Blog

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 [...]

Sharing is caring at revered Hawaiian bookstore By Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi Maile Meyer grew up during the 1960s and 1970s — a time, as she puts it, when "a good Hawaiian was someone who wanted to be American. It was very difficult to find opportunities to study Hawaiian culture and history in school. Kupuna (elders) had the knowledge, but for many of them it was not the time to share their Hawaiian-ness." Na Mea offers several classes: students at work in a printmaking class. (Photo courtesy of Marissa Abadir) That said, being a voracious reader and coming from a Hawaiian family that was actively involved with important issues of the day such as the resurgence of hula and the reclamation of Kahoolawe, Meyer kept in touch with her roots. In October 1990 she attended a Hawaiian leadership development conference in Hilo and brought a sample set of books to sell, including Bishop Museum Press releases and works by respected Hawaiian scholars such as David Malo, Samuel Kama­kau and Mary Kawena Pukui. "Few of the people at the conference had Hawaiian books; many didn't even know books by Hawaiian authors existed," Meyer said. "One person asked, ‘Why are you selling Hawaiian books? Hawaiians don't read.' Wow. … That inspired me to start Native Books! Hawaii was one of the most literate countries at the turn of the last century. Our people were fascinated by the written word; there are close to a million Hawaiian newspaper pages in the State Archives." Meyer returned home with more than 100 book orders. Today, Native Books' inventory includes thousands of CD, DVD and in-print and out-of-print book titles about Hawaii and the people of Hawaii and the Pacific. [...]

The North Shore Chamber of Commerce's Historic Preservation Committee will present a program on the history of the Waialua Sugar Company showcasing the plantation experience, on Saturday, April 5th, 2014, 7:00pm at the Waialua United Church of Christ. In the first half of the program, local historian Boyd Ready will present an illustrated talk on the history of the Plantation. During the second half of the program the U.H. research team will share materials that feature the Waialua community from the 1940s through 1971. These materials are part of the University of Hawaii's Romanzo Adams Social Research Laboratories (RASRL) archive and were collected by sociology professors over several decades. The university students who wrote the papers and hand drew the maps were trained by sociology professors to research their communities. This will be an exciting program celebrating Hawaii's plantation heritage. WHAT: The History of Waialua Sugar Company WHEN: Saturday, April 5, 2014, at 7 p.m. WHERE: Waialua United Church of Christ ADMISSION: Free (donations accepted) CONTACT: Phone: 637-4558 website: www.gonorthshore.org ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 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. 

Photo by Jamm Aquino Honolulu Star-Advertiser article: The Nutridge House The historic residence, one of Tantalus' best-kept secrets, becomes available to the public March 16, 2014 By Steven Mark The Honolulu Star-Advertiser The macadamia nut has become one of those imports that Hawaii has adopted as a native product, and now people can enjoy the birthplace of the local macadamia industry — and have a terrific party there as well. The Nutridge House, a rustic but lovely historic home located on the first macadamia plantation in Hawaii, is available for public events for the first time in its 92-year history. The state-owned property, above a steep slope in the Puu Uala¬kaa State Wayside park in the Round Top Preserve, has the views, environment and history that capture the romance and beauty of old Hawaii. "I can't tell you how many times I've had guests up here and I've gotten an email or letter saying, ‘It was the highlight of my trip,'" said Rick Ralston, who has lived on the property on a state permit since 1981. The Nutridge House was built in 1922 for Ernest Van Tassel, who had come to the islands from Massachusetts to recuperate from an illness. Backed by his aunt Marjorie Merriweather Post, wife of the financier E.F. Hutton, Van Tassel obtained a state lease for the site and initially sought permission to farm it. When that was denied, Van Tassel did an end-run around the rejection. "He said, ‘What's my rent?' and they said, ‘Your rent is to plant 100 forest trees per year,'" said Ralston, founder of Crazy Shirts and Rix Island Wear. Van Tassel then went to a local agriculture organization and found "a forest tree [...]

