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National Park Service Announces Availability of New Civil Rights Grants WASHINGTON – The National Park Service (NPS) recently opened the application period for new grants to preserve and highlight the sites and stories related to the African American struggle for equality in the 20th Century. Congress appropriated $8.0 million for this new grant program in FY 2016. “This year the National Park Service is marking 100 years as America’s storyteller by finding new ways to provide Americans a more complete history of our country as we enter our second century of stewardship,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “Through the African American Civil Rights Grant Program the National Park Service will enlist the support and expertise of state and local governments and non-profit organizations to educate and inspire a new, diverse generation of citizens who must continue our nation’s march toward a more perfect union,” Jarvis said.   The grants are funded by the Historic Preservation Fund and administered by the NPS. The competitive grant program will provide funding to states, tribes, local governments, and non-profit organizations. Funding will support a broad range of planning, development, and research projects for historic sites associated with African American civil rights in the 20th century. Possible projects include surveys and documentation, interpretation and education, oral histories, architectural services, historic structure reports, planning, and bricks and mortar preservation. A 2008 NPS study, Civil Rights in America, A Framework for Identifying Significant Sites, will serve as the principle reference for grant applicants to determine the appropriateness of proposed projects and properties.  Who may apply? States, territories, federally-recognized tribes, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiian Organizations, local governments (including Certified Local Governments), non-profit organizations, including private non-profit historically black colleges [...]

The Pali Highway: From Rough Trail to Daily Commute  By Kristen Pedersen Those of us who live on the windward side of Oahu zip back and forth to Honolulu on the Pali Highway without a moment’s thought. The 11 miles of highway that we now know so well is actually the third roadway constructed across and through the Koolaus and Nuuanu Valley. It connects Kailua and Kaneohe with Vineyard Boulevard in downtown Honolulu. Not so well known is that getting across this expanse wasn’t always so easy. Before the highway or road existed, you had several options: take a canoe around the island; trek through the back of Kalihi Valley; or hike the most direct (and dangerous) route on a trail over the Pali cliffs. In the early 1800’s, the cliffs trail was the main route farmers in the Kailua area used to bring produce to sell in the city and transport necessary goods back to the windward side. According to Kailua archaeologist Paul Brennan in his book KAILUA, the route was a scary series of “ropes and ladders where travelers had to climb straight up or down. Still, they trekked the trail every day, taking poi, fruits, sweet potato and pigs to residents of the city.” In 1845, the narrow trail was widened to six feet and paved with large stones, allowing easier passage for horses and carts. This first Pali Road was a critically important improvement to the lives of farmers and their families, but as late as 1877, even with continued enhancements, was still not considered a safe passage. In 1896, the legislature authorized the use of dynamite to widen the road for paving. A young engineer, Johnny Wilson, headed up the much-needed [...]

The buzz from Chinatown Upstairs continues! The tour was a great way to showcase a small sampling of the fabulous rehab  projects that exist one flight up (sometimes two) in Chinatown Historic District. The atmosphere in the district continues to vibrate with creativity as more visionary artists, restaurateurs and entrepreneurs find there way into the maze of this incredibly interesting historic locale. We asked several local business owners and entrepreneurs why they love Chinatown. Hear their response in these upbeat video shorts.  Mahalo to Localize Hawaii for creating the videos! PEGGE HOPPER, artist https://vimeo.com/172874603/463f0ac053 w=500&h=280 CHRIS KAJIOKA, chef, co-owner Senia https://vimeo.com/173027250/658a2a412e MAT D'ASCOLI, entrepreneur https://vimeo.com/173034628/d4f72cd290 CELINE CASAMINA, RealOfficeCenters https://vimeo.com/172995331/7c9ccee9e4 LEE STACK, Chinatown Improvement District https://vimeo.com/173023123/82f47dea64%20

Restored Waikiki Natatorium envisioned by Nov. 11, 2019 By Dominique Times dtimes@staradvertiser.com July 4, 2016, Honolulu Star Advertiser The Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial could be restored to its former glory — but with a high-tech touch — by 2019, exactly 100 years after the land was first acquired to construct the site, according to the senior field officer and attorney for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Honolulu’s Department of Design and Construction hosted a series of meetings over four days last week with nearly 60 interested groups to gather information on the historic aspect of the natatorium’s design and the upcoming environmental impact study. The ocean-water public swimming pool, where local Olympic gold medalist Duke Kahanamoku swam, was built as a memorial to those who served in World War I. Owned but not operated by the state, the site was closed to the public in 1979 due to a lack of upkeep. Brian Turner, a lawyer with the trust, said the site would be a “waste to lose,” and remains optimistic that the pool can be reopened within three years. “We feel like we’ve developed a fresh look at something that’s been a real engineering puzzle,” Turner said. His goal is to have the project completed by the centennial of the armistice, Nov. 11, 2019. For years there have been discussions on the memorial’s future — whether to demolish it, restore it completely or get rid of the pool but keep the facade. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which placed the natatorium on its 11 most endangered structures list in 1995, submitted a proposal with preliminary drawings to rehabilitate the site, preserving as much of its original look as possible. “We want it [...]

