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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 [...]

Utilizing Art to Experience Place On Saturday, March 2, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation collaborated with artist Brady Evans to hold a sketching workshop at da Shop, a bookstore located on Harding Avenue in Kaimukī. A group of 20 participants assembled to create illustrated stories inspired by one of their favorites places. To provide local context and character, executive director Kiersten Faulkner presented a timeline of major developments and turning points in the history of Kaimukī, from a dry, sparsely populated area to the beloved neighborhood and foodie destination that it is today. Because the construction of the H-1 in the 1950s diverted commuters away from Kaimukī, the “main street” of Wai‘alae Avenue was spared from pressures to redevelop and many of its original buildings factor into the neighborhood’s present-day charm and nostalgia. Evans, whose work is inspired by Japanese manga and graphic novels, skillfully guided participants through a sketching exercise. He tasked them with drawing a series of sketches in four panels to tell a story about a place gleaned from their personal experience. While most guests did not have enough time to complete a fully illustrated story, the sketches served as an excellent starting point and example of how place-based ideas, offers something of benefit to everyone. A warm mahalo to Brady Evans and da Shop for their collaboration and expertise.

The Saint Peter's Episcopal Church in downtown Honolulu will receive a Preservation Honor Award on May 31 for their church preservation project. The project provided much needed repairs, upgrades and improvements while maintaining the historic integrity and character of the church and parish hall. Adding stained glass at the alter in a new frame was part of the project. Below, stained glass master artist James Erickson, describes the work and the challenge. The Stained Glass Alter at St. Peter's Episcopal Church The oldest stained glass window in St. Peter's Episcopal Church is the large window group located above the altar and it was installed in 1914. When I was asked to inspect it and provide a condition report in 2016 it was clearly in very poor shape. The original wooden frame system with multi-curved tracery design elements was badly compromised on the outside from 100 years of exposure to elements and on the interior the wood had serious termite damage. The window had begun to bulge and deflect with  many pieces of cracked or broken glass. All of the structural lead-lines suffered from lead fatigue with numerous broken solder joints. It was clear that all of the glass panels would need to be removed along with the old wood frame that was too damaged to save. In order to meet current building code standards and for structural design reasons due to the size of the window, a strong, new, double glazed aluminum frame system would be installed. It would be thinner and unfortunately would have made the entire window look more modern which was not the desired effect. This required a creative solution. The resulting solution would offer one of the most effective visual elements [...]

Oʻahu Cemetery Burial Ground and Historic Site By Nanette Napoleon Along the busy thoroughfare which is upper Nuʻuanu Avenue in Honolulu, sits an 18-acre parcel of land adorned with large beautiful heritage trees and an array of thousands of lovely upright tombstones; each having a unique personal story to tell.  This place has the distinction of being an important historical site, inspiring outdoor museum, and beautifully landscaped Garden of the Dead, providing valuable park-like open space to a densely populated neighborhood. Historically, Oʻahu Cemetery—founded in 1844—is significant as Hawaiʻiʻs first public graveyard.  There are hundreds of notable permanent residents resting peacefully. Several notable ones include: Alexander Joy Cartwright, Jr. (1820-1892), the so-called “Father of American Baseball”; John Papa Iʻi (1800-1870), one of the most influential political leaders of his day; Benjamin Franklin Dillingham (1844-1820), railroad and land baron; Ululani Jabulka (1895-1970, international opera star; Henry Bond Restarick (1854-1933), first American Bishop of the Anglican Church in Hawaiʻi; Bina Mossman (1893-1990), Hawaiian musician and political leader; Dr. George Straub (1879-1966), pioneer group practice physician; Cherilla Lowrey (1861-1918), founder of the Outdoor Circle; Julie Swanzy (1860-1941), champion of public parks and children’s causes; Rev. Paul Osumi (1905-1996), author of newspaper column “Today’s Thoughts”; and Julia H. Afong (1840-1919), matriarch of the illustrious Ah Fong clan; to name a few. The most poignant gravesite at Oʻahu Cemetery is that of George Gill Jamieson (1918-1928) who was kidnapped and murdered in 1928.  The kidnapping of this young boy triggered an island-wide manhunt for the kidnapper and Jamieson.  After days of intense searching and community despair, little Gill was found dead in a dense grove of trees in Waikiki. The entire territory of Hawaiʻi went into mourning.  Soon after 20-year-old [...]