Courtesy of National Park Service Honolulu Star-Advertiser article: Volcano house boasts unmatched beauty March 23, 2014 By Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi The Honolulu Star-Advertiser It doesn't have an ocean view, there's not a palm tree in sight and instead of swimsuits, guests are likely to be dressed in sweaters. Still, Volcano House, just a quarter-mile past the entrance to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, is one of the most talked-about hotels in Hawaii. No other island hostelry can match its location (it's perched on the 4,000-foot summit of Kilauea Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the world) or claim its long history (dating back to 1846, it's the oldest hotel in the state). Opened in 1941, the current structure, with 33 modest but comfortable rooms, is the fifth incarnation of Volcano House (see timeline). An extensive three-year refurbishment completed last year restored the hotel's concrete floors and canec ceilings and replaced everything from paint, carpets and furniture to plumbing, roofing and electrical wiring. Decor highlights include striking works by acclaimed local artists, both past and present, among them a bronze bas-relief of Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess, and replicas of ancient Hawaiian weapons and a feather cape and helmet. Art aficionados will also appreciate the reproductions of whimsical Matson menu covers by Eugene Savage, circa 1938; covers of Hawaiian sheet music published in the early 1900s; and late-19th-century paintings of Kilauea eruptions by David Howard Hitchcock (the originals are on display at the Lyman Museum and Mission House in Hilo). Thirty minutes of dramatic footage from actual 1933, 1955, 1959 and 1960 eruptions plays continuously in the Great Room, where chairs and settees surround the hotel's original lava rock fireplace, inviting guests to [...]

You live in Hawai'i.  You work in Hawai'i.  You are planning Hawaii's future. We know you have ideas and projects to make planning in Hawai'i creative and resilient AND you can present them at the 2014 Hawaii Congress of Planning Officials (HCPO) on Maui in September. To make this year’s conference especially meaningful, the Maui conference team wants to hear from you . We  all learn from each other and the conference is a great way to get re-energized and to hear about  new ideas to help Hawai'i SHIFT into the future. SHIFT - Shaping Hawaii for Tomorrow, is this year’s theme.  We want to hear about your projects, case studies and ideas, especially those that are innovative and offer a different way of solving planning problems SUBMIT YOUR IDEAS and a proposal by following the link below to the Call for Sessions page.  ENGAGE IN THE SHIFT! https://hcpomaui2014.squarespace.com/call-for-sessions/ We recommend opening the page using Firefox or Google Chrome browser. Please share with anyone who might have interest in participating. MAHALO!  HCPO Maui Program Committee ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 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. 

  COURTESY JEANE MCMAHON Hikers learn to love and conserve the land March 2, 2014 By Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Ted Clement's first job after graduating from college in 1991 was working as an environmental educator for the Outward Bound School in Maine. A longtime outdoor enthusiast with a Bachelor of Science degree, he led high school and college students on expeditions ranging from about three weeks to three months. Every course had an organized "solo," during which students would be left alone in a safe, albeit remote, wilderness area. Journaling was a big part of that experience. When the students completed their solo, which sometimes lasted a few days, there was a ceremony where they would read some of their journal entries. "Time and time again, I saw students share profound thoughts about the natural world and their place in it," said Clement, now an attorney whose focus is land conservation law. "For many of the students, the solo was their first contemplative experience in nature, and the observations that came out of it were amazing." Later, while working as the executive director of the Aquidneck Land Trust in Rhode Island, Clement used the insights he had gained at Outward Bound to launch a program called Land Matters Walk & Talk. It involved taking the public, free of charge, to places the organization was protecting and working to protect. "The walks helped people connect with nature and learn about Aquidneck's time-sensitive land conservation projects," Clement said. "Once they understood what we were trying to accomplish, they wholeheartedly supported it. When I became the executive director of the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (HILT) in January 2013, I was confident the same [...]

Photo by JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM Plan for senior center on pump station site OK'd By Andrew Gomes Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 2014-03-06 March 06--A 114-year-old building in Kakaako that has stood abandoned for the past 50 years, despite being an architectural gem, may finally be put to use after numerous failed efforts and ideas in recent decades. A proposal to rehabilitate and reuse the historic Ala Moana Pump Station, which was Honolulu's first sewage disposal facility, was endorsed Wednesday by a state agency that owns the property. The board of the Hawaii Community Development Authority voted to accept $1 million through a nonprofit organization and another state agency to restore the building for use as a resource center for seniors. Pacific Gateway Center, a nonprofit serving immigrants, refugees and low-income residents, proposed using the building to provide services to seniors. The organization received a $1 million grant provided by the Legislature through the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a community resource center, and approached HCDArecently after prospects for another site fell through. Under the proposal, the nonprofit would channel its grant to HCDAto bid out the renovation work, and then negotiate a lease to use the property at the corner of Keawe Street and Ala Moana Boulevard. HCDAstaff recommended accepting Pacific Gateway's plan, saying in a report that the building is in need of repair and would continue to deteriorate if left unused. "It seemed like a good fit,"said Anthony Ching, HCDAexecutive director. "This is the most credible public purpose." Yet one agency board member, Miles Kamimura, questioned whether the project was being rushed to avoid the grant lapsing at the end of June. Kamimura noted that a prior HCDA assessment [...]