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Honoring Preservation Visionaries

Frank Haines and his Award The Frank Haines Award, presented by the Historic Hawaii Foundation at the annual Preservation Honor Awards Ceremony, was established in 2009 and is named for master architect Frank Haines, FAIA who passed away on August 10, 2017. From 1948, Haines headed many prominent architectural projects, including the Prince Kūhiō Federal Building, Kaiser Moanalua Hospital, Kaiser's Honolulu Clinic, Bishop Square and the restoration of the Ali‘iōlani Hale. This award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated sustained and outstanding achievements in the area of preserving the significant historic and cultural places of Hawaii. Below is a list of all of the recipients of the Award since its inception in 2009.  We are deeply indebted to these visionary and hardworking individuals who have taken great strides to preserve Hawaii's historic places and inspire others to follow suit. 2009 Frank S. Haines, FAIA 2010 Billy Fields, in recognition of his lifetime dedication to restoring significant Native Hawaiian sites and teaching others his cultural practice. As a career stone mason, Fields concentrates on restoring sacred and traditional Native Hawaiian sites using traditional, dry-stack techniques used prior to western contact and the introduction of mortar. Using these traditional techniques, he furthers the traditional masonry practices in the repair, restoration and reconstruction of dry-laid stone walls, platforms and terraces on significant structures including Hapaiali‘i and Ke‘eku Heiau at Keauhou; Kūka‘ō‘ō Heiau in Mānoa; and walls, fish ponds and burial platforms across the state. Billy Fields (2010) 2011 William R. Chapman, D. Phil., in recognition of his work as Director, Historic Preservation Program, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. The Historic Preservation Program at UH Mānoa was founded in 1986 by William [...]

2019-05-01T15:46:23-10:00May 12th, 2016|Categories: Blog|

Mahealani Cypher and the Ahupua`a Boundary Marker Project

Ahupua`a Boundary Marker Dedication by Mahealani Cypher Ever since I was little, my tutu shared her stories with me, tales of our family aumakua, interesting events that occurred, paranormal and extraordinary encounters, important people in our family history. I captured those stories of family history in written form and shared them with all of my cousins. When I would take her for drives up the Windward Oahu coast, she could name all of the ahupua`a as we passed valley after valley - knew their names and families from these areas.  As an adult, I learned that many people did not have this knowledge passed on to them. When asked where they came from, the responses often were regional rather than specific locations. Along with others in our Hawaiian civic club, I initiated the ahupua`a boundary marker project to connect island residents with the old names of the ahupua`a in which they lived, and their kuleana to care for the cultural and natural resources of these places. We dedicated the first stone ahu, marking the boundary between Kane`ohe and Kailua, at Castle Junction some years ago - an event celebrated by both communities as a remarkable restoration of an important part of our island history and cultural practice brought to modern times. _________________________________________________________________________________ Mahealani Cypher is an active community volunteer, she also owns Native Knowledge LLC, offering consultation on native Hawaiian issues, historic preservation and Hawaiian perspectives on planning and conservation. Ms. Cypher has been involved as a community advocate on Windward O‘ahu issues for over 35 years, participating in numerous community and Hawaiian organizations since 1975. She currently serves as president of the O‘ahu Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, immediate past president [...]

