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Black History in 19th Century Hawaiʻi By guest contributor Deloris Guttman, founder and curator of the Obama Hawaiian Africana Museum (formerly known as the African American Diversity Cultural Center Hawaii). The history of the Black presence in Hawaiʻi goes back to the early sailors. Blacks were crewmembers of James Cook’s second and third Pacific voyages. Free and enslaved Blacks served onboard these ships in a variety of capacities. Many other African Americans worked in the maritime industry during this period as crew members, pilots, cooks, stewards, stevedores, builders and captains. The National Park Service Underground Railroad Network for Freedom dedicated wayside interpretive signage that tracks the life of Anthony D. Allen, a slave from Schenectady, New York to freedom in Hawai‘i in 1810. Washington Middle School in Honolulu is recognized as the Anthony D. Allen Site and home to the signage sharing Allen’s extraordinary story. Anthony D. Allen (1774-1835) was a slave who sought and gained his freedom at age 24. From enslavement in Schenectady, New York, he made his way by land to Hartford, and by sea to Boston where he shipped out on a commercial ship that began his travels around the world. He was hired as a steward for seven years and cook for one year under the same captain. Faced with recapture in 1806, he bought his freedom with help from the ship's owner who let him pay back the money demanded over time. After many adventures and traveling the world, Allen left the sea to make the Hawaiian Islands his home in 1810 because men of African descent could reside there without harassment or enslavement. Allen married a Hawaiian woman and had three children who survived to adulthood. Called Alani by [...]

  By Lilinoe Andrews Specialist, Chancellor’s Office, University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu Hawaiian diacritical marks comprise just two symbols: the glottal stop (ʻokina) and the macron (kahakō). Are they important? Worth the extra time it takes to insert them into your text? That depends, so let’s discuss. Simply speaking, the two diacritical marks are a way to show how a Hawaiian word should sound to a person unfamiliar with a particular word. More importantly, those two little marks are keeping the Hawaiian language alive. In 1826, a committee of seven missionary gentlemen thought diacriticals were important enough to wrestle mightily with them in the challenge to put the once oral language to print. They decided, after doing similar work in Tahiti, that Hawaiian should have just twelve letters. The ʻokina appeared in Andrews’ dictionary in 1865 and the kahakō in Judd, Pukui, and Stokes’ dictionary and grammar in 1945. In 1978 the ʻAhahui ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi published “Recommendations and Comments on the Hawaiian Spelling Project” and standardized the use of the ʻokina and kahakō. Not only do the ʻokina and kahakō change the sound of a word, they often end up changing its meaning. For example, these are separate words: pau=completed paʻu=soot paʻū=damp, soaked pāʻū=woman’s skirt Diacriticals are important to keeping Hawaiian (the fastest growing native language in the U.S.) alive because they help expand the lexicon and give the language the subtlety that fluent speakers know by heart. And they are helpful for those unfamiliar with the language, like little cheat marks to keep you from getting your pāʻū all paʻū. Your kumu hula would not be happy. There are a few contexts where diacriticalizing is not seen. For example, in the Niʻihau church [...]

Last Remaining Building at Mānana Barracks Reveals Rich History By guest contributor Deloris Guttman, founder and curator of the Obama Hawaiian Africana Museum (formerly known as the African American Diversity Cultural Center Hawaii). Naval Aviation Supply Depot (NASD) Personnel Quonset Hut 33 is a one-story former military building on the grounds in the Urban Garden Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources in Pearl City on O‘ahu. There were a 100 Quonset huts constructed in 1944.  Quonset Hut 33, the only structure that remains, served as galley storehouse at the segregated housing Manana Barracks for African American military personnel in the Naval Aviation Supply Depot.   In the midst of World War II, several factors led to the U.S. Navy’s construction of a segregated encampment between Pearl City and an area known as the Waiawa Gulch.  Among them were various racial tensions at housing areas for African American Cargo Handling Units at Pearl Harbor and surrounding areas, the arrival of over a dozen predominantly African American Construction Battalions (CBs or “SeaBees”) to the Fourteenth Naval District in July 1943, and the construction of two supply centers in Waiawa Gulch where many African American navy men worked. Under “Jim Crow” law, black servicemen could not socialize with white servicemen in Hawai‘i. A separate USO facility was setup.   The Manana Barracks housed over 1,800 African Americans that worked at the Waiawa Gulch Naval Aviation Supply Deport as stevedores and cargo handlers.  The contributions of these men who lived at Manana Barracks provided vital service to World War II war efforts in the Pacific Theater. During World War II, the majority of African American military personnel in Hawai‘i served in the [...]

