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Zoe Loos, a graduate of the YWCA's Young Women's Network Board shares her admiration for female icon and role model, architect Julia Morgan, who designed the YWCA of Oahu Laniakea building. (Content below from the YWCA of Oahu). __________________________________________________________________________________________________________  Julia Morgan: Celebrating the woman who gave us Laniakea by Zoe Loos, Volunteer/Graduate of the YWCA Young Women's Network Board After reading that Julia Morgan, the designer of the YWCA of Oʻahu, recently received the AIA Gold Medal award, I falsely assumed that Julia Morgan was still alive. Although she has left us long ago, she continues to live. She is as much alive as anyone I know. She's living through her work, which still remains as elegant and important as it did over 100 years ago. I am lucky enough to live within her life. When I step into work every morning I am witnessing the essence of the woman who built the YWCA of Oʻahu Laniakea. I now appreciate the building and I appreciate the woman behind the building as well. What made me love Julia Morgan even more than working in Laniakea was learning about her accomplishments. She was the only woman in her class to graduate with a degree in Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. She was also the first woman to be admitted and graduate from Ecole des Baux-Arts in Paris, France. She defied the sexism that bombarded her everyday. She made a name for herself, designed countless buildings embodying multiple styles, and she was a hard worker. Morgan is a role model for women everywhere. Laniakea was built in 1927 and it was developed and designed for women. It's the only YWCA facility designed by Julia Morgan [...]

Mokuaikaua Church in Kona on Hawaii Island has made this year's list!  Read more about the church and the most endangered historic places in America list below  (content from The National Trust for Historic Preservation). __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Photo by Steve Conger The National Trust for Historic Preservation's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places of 2014 Mokuaikaua Church Year Listed: 2014 Location: Kailua Village in Kona, Hawaii Threat: Deterioration Significance Mokuaikaua Church, Hawaii’s first Christian Church, is a large stone building located in the center of Historic Kailua Village in Kona, Hawaii. Its iconic steeple stands out conspicuously among the low rise village and has become a landmark for nearly 200 years from both land and sea. Completed in 1837 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, Mokuaikaua Church represents the new, western-influenced architecture of early 19th century Hawaii. This stone and mortar building is believed to be built out of stones taken from a nearby heiau (Hawaiian temple) with mortar made of burned coral. Construction beams are made from Hawaiian ohia wood joined with ohia pins. The building has suffered from earthquake damage, as well as dysfunctional and faulty electrical wiring, termite damage, and dry-rot damage to beams in the steeple and wooden window frames. A Hawaiian landmark for nearly 200 years,  Mokuaikaua Church now needs immediate attention if it is to be saved. Visit the Mokuaikaua Church's website for more information. ~                       ~                          ~                         ~                            ~                            ~ About America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places Since 1988, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has used its list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places to raise awareness about the threats facing some of the nation's greatest treasures. The list, which has [...]

Our friends at Paepae o He'eia are hosting a free talk story with Uncle Buddy Keala this Thursday, June 19 from 5:30-8:00pm.  Learn the genealogy of Hawaiian fishponds & how they work from a master.  Event details below. (From the Paepae o He'eia blog) People outside the fishpond circles might not be familiar with Uncle Buddy Keala. He is a humble man who has dedicated most of his life to understanding and experiencing the ocean and aquaculture. He was schooled in modern aquaculture but has spent these past 3+ decades dedicated to ancient Hawaiian aquaculture and its relationship to the modern landscape. He has become a well-respected loea of lokoiʻa restoration, management, and policy. He authored a book, “Loko Iʻa: A manual on Hawaiian Fishpond Restoration and Management“. He has helped in the restoration of over 30 fishponds across the state. This is just a short list of his accomplishments. So it is truly our honor to invite the public to join us on Thursday evening June19th from 5:30-8:00pm for a free talk story session with Uncle Buddy. He will discuss the genealogy of Hawaiian fishponds and their basic workings related to the ahupuaʻa, a genealogy of the fishpond permits now required restore them, and some alternatives on where we go from here. The event which is free and open to the public, will be held at Heʻeia Fishpond. Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to admin@paepaeoheeia.org . This talk story session is a part of Paepae o He'eia's larger Evening Launa Series in their Maliʻu a Liʻu Project sponsored by OHA. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Historic Hawaii Foundation 1974~2014 ~ Celebrating 40 years of preservation in Hawaii! We’re Social! Like us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter [...]