2016-05-20T13:32:53-10:00May 10th, 2016|Categories: Blog|

Honor Awards 1975: Ms. Nancy Bannick

Nancy Bannick & Her Passion for Preservation Looking back to the first Honor Awards in 1975, it's hard to believe it was 41 years ago!  The very first recognition was awarded to dedicated preservationist and community activist, Nancy Bannick, who passed away in 2008. For 60 plus years, Bannick was a supporter, dedicated volunteer and an inspiration not only to Historic Hawaii Foundation but to the entire preservation community. A charter member of Historic Hawaii Foundation, Bannick was a committed and tireless advocate for preserving architecturally significant and historically important buildings, as well as exceptional trees, landscapes and natural resources. She is especially well known for her decades long fight to save Honolulu Chinatown, which was declared a historic district in 1973.  You can read more about the saving of Chinatown in Bannick's book, "A Close Call" co-authored by David and Scott Cheever, which was published in paperback in 2005. Bannick moved to Hawai‘i in 1948 and worked for more than 20 years as the editor of the travel publication Sunset magazine. A close friend said it was her time at Sunset writing and photographing Hawaii's treasures that kindled a deep passion and sincere interest in preserving Hawai‘i’s unique history.  Bannick played a leading role in helping to save and document not just Chinatown but also the Waikīkī War Memorial Natatorium and Kapi‘olani Park. She also dedicated herself to numerous community organizations and was the voice and driving spirit behind many. Thank you Nancy Bannick for charging and fighting to preserve Hawai‘i’s historic places and their stories!  

2017-04-21T01:00:57-10:00May 5th, 2016|Categories: Blog|

The History Behind the National Historic Preservation Act

2016 Marks 50 Years since the National Historic Preservation Act was Signed into Law President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the NHPA into law on October 15, 1966   The National Historic Preservation Act (Public Law 89-665; 16 U.S.C. 470 et seq. was signed into law on October 1966 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. It was created to in response to nationwide destruction brought about by federally initiated programs.   What served as a catalyst to prompt it's creation? In 1956, President Dwight Eisenhower signed into law the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act which prompted the construction of 41,000 miles of the interstate highway system. Due to the new construction, many people were displaced from their homes, communities were cut in half, and historic properties and sites were destroyed, left to decay or abandoned entirely. Then in the 1960’s the Kennedy administration pushed for the Urban Renewal Program hoping to rejuvenate cities. The program provided federal funding to cities to cover the cost of acquiring areas perceived to be "slums". However, the program's unintended consequences included the gutting of historic centers of towns and cities across America. This created a rapid change in lifestyle. Population was booming, cars were being manufactured at break neck speed and urbanization, tear downs and the rebuilding of America was taking place. Many people felt a negative impact as the physical evidence of their past, culture and stories were disappearing.   What Happened Next In 1964, the United States Conference of Mayors undertook a study of historic preservation. The resulting report, "With Heritage So Rich," revealed a growing public interest in preservation and the need for a unified approach to the protection of historic resources. This report influenced Congress [...]

2017-04-21T01:00:57-10:00May 4th, 2016|Categories: Blog|

Membership Corner: Richard and Sooz Mirikitani and their Historic Home, The Carl & Florence Bayer Estate

Richard and Sooz Mirikitani own the historic “Carl and Florence Bayer House,” which is historically significant for its architectural style. It is an early and excellent example of the simple Craftsman style homes designed by Territorial architect Raymond Llewellen Morris of Lewers & Cooke.  The house incorporates the graceful characteristics of the simple Hawaiian style house popularized by Morris with its high-pitched roof, extended eaves and lanai, as well as design aspects of a French farmhouse.  The Mirikitani’s shared their perspectives on preservation with us. ______________________________ Historic Hawai‘i Foundation:  How long have you owned the Bayer Estate and why did you decide to make it your home? Richard’s family purchased the property from Mr. Walter Bayer (the only child of the home’s builders, Carl and Florence Bayer), who lived in the home until moving to the mainland after its sale in 1971. We eventually became the owners of the Bayer Estate, and were inspired soon after to breathe life back into this charming little seaside property.  When we first acquired the property, we were living in Kailua and commuted back and forth on the weekends between home and Aina Haina, to work on restoring and furnishing the home and enhancing its gardens.  While we were not originally searching for a historic property, we soon fell in love with the Bayer Estate and its “Old-Hawaii” ambience and charm, and ultimately decided to pull up stakes in Kailua, load all the dogs into the car, and make the Bayer Estate our home. HHF: The Bayer Estate is listed on the Hawai`i State Register of Historic Places.  What inspired you to nominate it for the Register? As its owners and new “guardians”, we developed a feeling of obligation [...]