Lili‘uokalani Protestant Church's History Spans more than 190 Years and Four Structures Submitted by the Historic Preservation Committee of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce; working to preserve and perpetuate the legacy of historic Haleʻiwa.  Reprinted with permission. The area that now surrounds the intersection of Haleʻiwa Road and Kamehameha Highway has seen many changes over the years. The iconic Haleʻiwa Hotel was built there in 1898. The Sea View Inn was built on the site in 1955, became the Chart House in 1990 and then Haleiwa Joe’s in 1998. But nearly two centuries ago, it was the location of O‘ahu’s second oldest Hawaiian Church built by a missionary couple whose beloved legacy is the Liliʻuokalani Protestant Church in Haleʻiwa. Between 1820 and 1863, twelve companies of missionaries were deployed to the Hawaiian Islands by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. The Reverend John Smith Emerson and his new bride Ursula Sophia Newell Emerson were part of the Fifth Company. After six months on a whaling ship that set sail from New Bedford, Massachusetts, they arrived in Honolulu in May of 1832. The Emersons were assigned to serve the 8,000 residents along Waialua’s thirty-mile coastline. High Chief Gideon Pele’ioholani La’anui, the Konohiki of Waialua and one of the first Hawaiians to become literate in both English and his native language, helped them to establish a simple church near the Anahulu Stream’s outfall at Waialua Bay in July of 1832. The chartered name of the church was Ka Ahahui Kahu Malama Waiwai O Ka Ekalesia O Kawailoa Ma Waialua, more often called the Hawaiian Church in Waialua or simply the Waialua Church. By 1841, an adobe church with a high thatched roof [...]

What is a Historic Structures Report and When Do You Need One? A Historic Structures Report (HSR) is a widely used preservation tool, ideally an important first step, toward obtaining maximum knowledge about a structure in order to help maintain and/or preserve it. HSRs are generally commissioned by a property owner for an individual building and its site that is historically and/or architecturally significant. The report documents physical information about a structure’s history, significance, composition and existing condition. It includes recommendations for the most appropriate approach to treatment for the repair and/or maintenance of the property and outlines the scope of suggested work to be done. It can also include information about the owner or management goals for the current use of the property. What information is collected? A variety of sources comprise the report and research. These usually include a preliminary walk-through as well as physical records such as architectural blueprints, record photography and archival documentation and a survey of the existing condition of the property as it relates to interior and exterior architectural elements and mechanical and structural systems. The site is also evaluated for its historical significance. Discussion with the owner and users about current and future uses is an important part of the process. As additional information is learned relevant to the history of the building, and as work on the historic structure is implemented, the report can be amended and supplemented. The size and complexity of a property will determine how extensive the HSR will be.  How is it used? HSRs provide comprehensive documentation of a site and help determine work recommendations for its preservation, guide budget needs and serve as a scheduling tool for work to be done. [...]

The Sam and Mary Cooke Preservation Fund for Hawai‘i Supports Local Preservation Efforts The Sam and Mary Cooke Preservation Fund for Hawaii helps preserve and enhance historic places in Hawai’i for future generations. The grants are administered through the National Trust for Historic Preservation in cooperation with Historic Hawai’i Foundation.  In October, 2022, three iconic Hawai’i sites received grants to help them properly assess and protect their historic properties. The Grantees                   Liljestrand Foundation | Honolulu, O‘ahu $5,000 to conduct an existing condition survey for the Liljestrand House, Vladimir Ossipoff’s work of mid-twentieth century Hawaiian modern architecture that is now open to the public as a historic house museum and programmatic space. Built on the slopes of Pu`u Ohia (Mount Tantalus), overlooking Honolulu, the Liljestrand House is recognized as an outstanding example of Vladimir Ossipoff’s work and of mid-twentieth century modern architecture. Howard and Betty Liljestrand originally intended to design the house themselves with the help of a friend, but quickly realized that they needed more than just appreciation for good design to build a house. After a search, Vladimir Ossipoff was selected. The Liljestrands gave Ossipoff a brief list of requirements that shaped the house. The family and Ossipoff worked collaboratively throughout the project. Betty Liljestrand was engaged on a daily basis as general contractor, supervising the crew of craftsmen and carpenters. Even with the language barrier between the Japanese craftsmen and Betty Liljestrand, they found creative ways to communicate when making adjustments throughout the process. Learn more.                         Hui Noeau Visual Arts Center | Makawao, Maui $3,500 to restore original doors and [...]

What are maintenance plans and why do one? By Virginia Murison, AIA A Maintenance Manual or Plan identifies those character-defining features of a historic structure that convey its significance and provides guidance for the routine maintenance, as well as repair methods, that will preserve the feature, material or finish.  Often, these will include historic materials or finish methods that are not common to contemporary buildings. This documentation is a valuable part of preservation literature for educational purposes as well as practical in-the-field guidance. As a companion to a Historic Structure Report, a Programmatic Agreement or a Preservation Plan, a Maintenance Plan is a valuable component in the documentation of a historic property. All Federal Agencies are required by the National Historic Preservation Act to identify the historic resources under their control and to protect those properties to the maximum extent possible. Private sector owners, organizations and commercial management concerns are also custodians of significant historic structures which require sensitive and routine maintenance.  Historic materials and finishes often exist which would be difficult to replicate or replace if they were lost, emphasizing the need for maintenance and care to prevent loss or damage. Property owners applying for the City & County of Honolulu’s property tax exemption for historic commercial properties are required to develop and submit a 10-year maintenance plan as a condition for receiving the exemption. The maintenance plan helps ensure that the characteristics that convey the historic significance will be retained and the property maintained in good condition. The Secretary of the Interior defines “preservation” as “identification, evaluation, recordation, documentation, curation, acquisition, protection, management, rehabilitation, restoration, stabilization, maintenance, research, interpretation, and conservation” (emphasis added) A maintenance manual is intended to assist facility managers, planners, [...]

