Blog – Page 37 – Historic Hawaii Foundation

The Buddes’ Historic Home: From Bank to Bedrooms

By Christine Thomas It rests on a typical dead-end street, painted a TK color. Occasionally James Budde mows the front lawn of his 1940s-era home, purchased in 1995, and Madeleine nurtures an orchid collection in the back. It’s an oasis away from Kailua’s now-bustling town center, where President Obama vacations and many tourists now flock. But its story began well before the Buddes moved in—back when soldiers from nearby Fort Hase (now Marine Corps Base Hawaii) stopped here to withdraw and deposit money. The Budde’s home was built not as a residence, but as a bank situated right along what was once the main road to the base. But come the 1960’s, when Kailua had developed into a robust residential town and the Marine Corps Base Hawaii built a new road into the base, the bank closed. The structure remained and became a personal residence, and the street grew quiet and forgotten. The Buddes wanted to find out how. Uncovering the Past The Buddes never changed the integrity of their home’s structure--they didn’t even consider it—even though their kitchen once housed a bank vault. “The house just speaks for itself,” says Madeleine. But in 2014, Madeleine realized the house could potentially qualify as a historic home. She turned to the Historic Hawaii Foundation for help determining their home’s eligibility for the State Register of Historic Places and potential property tax reduction status. “They had so much knowledge about everything,” says Madeleine. “The staff at Historic Hawaii Foundation came in and connected us with Dr. Don Hibbard, who was so easy to work with.” When Hibbard, an architectural historian and educator, looked at the house he confirmed its historic status and lead the process to present [...]

HistoricHawaii2017-04-21T01:01:16-10:00September 10th, 2015|Categories: Blog|Tags: Historic Register, Preservation|

Paniolo Tradition Honored at Hawaii 2015 Tourism Legacy Awards

Preservation in the News: Local ranches honored for their continued efforts to preserve and boost paniolo traditions and Hawaiian culture. Photo Credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority FROM: Hawaii Tourism Authority, August 27, 2015 HONOLULU - The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the state's tourism agency, honored the unique tradition of paniolo, Hawaiian cowboys, at its Tourism Legacy Awards Luncheon today during the 2015 Hawaii Tourism Conference at the Hawaii Convention Center. "We are pleased to honor local ranches for their contributions to their community, and ongoing efforts to perpetuate and promote paniolo traditions and Hawaiian culture," said George D. Szigeti, president and CEO of the HTA. "Congratulations to this year's honorees and mahalo to the ranches throughout the state for continuing to help shape our islands' unique culture and story." Parker Ranch (Hawaii Island) Located in Waimea on beautiful Hawaii Island, this 250,000-acre farm dates back to the early 1850s. John Parker purchased 640 acres in 1850 and another 1,000 acres the following year from Kamehameha III. The ranch has grown into an educational attraction where visitors can learn about its rich history, witness one of the oldest-running rodeos and enjoy the vast landscape. http://parkerranch.com Kualoa Ranch (Oahu) Established in 1850, Kualoa Ranch is a 4,000-acre working cattle ranch on the windward side of O'ahu, which strives to preserve, protect and promote Hawai'i's natural beauty and culture. Its lush backdrop can be seen in a number of blockbuster movies including Jurassic Park, Pearl Harbor and 50 First Dates, and visitors can enjoy the Ranch through a variety of activities, including movie tours, ATV rides and hikes. www.kualoa.com Ulupalakua Ranch (Maui) This ranch reigns as Maui's second largest, extending across 18,000 acres of land. Originally founded [...]

HistoricHawaii2017-04-21T01:01:16-10:00August 28th, 2015|Categories: Blog|Tags: Paniolo, Parker Ranch|

Historic Places Matter: A Secret Treasure in Our Midst

by Joy Davidson, Preservation Architect and Historic Hawaii Foundation Board Member While walking the dogs a few evenings ago, I stumbled across a narrow lane sandwiched between the numbered streets of Kaimuki. Turning onto it, the slender road with no sidewalks lead me back in time, to a grouping of ten or so 1930s cottages gathered together like a secret committee. Each pristine pastel home had a tiny manicured lawn, welcoming porch, a double pitched roof and an individual personality that can only come from standing in one spot for eighty years. I slowed to a stroll as we traveled through this 1930s enclave which seemed to have its own sounds, smells and feeling of warmth and safety. I savored it as long as I could, smiling and nodding at each house, mentally congratulating their owners for their meticulous care. Then, before I was ready, the tiny road ended and I popped out onto the regular street – back into 2015 – with the noisy mopeds, paved yards and concrete big-box-houses. The take-away? It may not seem like a big deal, if one old house down the street gets demolished or another lot gets subdivided, but the tear-down trend is killing the once-charming Kaimuki neighborhoods. There are only a few intact, and these priceless neighborhoods matter.