2017-04-21T01:00:57-10:00April 27th, 2016|Categories: Blog|

Kohala Ditch rides open window to history

Hawaii's Backyard| Travel By Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi for the Honolulu Star Advertiser April 17, 2016 COURTESY FLUMIN’ KOHALA Visitors exit one of Kohala Ditch’s tunnels on a tour with Flumin’ Kohala. COURTESY FLUMIN’ KOHALA Be prepared to get wet while kayaking through Kohala Ditch. COURTESY FLUMIN’ KOHALA Kids stroll across a catwalk on their way to the kayaks’ launch site. Bernelle Camara is a proud daughter of Kohala. Her roots in that rural district of Hawaii island run deep — four generations, to be exact: Her paternal and maternal great-grandparents moved there from Maui and the Philippines, respectively, seeking a better life. “My paternal great-grandfather worked for Hawaii Railway Co., which ran the ‘Sugar Cane Train,’” Camara said. “The train carried processed cane from the mills to the wharf at Makukona, 7 miles west of Hawi town. My maternal great-grandfather worked for Kohala Sugar Co. as a truck driver.” Kohala Sugar closed in 1975, six years before Camara was born. When she was growing up, the Kohala Ditch (see sidebar) was on privately owned land that was not open to the public. Her mother, however, shared many fond memories about that irrigation system, including swimming there with her two brothers. The ditch was a 2-mile bike ride from their Hawi home. “If it weren’t for the ditch, my family, like many others, would not have made Kohala their home,” Camara said. “The ditch supplied water for sugar cane cultivation, which provided jobs for them.” Today Camara is general manager of Flumin’ Kohala, which takes visitors on a leisurely kayak ride down the historic ditch. Flumin’ Kohala is the operating name of Kohala Eco Ventures, whose executives also run the Kohala Ditch Co., the manager and [...]

2017-04-21T01:00:57-10:00April 19th, 2016|Categories: Blog|

History and Architecture in Waikiki

Discover Waikiki’s architectural gems By Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi April 3, 2016, Honolulu Star Advertiser As a child growing up in India, Purnima McCutcheon was a dreamer whose imagination was fueled by old temples, mosques, forts and palaces. “I was born in Hyderabad but raised in Mumbai and traveled around the country a lot with my family,” she said. “Some of those buildings were centuries old, and I thought they were spectacular. I visualized being part of those historical scenes. Also, as a classical Indian dancer, I’ve always had a keen awareness of space and environment. Architecture has been the perfect career for me because I’m able to combine my interests in art, history and physics.” COURTESY ERIC MCCUTCHEON Purnima McCutcheon Today McCutcheon is a project architect with Group 70 International; a member of the American Institute of Architects, Honolulu Chapter’s board of directors; and co-chairwoman of the volunteer committee of architects and architectural historians that has organized a guided walking tour of Waikiki as part of the 10th annual Architecture Month observance in April. The two-hour tour will focus on eight sites. Docents will be at each site to explain their architectural significance. “Waikiki plays a key role in Hawaii’s history and economy,” McCutcheon said. “The tour will show how Waikiki’s architecture and infrastructure have contributed to its development as a world-renowned resort.” The “First Lady of Waikiki” — the Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa — opened as the Moana Hotel on March 11, 1901, with 75 rooms in a six-story wooden structure that its architect, Oliver Traphagen, called “Colonial Style adapted for the tropics.” Well-heeled guests arrived at a porte-cochere marked by six Ionic columns and flanked by colonnades adorned [...]