History is preserved in the apartments and businesses that most people will never see above street level in Honolulu’s Chinatown. Column by Denby Fawcett for "Civil Beat", June 28, 2016 When I walk through Chinatown I often wonder what’s going on upstairs in the historic buildings. Most of the windows are opaque or covered with curtains, making the upper levels seem even more mysterious. “Everyone knows about Chinatown shops and businesses on the street level. But very few are aware of the revitalization going on upstairs,” says Kiersten Faulkner. Faulkner is the executive director of the Historic Hawaii Foundation. On Thursday, Historic Hawaii Foundation and the Chinatown Improvement District co-sponsored a fundraiser tour for 80 people to visit businesses and residential lofts tucked away on Chinatown’s upper floors. The tour started at The Tchin Tchin! Bar, a Chinatown upstairs cocktail lounge, for drinks and pupus before participants took off in groups of 20 to walk to four upstairs sites. “People love to explore. Our goal was to appeal to people’s sense of discovery and show off some of the urban revitalization they might not realize is happening in their own backyard,” says Faulkner. My friend Jim Waddington says, “We were wowed by what we saw. In the past I had always assumed that the upper stories of most buildings in Chinatown were dusty storage areas. It was exciting to see these upper floors converted into collaborative workspaces, small apartments, and trendy bars.” Pegge Hopper’s loft space above her gallery comes complete with a diving mannequin. Cory Lum/Civil BeatHistory is preserved in the apartments and businesses that most people will never see above street level in Honolulu’s Chinatown. Attorney Jeff Portnoy, who was in my group, says, [...]

The Historic Hawaii Foundation Annual Meeting held at Aloha Tower Marketplace on May 11, 2016 was steeped in harbor history.  Members were treated to a special presentation and "quiz" about Honolulu Harbor by writer Bob Sigall after which Bruce McEwan, President of Friends of Falls of Clyde, provided an update on preservation efforts for "Falls of Clyde" currently docked at the Harbor.  Below, HHF volunteer writer Kristen Pedersen provides a backdrop of harbor history. Honolulu Harbor:  A Brief Overview by Kristen Pedersen In 1793, when Captain William Brown directed his sailing ship, Butterworth, into what is now known as Honolulu Harbor, he couldn’t have known the influence the harbor would have on the future of the island. Although the crew called it Brown’s Harbor, the captain decided to name the harbor Fair Haven. It eventually became Honolulu Harbor, which is a rough translation of ‘protected bay.’ Even then, it was clear that the bay offered an excellent place for large ships to set anchor, and as more trade ships followed in the next few years, a town began to grow up around it. In 1809, in response to the rapid growth of the harbor area and the increase of trade ships docking in the bay, King Kamehameha moved his Waikiki residence closer to the harbor. His goal was to tighten control on the valuable sandalwood trade flowing through the islands at that time. By the 1820s, whaling ships began to stop at Honolulu Harbor. Shops and businesses such as sail-makers, boarding houses, blacksmiths, laundries, and bakeries were built to support the new industry, and residential neighborhoods for the business owners followed shortly after. The town of Honolulu was growing rapidly, due in large part to [...]

UPDATE:  On June 1, funding from a dedicated city land conservation fund which had been pending in the city's proposed budget was restored to be used toward the purchase and permanent protection of Kanewai Spring. In a grand show of support for the project, more than 100 people from Hilo to Maui and the North Shore to Kuliouou submitted testimony on behalf of securing the funding to help protect the Spring. "Mary Lindsay Kalikolani Correa testified that the preservation and care-taking of Kānewai was valuable for the connection to the community and the next generation as well as for the cultural and environmental health of the land and sea. Greg Stock, a teacher for the past 16 years in East Honolulu, regularly takes his students to Kānewai for service learning opportunities because it is an invaluable resource where young people can learn about Hawaiian culture, values, land management and much more," (noted on Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center Facebook page). The Spring was listed as one of Hawaii's Most Endangered Historic Places of 2015, an annual public awareness campaign jointly sponsored by Historic Hawaii Foundation, HONOLULU Magazine and the Hawaii State Historic Preservation Division. Groups hope to save the Kanewai Spring By Andrew Gomes, Honolulu Star Advertiser April 17, 2016 It was named one of Hawaii’s most endangered places last year and has been a trophy property owned by business scoundrels, but now a historic multimillion-dollar East Honolulu estate with a freshwater spring feeding a wildlife preserve is close to becoming a public resource through a community effort. The Trust for Public Land and Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center are trying to pull off a $2.65 million purchase of a nearly 70-year-old mansion that fronts a fishpond and [...]

