Blog

Thanks for all you do to help preserve Hawai‘i’s historic places! Here's some highlights from 2017 that you helped make possible. January 26: (left to right) Iolani Palace Docent Educator, Zita Cup Choy; Iolani Palace Curator, Teresa Valencia & Dr. William Chapman, Director of the Graduate Program in Historic Preservation and Professor in the Department of American Studies at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, at the first of five Experts at the Cathedral lectures.   February 21: Līhu‘e residents showing the postcards they signed in support of saving the Līhu‘e Post Office from closure and relocation.   April 1: Our first-ever Mission Houses Saturday Sketch event paired art and heritage.   May 19: Architectural historian Don Hibbard accepting the Frank Haines Award. Mr. Haines unexpectedly passed away this year. A memorial service is scheduled for December 27th at the Star of the Sea Church.                             July 1: Learning about the history and culture of Waimea Valley at our Volunteer Mahalo event.   July 12: Welcoming our 2017-2018 Board of Trustees at the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation Annual Meeting.    August 4: Community members working on a preservation case study at our Tools for Saving Places seminar on Maui. The seminars, a collaboration with National Park Service, were held between August 2 and August 11 on Kaua‘i, Maui, Hawai‘i Island (Hilo and Kona) and O‘ahu. August 17: Sean McNamara sharing Native Hawaiian History of Leahi Crater at our Diamond Head Unseen Walking Tour, a collaboration with Hawai‘i State Parks (photo credit: Denby Fawcett).  

This hidden gem nestled in Manoa is a 3.5-acre living classroom that promotes the understanding of Hawaiʻi's natural and cultural heritage. Tours are offered for adults and school children by reservation only. As described on the Center's website, tours include a pleasant 1-hour outdoor guided walk through a garden of Native Hawaiian and Polynesian introduced plants; broad views of the Mānoa Valley; a close look at Kūkaʻōʻō Heiau, (an ancient Hawaiian sacred stone structure) as well as the history of Kūaliʻi, the private home of Sam and Mary Cooke, which will one day be open to the public as a museum.  Kokiʻo keʻokeʻo in the Native Hawaiian Garden. Photo credit: Mānoa Heritage Center. Kūka‘ō‘ō Heiau. Photo credit: Mānoa Heritage Center Just 10-minutes from busy downtown Honolulu, this wahi pana immediately engages everyone as they enter from Mānoa Road and see before them Kūaliʻi, a well preserved 106-year old tudor-style house. A peaceful walk with trained volunteer docents through a Native Hawaiian garden and  spectacular valley views beyond ancient Kūkaʻōʻō Heiau provide an interactive experience for those interested in Mānoa’s transition over time, conservation of rare native plants, legends from the past and important cultural practices passed down through kūpuna. Inspired by Sam and Mary Cooke who founded Mānoa Heritage Center over 21 years ago, stewardship of this special place continues for generations to come. Click here to learn more about Mānoa Heritage Center and to make a reservation for a tour.

Project Spotlight: The Honolulu Hale Through the Times exhibit was unveiled in June 2017 and will be displayed in the 3rd floor gallery of Honolulu Hale until the end of June 2017 in celebration of the building and the people who have contributed to its evolution over the years. The Exhibit is a glimpse into the past that provokes thought for future planning and inspires visitors to take a personal interest in the building – to care for the future of this important landmark of Honolulu. What is it? A series of panels containing general history of Honolulu Hale, historic photos and personal feedback from Mayor Caldwell and City Councilmembers Starting with the history of how the original Honolulu Hale came to be in Hawaii, the first few panels describe the history of the need, design and execution of the building. The panels then move to discuss certain highlights in Honolulu Hale’s evolution including changes and alterations that have been made over the years. This is followed by detailed information regarding the most distinct features of the space and the stories behind each element. The exhibit ends with personal feedback from Mayor Kirk Caldwell and City Councilmembers offering opinions and suggestions for the continued preservation and improvement of one of Honolulu’s most important structures. A unique feature of the exhibit is the final board where visitors to the exhibit are asked to share personal memories and thoughts for the future of Honolulu Hale. How was it created? Minatoishi Architects designed this exhibit with the help of the City & County of Honolulu and the State Historic Preservation Division. Combined research between Minatoishi Architects, MOCA and the State Historic Preservation Division was gathered and combined to generate [...]

Project Spotlight:  Hilton Hawaiian Village's History Wall was unveiled in 2016, in celebration of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort's 55th anniversary. The Exhibit is a wonder to behold. One can literally lose oneself in the past perusing the panels and taking in all the details. One things's for sure, after spending time learning the history, Waikiki, and Hawaii, will never look the same. What is it? A timeline of pivotal moments in the history of this Waikīkī resort. Starting with the priority of “place,” the wall describes the site’s origin, Kalia fishing village, and its cultural roots. The wall then chronicles the people who helped shape tourism, music and entertainment in Hawai‘i and also shares the story of developer Henry Kaiser and the distinctive features of the Village that he envisioned.  The Hilton Hawaiian Village comes alive with stories about the influential people - such as Kaiser, Alfred Apaka, and Elvis Presley - who helped make the hotel the destination it is today. How was it created? This new History Wall replaced a smaller-scale version that once stood in the Tapa Tower. The wall was expanded from seven panels to 80 feet of 16 museum-quality acrylic panels. Two years of extensive research went into creating the History Wall which spans Waikiki's history from 1891 to 2015. The wall is a great way for visitors to reminisce about the past and learn about the property's cultural significance in Hawaii's history. The layout and photos are comprehensive, capturing what the area looked like before the 1900s to displaying fun items such as Elvis Presley's song list written on hotel stationery. The timeline at the bottom of the display makes the hotel's history relevant to its global visitors by including [...]