HistoricHawaii2017-04-21T01:01:16-10:00August 26th, 2015|Categories: Blog|Tags: #Historic, Historic Neighborhood, Kaimuki, Preservation|

Rare Gems Can Be Found in the HHF Library

The Historic Hawaii Foundation Library - Catalog Project by John Williams, retired architect, HHF volunteer & member since 2013 August 26, 2015 Last year I had the pleasure of cataloging HHF’s library of about 500 books, which has been assembled over the last 40 years. Most of the books are about Hawaii’s history, culture, and people’s stories, in addition to general interest history and preservation topics. The majority have been donated, with many coming directly from publishers. Some of the books I’ve found to be most interesting were ones that have been written by authors and organizations, and then were self-published, because they weren’t going to have a large enough market for traditional publishers. A couple of my favorite examples were: Victoria Ward and Her Family – Memories of Old Plantation, by Frank Ward Hustace III The Japanese in Hawaii: A Century of Struggle, by Roland Kotani, and The Oahu Kanyaku Imin Centennial Committee Lihue Mill – One Hundred Fifty &Years of Sugar Processing Along Nawiliwili Stream: Grinding Cane & Building Community, by Jan Tenbruggencate Oahu Cemetery – Burial Ground & Historic Site, by Nanette Napoleon Purnell and the Oahu Cemetery Association These are just a few of the many unique explorations of Hawaii’s history to be found in the HHF Library. Access to the library is an HHF membership benefit. Members (and prospective new members) may phone the office at 808-523-2900 to schedule a time to visit. Books may be reviewed on the premises only.

HistoricHawaii2017-04-21T01:01:16-10:00August 26th, 2015|Categories: Blog|Tags: #Historic, architecture, Hawaii, Hawaiian history, Library, Preservation|

Duke Kahanamoku’s 125th Birthday Recognized by Google

Below is a re post from the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Blog. August 24, 2015 Today Google released a Google Doodle featuring Hawaii’s most famous waterman, Duke Kahanamoku, and his iconic 16-foot, 114 pound wooden surfboard. Duke, who would have turned 125 years old today, was a legendary competitive swimmer and a key figure in the history the Natatorium. In 1911 he broke the world record for the 100 meter freestyle by 4 ½ seconds in Honolulu Harbor. He would go on to win five gold medals in swimming for the U.S. in the next two decades (despite the cancellation of the 1916 Games during World War I). Many believe that Duke’s accomplishments were the inspiration to build the Natatorium as the Territory of Hawaii’s official War Memorial. Duke was such a legend following his Olympic successes that he was invited take the inaugural lap in the Natatorium. In fact, the opening ceremonies were timed to happen on the occasion of Duke’s 37th birthday, August 24, 1927. The crowd roared as Hawaii’s “Ambassador of Aloha” plunged into the pool before a packed house. “I will never forget it,” he later exclaimed, “the intense interest shown by everybody, the color, that wonderful Waikiki pool. I had to rub my eyes and pinch myself to see if it were not all a dream.” Here is a video of Duke winning the 100-meter freestyle at the Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games, his second gold medal in the event. Also check out some vintage footage of Duke surfing at Waikiki Beach.

HistoricHawaii2017-04-21T01:01:16-10:00August 24th, 2015|Categories: Blog|Tags: Duke Kahanamoku, Waikiki Natatorium|