The Natatorium is back in the news as the newest addition to the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of  "National Treasures".   Trust executive staff is in town this week to launch the campaign.  Read the full story from the Star Advertiser below. Click here to read more about the history of the Natatorium. CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM   National treasure A long-suffering landmark receives added recognition, renewing debate over what to do with the historic site By Allison Schaefers Honolulu Star Advertiser, May 21, 2014 A nearly three-decade battle to preserve the neglected Wai­kiki War Memorial Natatorium is getting added ammunition from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is adding the landmark to its list of "national treasures" — a move that harnesses the support of thousands of preservationists from coast to coast. Built in 1927, the Natatorium's memorial arches, 100-meter saltwater pool and stadium bleachers were meant to honor Hawaii's 10,000 World War I veterans. It has been recognized as an architectural landmark on the National Register of Historic Places and for a few generations was the place where Hawaii residents learned to swim and great watermen like Olympic medalist Duke Kaha­na­moku and his contemporaries trained. However, those glory days ended in 1979 when the Natatorium was closed due to disrepair. The trust's new campaign aims to pre­sent alternatives to an $18.4 million plan announced in May 2013 by Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Mayor Kirk Caldwell to demolish the pool and bleachers and develop a public memorial beach at the site, said David J. Brown, the National Trust's executive vice president, who plans to announce the designation in Hono­lulu on Wednesday. "The Natatorium is an important war memorial from [...]

The encroaching ocean Two historic places on the Big Island are at risk, a national report says By Marcel Honoré Honolulu Star Advertiser, 5/20/14                                                    In Alaska, artifacts that show how native peoples first crossed into America from Siberia are jeopardized as the sea ice that protects those ancient objects melts and exposes them to ocean waves. In Virginia the first permanent English colony in America is in danger of being submerged by severe storm surge. And in Hawaii two sacred coastal sites that reveal the ingenuity of how the islands' kupuna once lived and thrived are now threatened by advancing seawater and pounding surf. A new report out Tuesday from the Union of Concerned Scientists highlights these and 26 other U.S. historic places put in serious peril by rising seas, fiercer wildfire seasons and other impacts linked to man-made climate change. CESAR LAURE / SPECIAL TO THE HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER The two Hawaii sites that the report spotlights are national historical parks on Hawaii island's west coast: Pu‘u­ho­nua o Honau­nau and Kaloko-Hono­­ko­hau. "For Native Hawaiians these kind of places can't be restored. They're gone, they're gone forever," said Fred Keaka­oka­lani Cachola, a Native Hawaiian who helped lead the push to make Kaloko-Hono­ko­hau a national historical park in the 1970s. "It's not just a loss of place; it's a loss of who we are. How do you measure a loss of that?" Cachola added. The UCS report is the first of its kind on such sites, representatives of the Massachusetts-based nonprofit say. Other reports, such as those from the International Panel on Climate Change and the U.S. National Climate Assessment, warn of the serious problems ahead due to a warming earth. However, none of them [...]

The Paepae o He'eia summer internship offers local youth the opportunity to learn about and participate in activities such as traditional and modern aquaculture at the  fishpond, loʻi (wetland) kalo cultivation, native plant identification and propagation, and stream restoration. Activities and experiences will occur mainly in Heʻeia and Koʻolaupoko but longer huakaʻi are definitely possible! Paepae o He'eia hopes to inspire young adults in high school and college to be champions for the aina and knowledgeable stewards of the treasured resources of our island home. Applications must be postmarked no later than Friday May 16th to be considered. Applicants must be 16 years or older to apply but preference will be given to those between 16 and 24 years old. Click here for the Heʻeia Ahupuaʻa Application P   ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Historic Hawaii Foundation 1974~2014 ~ Celebrating 40 years of preservation in Hawaii! We’re Social! Like us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter Sign up for our E-news for the latest on preservation-related events, news and issues here in Hawai‘i & beyond. 

