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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 [...]