History and Art Merge at Maui’s Historic Hui Noeau Visual Arts Center

PRESERVATION IN THE NEWS: Magical Hui Noeau Visual Arts Center offers guided walking tours of the 25 acre historic Kaluanui Estate rife with history, botanical gardens and art studios. Maui estate celebrates visual arts and history By Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi Honolulu Star Advertiser August 2, 2015 COURTESY MIEKO PHOTOGRAPHY Artist Stephen Fellerman instructs students in a glass-blowing class. Classes are held in the studios, and artists often can be found working there. Visitors, both on the guided and self-guided tours, are welcome to take a quick peek at what’s going on in the studios. Potter's wheels spin; paintbrushes sweep across canvases; beads, shells and wire turn into pretty rings and bracelets. On any given day, creativity blooms at Hui Noeau Visual Arts Center. Art and history go hand in hand on these 25 Upcountry acres overlooking the West Maui Mountains and the verdant north shore. East Maui Plantation opened on the site in 1850. When it closed in 1885, entrepreneur Henry Baldwin bought the property. Three decades later his son and daughter-in-law, Harry and Ethel Baldwin, retained famed architect C.W. Dickey to design a home for them there. The elegant two-story mansion was completed in 1917; its name, Kaluanui, means "big pit," referring to nearby Maliko Gulch. HUI NOEAU VISUAL ARTS CENTER Built in 1917, Kaluanui, Harry and Ethel Baldwin’s estate, is now the home of Hui Noeau Visual Arts Center. Ethel Baldwin founded the hui in 1934. Ethel and her daughter, Frances Baldwin Cameron, were patrons of the arts, and in 1934 they formed Hui Noeau ("coming together for the development of artistic skill"), a group of 20 women who initially met at Kaluanui to pursue their shared passion for [...]

HistoricHawaii2017-04-21T01:01:16-10:00August 19th, 2015|Categories: Blog|Tags: #Historic, #Makawao, #VisualArts, Historic Walking Tour, Hui Noeau, Preservation|

Preserving the Kona Way of Life

Living History in Kona by Christine Thomas At its root, Kona remains a committed farming and ranching community. While the coast may be dotted with visitors and resorts, the mauka region is dedicated to growing crops,raising cattle and working the land. Housed in the old H. N. Greenwell general store in Kealakekua, the Kona Historical Society (KHS) upholds the mission of preserving Kona’s past to share it with future generations. It manages a robust Kona-centered archive and two historic sites--the Greenwell Store and adjacent Uchida Coffee farm, both run as living history museums. When KHS acquired the 7-acre coffee farm that had been run by the Uchida family for three generations in 1996, preservation was the goal. KHS decided to not only preserve the coffee mill, but the entire farm as a second living history museum to showcase the way of life of generations of Kona residents. Historic Hawaii Foundation (HHF) helped KHS find consultants and conservators to help bring the farm back into working order, restore the orchards and 100-year-old trees, and create an unforgettable experience that brings visitors back to the 1920‘s-1940‘s era of the farm during the coffee heyday. The property was painstakingly repaired to ensure historical accuracy, and today even includes chickens and a donkey, which would once have been used to pack and deliver bags of coffee. HHF continues to help celebrate and acknowledge volunteers and community members who actively preserve the Kona way of life, the way generations of Kona residents were raised. Farms provided a lasting foundation and ethic of hard work that can be seen in such pioneering families as the Uchidas. What was a way of life then, for many Kona residents, still is. Fast [...]

HistoricHawaii2017-04-21T01:01:17-10:00August 12th, 2015|Categories: Blog|Tags: #Historic, #Kona, #KonaCoffee, #restoration, Hawaii, Kona Historical Society, Preservation|

Hawaii Tourism Conference to Feature Heritage Tourism Mobile Workshops

Two mobile workshops at this year's Hawaii Tourism Conference will provide an opportunity for members of the tourism industry to learn more about heritage tourism and how historic sites and attractions can be incorporated into visitors' island experience. Today's travelers are constantly in search of new experiences, and Hawaii's unique culture and heritage offers some of the best opportunities to attract and engage with both visitors and residents. For the first time, HTA is partnering with the Historic Hawaii Foundation to offer Heritage Tourism Mobile Workshops at historic sites on Oahu. Participants will learn about each area's cultural significance, impact and opportunities for incorporating and supporting these sites and experiences into offerings for visitors and residents. WHAT: 2015 Hawaii Tourism Conference WHY: The Hawaii Tourism Authority, the state's tourism agency, will hold its annual Hawaii Tourism Conference. The two-day conference is Hawaii's premier tourism stakeholder event featuring local, national and international leading experts in their fields sharing insight on tourism issues and trends unique to Hawaii's visitor industry. The Conference is attended by all stakeholders of the Hawaii travel and tourism industry including hotels and resorts, bed & breakfasts, timeshares, restaurants, festivals & events, retail stores, attractions, cultural organizations, restaurants, community leaders, and other related organizations and businesses working together to attain the State’s vision for a Hawaii that is the best place to live, work and visit. For the conference schedule and additional information on the Hawaii Tourism Conference, click here. WHEN: August 27-28, 2015 WHERE: Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu 1801 Kalakaua Avenue Honolulu, Hawai‘i REGISTRATION IS OPEN: Registration fees include conference sessions, breakfasts, Tourism Legacy Awards luncheon and a pau hana reception. Early bird rates are available through Aug. 3 at $195 per person or $185 per person [...]