Representation and expertise key to this positive preservation outcome In June of 2018, the Kaua‘i County Department of Public Works issued a project notice for Section 106 consultation for the Kōloa Road and Maluhia Road Improvements Project. The project had the potential to adversely affect several historic resources. The Resources Maluhia Tree Tunnel The famous Tree Tunnel, formed by rows of eucalyptus trees, borders a one mile segment along Maluhia Road from the Kaumuali'i Highway junction to Knudsen's Gap. It's a lush grove of over 500 trees estimated to be between 100 and 150 years old, dating back to around 1911. The most common explanation regarding the source of the trees is that Walter Duncan McBryde, a major sugar, pineapple, and cattle businessman, planted the trees as a gift to Kaua'i. Mr. McBryde was also in charge of the roads in the Kōloa District from 1900 to 1905. Eligibility for the Nation Register of Historic Places is undetermined at this time, however the County of Kaua‘i has recognized the Tree Tunnel as an “exceptional resource with historical or cultural value” since 1976. The tree tunnel is also identified as “K-2” under Section 22-5.4 of Article 5 “Preservation of Exceptional Trees” of the Kaua‘i County Ordinances. Three Wailana Stream Bridges along Maluhia Road  The three bridges - Wailana Bridge No. 2, Wailana Bridge No. 3, and Wailana Bridge No. 4 are all located on Maluhia Road. Bridges No. 3 and No. 4 were both designed by Joseph H. Moragne and constructed in 1910 as part of the Kaua'i Belt Road, while Bridge No. 2 was designed by Sadaichi Dodo and constructed in 1936. Bridges No. 3 and No. 4 are historically significant under as they represent [...]

Preservation Grant Supports Repairs at First Chinese Church of  Christ The church was founded in 1879 and granted a charter of incorporation by King David Kalākaua that same year. It was begun by immigrant Chinese Christians seeking to establish a church where services could be held in their native language and evangelize to the growing Chinese community. FCCC’s original sanctuary was located on Fort Street, between Beretania and Kukui Streets. As the Chinese community spread outside of Chinatown, members sought and found a new location for the growing congregation at 1054 South King Street on the old Grandville Hotel property across from McKinley High School.   The iconic sanctuary was designed by renowned Hawai‘i architect Hart Wood and constructed by contractor Teikichi Takahashi. The building was dedicated in 1929. The design blends elements of Hawaiian regional architecture, Christian elements and symbolic Chinese decorative motifs. A steep pitched tiled roof, heavy timber trusses, and interior walls of plaster over lava rock done in the Chinese method are other notable features. Wood designed two stained glass windows in the sanctuary: a three paneled rectangular window above the entry portal on the south makai wall and a grand circular rose window in the choir loft on the north mauka wall. A preservation grant from the Freeman Foundation, in cooperation with Historic Hawai‘i Foundation, supported the repair of the stained-glass windows as part of a larger master plan of historic preservation, renovation and repair of the entire church campus. The windows had issues of bowing, cracked stained glass, corrosion of metal frames and separation between the stained glass and supports. The grant enabled these problems to be addressed in a timely manner preventing major damage or irrevocable failure. "Challenges [...]

Meet HHF Intern Camille Dahmen!   Camille Dahmen graduated from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa with a B.A. in History and Political Science in May 2022. Camille began her internship with HHF in late June completing her HHF experience at the Preservation Honor Awards on October 20th. Her interests proved a natural fit for the world of preservation and her enthusiasm for Hawai‘i’s layered history was contagious! During her time with HHF, Camille helped at the Statues of O‘ahu Walking Tour in Waikīkī and the 2022 Preservation Honor Awards and participated in staff outings to view the historic Haleʻiwa’s interpretive signage project and tour the Liljestrand House in Tantalus, O‘ahu. (View photo gallery at bottom.) The interview below took place in October 2022.  An abridged version appears in the HHF November 2022 newsletter.   Historic Hawai‘i Foundation: Tell us a little about yourself- where are you from, what are your interests and hobbies? Camille Dahmen: I am from California and came to Hawai‘i to go to UH Mānoa. Originally, I came here to major in marine biology, but being immersed in the deep and profound history and culture here made me want to pursue my love and passion for history and political science. I have always been interested in history, playing sports like basketball and volleyball, reading and writing, trying new / fun food places, and going to the beach! HHF: You’ve been employed while interning. Tell us about where you work, what you do there and why it lights you up? Camille Dahmen: While interning at Historic Hawai‘i Foundation I have also been working as a docent at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum on Ford Island. The museum recently opened to [...]