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Hanapepe River 1941 On February 25th HHF attended the Kauai Historic Bridges Forum in Lihue.  Read more below about what led to the Forum and why we were there. Hawaii's Historic Bridges We may drive over them on a regular basis, walk or recreate near them or view them as a familiar part of the landscape.  But where exactly are Hawaii's historic bridges and what condition are they in? Background Preserving our historic bridges requires they first be identified and inventoried and then assessed for their eligibility for historic designation. Here's where the state stands in this process: In 2013, HDOT and FHWA completed an inventory and assessment of all 708 state- and county-owned bridges and culverts built before 1968 to determine which are eligible for listing on the Hawai‘i and National Registers of Historic Places. The Historic Bridge Inventory & Evaluation found that 384 individual bridges and 147 bridges (including 57 on the Hāna Highway) located in six historic districts on four islands are either listed on or eligible for historic designation. The Bridge Inventory recommended that HDOT develop a Programmatic Agreement to use the report to aid in consultation to facilitate and streamline the approval process for future construction projects and to prioritize certain “high preservation value” bridges for preservation treatment. Historic Hawai‘i Foundation participated in the development of the inventory and concurred with its major findings, and also presented HDOT and its project team with a Preservation Commendation in 2014 for the effort. Next Steps--Kauai's Historic Bridges Forum: The forum took the next step in the process by outlining the options for a programmatic approach and treatments for historic bridges. HHF was joined by the Hanalei Roads Committee; representatives of [...]

Kahala home bristles with the work of co-creator Jean Charlot By Nina Wu March 6, 2016 Honolulu Star Advertiser Sitting on the back lanai of the Jean Charlot residence in Kahala, there’s a feeling of serenity the world-renowned artist was sure to have cherished. Birds sing from their perches in the manicured landscape, accompanied by the murmur of Kapakahi Stream and the rustling blades of a hala tree. CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COMJean Charlot’s art studio, which features cork tile walls for hanging artwork. Charlot died at age 81 on March 20, 1979. He kept drawing up to his last day. The split-level, ranch-style home was built in 1958 for the Paris-born artist, muralist and scholar, who shared it with his wife, Zohmah, and four children until his death in 1979. Fourteen years ago, Charlot’s children gave it to the University of Hawaii, where he taught during the 1950s and ’60s. The modest three-bedroom, three-bath home is hidden from view on a quarter-acre lot on the mauka side of Kahala Avenue, next to the Waialae Country Club. Valued at about $1.8 million, it is listed on both the state and national historic registers. Kiersten Faulkner, executive director of the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation, said the home is significant due to its association with Charlot as well as “in its own right as an exquisitely designed example of midcentury modern architecture.” It is a comfortable space, with plenty of light and ventilation. When designing the home, Charlot added many personal and artistic touches, collaborating closely with the late architect George “Pete” Wimberly of Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo. Wimberly specialized in resorts, said Faulkner, so this residential project “captures a side of the architect that’s [...]

Nanette Napoleon brings history back to life among the headstones of Hawaii’s cemeteries By Mike Gordon Honolulu Star Advertiser  February 21, 2016   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye0DC5GissQ When she walks among the graves of Oahu Cemetery in Nuuanu, historian Nanette Napoleon sees more than headstones engraved with names and dates that stretch back 172 years. Napoleon sees a Hawaii that’s largely forgotten by the living. She sees the people who built the city when newcomers arrived by ship, captains of industry, the politicians who followed and celebrities. Four governors are buried there. One of the first missionaries to the islands and his grandson, too. So is the man who invented modern baseball. “I get a very deep sense of history, and it broadens my historical view of the world,” Napoleon said. “When I am doing research on someone and their life and I visit their grave, I feel an intense connection to them, like I know these people.” The universal story of cemeteries is at the heart of Napoleon’s experience. Whenever Napoleon visits one, she experiences an appreciation for lives that were led. “And I feel the need to tell other people; they shouldn’t be forgotten,” she said. GRAVEYARD WALKING TOURS Join cemetery historian Nanette Napoleon as she shares stories of notable individuals buried in three of Oahu’s most historic graveyards. The tours are free, but space is limited and reservations are required. Phone 261-0705 or email nanetten@hawaii.rr.com. >> King Street Catholic Cemetery, 839 S. King St., 10 a.m. to noon March 5 >> Makiki Cemetery, 1630 Pensacola St., 10 a.m. to noon March 26 >> Oahu Cemetery, 2162 Nuuanu Ave., 10 a.m. to noon April 9 Notable gravesites There are more than 400 cemeteries statewide, and [...]