The USS Arizona Memorial and USS Missouri, both stationed in Pearl Harbor, signify the beginning and ending of World War II, respectively. (Photo courtesy Battleship Missouri Memorial) The National Park Service and Pacific Historic Parks are proud to offer the public a fully-narrated boat tour of Pearl Harbor. Tours will depart from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and take passengers around Ford Island to view the USS Utah Memorial, the narrow entrance to Pearl Harbor, Battleship Missouri Memorial and historic Battleship Row. Each tour will be conducted by a National Park Service Ranger and includes a stop at the USS Arizona Memorial. To reserve your tickets, select a date below, reserve online or call. Tours are only offered a few times a year and tickets sell out quickly. Don’t miss this amazing Pearl Harbor experience! Pearl Harbor Historic Tour Dates • May 23 at 2:15pm • May 24 at 2:15pm • May 25 at 2:15pm • May 26 at 3:15pm Help restore the beautiful monument. Historic Pearl Harbor Tour proceeds will be donated to the National Park Service to restore the USS Arizona Memorial. Tax deductible donation receipts will be provided upon check in. For Reservations For more details or to reserve a tour, contact Amy Ogasawara, development coordinator, Pacific Historic Parks, at 808-954-8726 or visit the Pearl Harbor events page at http://www.pacifichistoricparks.org/phh_events.php. Pacific Historic Parks News Release ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Historic Hawaii Foundation 1974~2014 ~ Celebrating 40 years of preservation in Hawaii! We’re Social! Like us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter Sign up for our E-news for the latest on preservation-related events, news and issues here in Hawai‘i & beyond. 

Historic buildings and structures with hip new uses are becoming increasingly popular for a variety of reasons relating to sustainability, financial feasibility and preservation of historic buildings and districts.  Here's a preservation brief and resource links designed to start you on your way! ADAPTIVELY REUSING HISTORIC BUILDINGS Secretary of Interior Standard: Rehabilitation Nuuanu Residence by Mason Architects. (Photo credit: Mason Architects)   What is Adaptive Reuse? Adaptive reuse is the process of adapting old structures for purposes other than those initially intended. This preservation technique allows for new or contemporary uses in a historic structure while preserving the characteristics of the building that make it historic.   When is Adaptive Reuse a Good Option to Pursue?  While many historic properties can and do continue to be used as originally built, many have outlived their original purpose. By finding new uses that can be accommodated in existing buildings, new vibrancy and capital investment can be achieved. Examples of adaptive reuse could include changing industrial or commercial buildings to housing or lofts (such as the Royal Brewery in Kaka‘ako), finding commercial uses for residential buildings (such as Waimea Plantation Resorts on Kaua‘i), or adding a civic function to a formerly private facility (such as the State Art Museum in the former YMCA in the Capital District).   Implementing Adaptive Re-Use Ensuring retention of historic integrity while pursuing adaptive re-use starts with understanding and following the Secretary of Interior Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties: Rehabilitation. The Standards for Rehabilitation consist of 10 principles to follow accompanied by guidelines explaining how the standards can be accomplished. As stated in the definition, the treatment “rehabilitation” assumes that at least some repair or alteration of the historic building [...]

  Our friends at the Kona Historical Society are hosting a variety of fascinating events in April- check them out if you're on Hawai'i Island! Special Easter Bread Bake at the Portuguese Stone Oven Thursday, April 17, 10:00am, at the Portuguese Stone Oven in the pasture below KHS headquarters in Kealakekua. This bread baking event is special because the KHS stone oven baking crew will be putting the traditional whole egg in each loaf to celebrate Easter. Bread sales begin around 12:30pm the loaves are sold out.  Bring your lunch and make a day of it with an oven-side picnic in the pasture! Kona Historical Society Membership Meeting  Thursday, April 24, 5:00pm at Kona Historical Society, Kealakekua Membership meeting with a fascinating discussion on Kona's Scenic Byways by Tomoe Nimori, vice president of Pulama Ia Kona Heritage Preservation Council and a Kona Historical Society board member.  There will also be a chance at a behind-the-scenes peek at the H.N. Greenwell Store Museum after hours. King Kamehameha Day Parade Pa`u Workshop Saturday, April 26, 9:30am-3:00pm Participants in this year's King Kamehameha Day Celebration Parade will learn the fine points of the Hawaiian equestrian tradition known as "pa'u." The public is invited to attend. For information, call Barbara Nobriga at 322-9944. April's Hanohano `O Kona Lecture Series Wednesday, April 30, 5:30pm - 7:00pm, West Hawaii Civic Center Conservation Hannah Kihalani Springer will give a fascinating talk about "Conservation and Climate in Kona" where she considers care for our natural resources and incorporates indigenous ways and strategies for conservation with modern approaches as well. Free of charge, the lecture is open to all. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Historic Hawaii Foundation 1974~2014 ~ Celebrating 40 years of preservation in Hawaii! We’re Social! Like [...]