiian Hotel, welcoming royal guests and newcomers to O‘ahu. In 1917 the original Royal Hawaiian Hotel purchased and converted the structure into the Young Mens Christian Association (YMCA) as a wholesome alternative to the River Street brothels and Hotel Street juke joints. The No. 1 Capitol Place building we see today was built in 1928 as the new Army Navy YMCA. It is listed on the Hawai‘i  and National Registers of Historic Places as a contributing resource to the Hawai‘i  Capital Historic District. Research by architectural firm G70 confirms that in the late 1980’s, the No. 1 Capitol Place building underwent a major renovation by the Hemmeter Corporation and in 2001, the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and Arts moved in. The building now also houses the Hawai‘i State Art Museum, Hawai‘i Film Office, and supporting administrative offices. It has since become a gathering place for a multitude of diverse people; bringing together different generations, backgrounds, and cultures. On May 31st, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation will be hosting our 45th Annual Preservation Honor Awards in Honolulu. We are excited to have the opportunity to honor all parties involved in the exterior repair and re-roofing of the No. 1 Capitol Place building. The project included stucco repair, new paint for the facade in colors similar to the existing, replacement or repair of wood frame windows and doors and iron [...]

How Our Neighborhood Helps Preserve Nu‘uanu History by Corinne W.L. Ching  O‘ahu “We celebrate the past to awaken the future.” – John F. Kennedy Could you find a better silver bullet than historic preservation for a community’s needs?  In my experience, purchasing our historic home has been one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.  Living in a historic home is a privilege, a chance to live in a treasure that past generations loved and cherished. The art within architecture speaks volumes embodying values of thoughtfulness, restraint, consideration and tradition… values we often miss in today’s hurried world. Living on a street with historic homes, like our Burbank Street in Nu‘uanu, is indeed the dream we hoped it would be, a time capsule in a modern world. A place where passersby smile, gaze or point at their favorite homes, basking in shade of grand trees and green setbacks with fine attention to detail.  We’ve become accustomed to the many artists and photographers who frequent our neighborhood to capture the unique design and spirit of our homes. I wonder if like begets like, do gracious people gravitate to gracious spaces, or do these gracious homes simply bring out a bit more kindness in people?  Either way, our street is a thoughtful little place.  Homes are kind and neighborly with their handcrafted details, double hung windows, open design, and occupants that somehow match.  After all the curveballs, trials and tribulations to reach here, I pinch myself looking around, seeing my life in this little oasis, a street preserved-in-time which reminds me of a Hawai‘i version of the 1940s Ozzie and Harriet. A little background on Burbank Street, a hallmark for heritage, history and childhood memories: It was [...]