It’s easy to kick back at the edge of the Beach Bar and gaze wistfully out at the ocean trying to imagine a Waikīkī far removed from today’s hustle and bustle. Affectionately nicknamed “The First Lady of Waikīkī”, the Moana opened its doors to its first guests on March 11, 1901. It was the tallest and most elaborate building of its time, infused with old world charm and island-style hospitality which continues to this day. In this spirit, special events are planned throughout the month of March in honor of the Moana Surfrider’s 115th Anniversary. Save the Date! March 11, the anniversary of the Moana's opening day, will feature a special evening of events including Makana live on the Banyan Courtyard Stage. Click here for ticket information. Event Proceeds to benefit Historic Hawai‘i Foundation, Bishop Museum and Waikīkī Aquarium                             Amid the sounds of Waikiki Beach and a nostalgic concert that will hearken back to its glorious opening day, the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa is planning a 115th anniversary celebration reminiscent of the same magnificence and opulence of 1901. To celebrate the occasion, the Moana Surfrider Hotel will stage multiple events on Friday, March 11 to benefit three Hawai‘i non-profit organizations, including Historic Hawai‘i Foundation. On the Banyan Courtyard stage at 6:30 p.m., slack key virtuoso Makana presents a modern-day tribute to Moana’s musical past with a “Hawaii Calls” concert. The original “Hawaii Calls” was a long-running radio show that introduced Hawaiian music to the world. While entertainers played on the very same Banyan Courtyard stage, show emcee Webley Edwards’ voice could be heard across the globe, “From the [...]

As a nonprofit, our volunteer needs are always in flux. And somehow, as if by magic, we always seem to have just what we need arrive at the right moment, sometimes literally on our doorstep! In similar fashion, several months ago we received a phone call from a young woman with an impressive and diverse background. In our favor, she and her husband had just moved back to the islands and she was seeking opportunities to learn more about preservation in Hawaii. Trina Evensen began volunteering with us on a regular basis and has been a tremendous asset to HHF bringing with her myriad skills and talents, and a willing spirit to help where needed.  Trina is now poised to continue her preservation journey as a new employee at Mason Architects and a student in Dr. Bill Chapman's Historic Preservation Program, Department of American Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. We featured an abridged  version of this interview in our January, 2016 newsletter and promised the full version online.  Here it is!   Historic Hawai‘i Foundation: Tell us a little about yourself—where are you from, what are your interests and hobbies? Trina Evensen: I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, which by the turn of the century had an extensive immigrant population. My mother’s family emigrated from Naples, Italy early in the 20th century and lived downtown in an Italian-American neighborhood. After moving to the suburbs in the 1960’s the family always shared photographs and stories from the now historic neighborhood. Without a doubt this strong focus on family heritage and exposure to various historical and cultural sites at an early age had a profound effect on my interests and the desire to discover [...]

NPS PHOTO/JANICE WEI “Glow show” at Halemaumau Crater. A century of wonder By Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi January 3, 2016 - Honolulu Star Advertiser Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is 520 square miles of miracles and mysteries. >> It claims the largest concentration of petroglyphs in the Pacific — more than 23,500 images (including human figures, canoe sails, feather capes and geometric designs) etched on lava on the southwestern flank of Kilauea Volcano. The intriguing rock carvings date back 400 to 600 years. >> It is the only place in the world where one species of ahinahina (silversword plant), the Argyroxiphium sandwicense, grows. The plants live 10 to 30 years, blossom only once, producing a spectacular stalk of flowers up to 9 feet tall, and then die. >> It encompasses two active volcanoes, one of which, Kilauea, began its current eruption in 1983, thus adding about 500 acres of new land and covering nearly 9 miles of road with lava as deep as 115 feet. Adding to its natural wonders in 2016 will be a yearlong calendar of special events marking the park’s 100th anniversary. It shares its centennial birthday with Haleakala National Park on Maui and the National Park Service itself. NPS PHOTO/DAVID BOYLE PARKSuperintendent Cindy Orlando “Our centennial recognizes the vision and perseverance of those who understood the importance of ensuring that the geological, cultural and biological treasures here would be protected for future generations,” said park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. The park’s ongoing conservation efforts have saved several endangered species of plants and animals, including the Hawaiian hawksbill turtle and the nene (Hawaiian goose), Hawaii’s state bird, from the brink of extinction, she said.   The park’s story begins at the [...]