Home Showcases the Architectural Talents of Charles W. Dickey by Kristen Pedersen, Historic Hawaii Foundation guest writer Tucked into Maui’s upcountry, halfway between Makawao and Paia on the road to Hana, this former plantation manger’s historic estate is on the market. Just about everything connected to this beautiful seven-acre property is interesting – the location, the architect, the house, and the owners. Upcountry Maui is well known as the home of cattle ranches, rodeo competitions, and the paniolo, or Hawaiian cowboy. Paniolo have been working Maui ranches since the 1850’s, even before cowboys were riding the mainland wild west. Makawao town itself is a bustling arts community with galleries, shops and restaurants. Just a few miles down mountain is Paia, a small, funky sugar plantation village with some of the best windsurfing in the world and the famous Mama’s Fish House Inn. This area of Maui is home to over 30 micro climates, where just the right amount of sun and rain combine to make for perfect weather. The 7-acre Gannon Residence is significant for many reasons – not just the location and micro climate. The 2,968 sq. ft. house was designed in 1938 by renowned architect, Charles W. Dickey (1871-1942), at the very height of his career. Dickey was from a kama’aina family, born in Oakland, CA, raised in Haiku and a resident of both Hawaii and California for a good chunk of his career. His Hawaiian roots were deep, however – his mother was an Alexander, his cousin was a Baldwin, and his sister married James Dole. Dickey designed many acclaimed houses and buildings throughout Hawaii and in the Bay Area. Some still exist around the islands today – including the Kula Sanitorium [...]

Preservation Program Helps At-Risk Youth Among the programs I have most enjoyed has been to mentor at-risk teens in a cultural mentoring partnership with Alu Like. Historic preservation in an era dominated by electronic distractions presents a challenge to youth engagement, and this program enabled us to connect young people with important places in our history. Places like Nu`uanu Pali, where the battle of Kamehameha's drive to unify the islands ended. We preserve history not for ourselves, but for generations beyond us, to carry on the memory of who we are and who we were from time immemorial. Failing to do this will result in loss of our personal identity as a people and a community. Why Preservation Matters Historic preservation, in my view, is an important kuleana of every civilization because it endeavors to preserve the mo`olelo, or stories and history of a community, a people, and its treasured places of antiquity and connects us all with where we came from.  For example, when I visit the wahi kapu of Lulumahu, a narrow valley of Nu`uanu that is "hidden from view", I can feel the presence of the kupuna kahiko - our ancestors of O`ahu island who were trapped in this valley and killed during the great Battle of Nu`uanu. I sense the sadness and quiet of the stone mounds that mark their common graves, and hear the cries of the children left on the trail as the kupuna and women fled from the pursuing army. Encountering this large pohaku a Kane, I find a silent sentinel that stands watch near Lulumahu falls and see in him a vast body of ancient knowledge from the time before the Hawaiians of old settled in the [...]

East-West Center 2016 New Generation Seminar- Now Accepting Applications Dates: September 18-October 1, 2016 Theme: Cultural Heritage and Identity in a Globalizing, Urbanizing World Destinations: Honolulu, Hawaii; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; and Yangon, Myanmar Application Deadline: Monday, June 13 ________________ Annually since 1990, the East-West Center invites rising young leaders from the United States and Asia Pacific to participate in The New Generation Seminar (NGS), a two-week intensive educational and dialogue program. The program is developed around a thematic focus and provides participants with an opportunity to strengthen their understanding of regional developments and challenges, increase their contacts with counterparts in the region, and to become more effective leaders with an international perspective. 2016 marks the program's 26th year. The New Generation Seminar Program is an intensive two-week study, dialogue and travel program that provides the next generation of Asia Pacific and American leaders an opportunity to strengthen their understanding of key Asia-Pacific developments, discuss policy options for common challenges while building an international network and broadening their perspective. The first week of the program is held in Hawaii and focuses on key regional policy issues such as international relations, security, economics, population, health and environment. The second week involves field travel to either the United States or Asia Pacific for exploration of the program theme. Who can apply? Young leaders aged 25-40, from Asia Pacific and the United States who are in a position to influence policy, shape public opinion and lead action. The strongest candidates for the program will be elected officials and other political, business, law and community leaders or communicators with broad-based policy knowledge and influence and/or demonstrated leadership in their countries and communities. Social and business entrepreneurs also make strong candidates. What about [...]