2017-04-21T01:01:02-10:00April 6th, 2016|Categories: Blog|

In the Field: Adaptive Reuse Project at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam

ADAPTIVE REUSE EFFORTS AT THE NAVY INCLUDE VINTAGE TOUCHES Our field services staff recently visited an adaptive reuse project at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam which demonstrated the Navy’s achievement in utilizing historic building for its current mission needs. Historically known as the Shell House, Building 434 in the Kuahua Naval Ammunition Depot historic management zone was built in 1921 to house ammunition before it was sent by rail to be loaded on ships. Kuahua stopped supplying ammunition in 1934 when the Lualualei Naval Ammunition Depot opened and most of the buildings were demolished. Those that remained—including Building 434—were converted to general storehouses. The adaptive reuse project placed a new use inside the historic exterior. It kept the original historic features, including structural steel trusses, terra cotta block walls and steel panel doors, while changing the non-historic interior to support the new functions. The design and construction team developed new construction techniques to reinforce the exterior walls so they could stand the weight of the new elements. One whimsical touch was the salvage and re-installation of the vintage signage used in a previous period. The hand-painted wooden signs supplemented the mass-produced and standardized signage in common usage today. The bold arrows for the fire extinguishers and light switches add personality that is part of the charm of historic places. The resulting “building inside a building” includes state-of-the-art systems to support the functions while still respecting and perpetuating the history of the past century. One of the Navy sailors working in the building told our staff that it is the finest facility he has worked in during his career. The adaptive reuse and rehabilitation project at Building 434 will receive a Preservation Award at the 42nd [...]

2017-04-21T01:01:03-10:00March 29th, 2016|Categories: Blog|

Why Preserving our Shared Heritage Matters

Indiana Jones saw the importance of history Hawaii Army Weekly, February 5, 2016 Story and photos by Chaplain (Maj.) John Grauer Plans and Operations U.S. Army Garrison – Hawaii Grauer Indiana Jones, the fictional adventurer/archeologist, searches for valuable artifacts of great historical significance, giving us a glimmer of his character as one who seeks great historical antiquities. Like the fictional Indiana Jones, Austin Henry Layard has been seen Austin Henry Layard by many historians to be the person who led to the historical discovery of the ancient city of Nimrud in the 1840s. The story of its discovery was one of great historical significance. It brought to us the reality of connecting the past with the future and what it means for us when we forget our historical roots to past civilizations that are lost to us. Have you ever misplaced a cell phone? We all have. I can guess what happened: You panicked! You retraced your steps, turned your residence upside down until you found your phone and then you were relieved. But what happens when you lose something and don’t find it? What happens when something that you cherish is lost? While surfing near Haleiwa, I was hit by a wave and knocked around. My wedding ring slipped off my finger, fell into the water and slowly disappeared. It was gone! It was gone forever! Historical Church Mosul A few weeks ago, I was angered at the news of an ancient church in Iraq that was destroyed. I remember that church. I walked through this ancient place, and many other places of great historical importance, like the ruins of Nimrud, set during the time of Assyrian King (883 to 859 BC). North Western [...]

HHF In the Field: Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

Consulting In the Field - Helping to Protect our Historic Memorials Historic sites can deteriorate over time as the elements take their toll, especially here in the islands. The well known National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, (known informally as Punchbowl Cemetery) is home to eight Courts of the Missing on which are inscribed the names of the 18,096 American World War II missing from the Pacific and 8,200 American missing from the Korean War.  This important Memorial is visited by thousands each year, many with personal ties to the missing. The Courts of the Missing stand on either side of the grand stairs leading to the Memorial. Over time, the existing stone walls have been marred by staining, probably from the internal anchor system rusting and oxidized materials migrating to the surface, leaving them discolored and obscuring the names.  Attempts to repair the walls, including painting over the stains, have been short-lived. The paint is peeling and chipping, leaving the walls in disrepair. The American Battle Monuments Commission* (ABMC) has investigated alternatives for replacing the damaged stones to restore the Courts of the Missing to an appropriate appearance. The project team inspected marble, granite and limestone alternatives from quarries around the world before selected the preferred material. The white limestone closely matches the original appearance of the Memorial. Chemical testing is being conducted to check on the susceptibility to corrosion and staining from weather or oxidation. The project team is also changing the installation technique to minimize the probability of the staining recurring. Historic Hawai‘i Foundation is a consulting party to ABMC and has the opportunity to review and comment on projects that could affect the historic site. On February 26, HHF participated in [...]

2017-04-21T01:01:08-10:00March 22nd, 2016|Categories: Blog|Tags: , |
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