HistoricHawaii2017-04-21T01:01:17-10:00July 31st, 2015|Categories: Blog|Tags: #heritagetourism, #Historic, #HTA, #Tourism, Hawaii|

Disappearing Lanai – A Pictorial Essay

Preservation in the News: This stunning pictorial and historical account of Lanai will leave you breathless. Disappearing Lanai by: Derek Paiva, Photography by Grant Kaye | Hawaii Magazine - Jun 25, 2015 Lanai has always been the definition of home for Grant Kaye. Of his 36 years, the Oahu-born photographer has been a full time resident of the island for only four—from the days following his birth up until his parents, Robin and Sally, moved the family to Pennsylvania just as Kaye was about to begin school. Now living near Lake Tahoe, Kaye returns several times annually to visit his parents who, a decade ago, finally moved back to retire in the home they long ago bought, moved away from, but always kept on Lanai. Ultimately assuring Kaye could call nowhere else in the world home, however, were the summer vacations he’d spend on Lanai from grade school through his high school graduation—times spent reconnecting with friends, his extended hanai ohana (adopted family) and the island itself. On Lanai, the Pennsylvania kid would revel in days and nights spent spearfishing, camping, beaching and exploring with his summer buddies. Guided and educated by family friend “Uncle” Albert Morita, a game warden who was raised on Lanai, Kaye found the little-populated, largely undeveloped 140-square-mile island an undiscovered country ripe for exploration. “Every trip back, my dad and I would spend as much time as we could with Uncle Albert, who would always want to take us to somewhere that we’d never been before,” remembers Kaye. “His family had lived on [Lanai] forever and he had such a deep love for the island and still does. We’d go to see petroglyphs or a heiau, always someplace different.” Those summers [...]

HistoricHawaii2017-04-21T01:01:17-10:00July 23rd, 2015|Categories: Blog|Tags: #fishpond, #Historic, #Lanai, #restoration, Hawaii, Preservation|

Community Workshop Scheduled to Revisit Vision for Pearl Harbor Historic Trail

Preservation in the News: Imagine an 18-mile shoreline trail from Aiea to Nanakuli incorporating historic sites, recreation areas and various other related attractions? Come to the community meeting and workshop at Aiea Elementary School on Wednesday, July 22 to discuss and help form the vision. Pearl Harbor Historic Trail meeting set By Jayna Omaye, Honolulu Star Advertiser Jul 16, 2015 The vision of the Pearl Harbor Historic Trail took root nearly 15 years ago when Aiea and Pearl City residents helped to compile a master plan for a trail along the shoreline to Nanakuli from Aiea that would host, among other things, improved bicycle and pedestrian paths, boat tours and a cultural learning center. City officials are now making efforts to relaunch the project that seeks to drive economic development and establish historic preservation plans on an 18-mile trail linking neighborhoods to various attractions, historic sites and recreation areas along the old Oahu Railway & Land Co. corridor. The master plan, developed in 2001 through community input and adopted by the City Council in 2003, serves as the basis for the revitalization of the shoreline that currently features a city-run bike path from Pearl Harbor to Waipahu and Ewa Beach, with the hope of extending it into Nanakuli. A long-term goal was to operate a steam train along the entire historic railway by extending a route that the Hawaiian Railway Society currently operates from Ewa Beach to Kahe Point. In 2005, then-Gov. Linda Lingle signed a bill that officially recognized the path from Halawa Landing near the USS Arizona Visitors Center through Waipahu as the Pearl Harbor Historic Trail, which was seen by proponents as a breakthrough in moving forward with the master plan. Officials [...]

HistoricHawaii2017-04-21T01:01:17-10:00July 20th, 2015|Categories: Blog|Tags: #fishpond, #Historic, #Lanai, #restoration, Hawaii, Preservation|