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Commemorating the Centennial of Wheeler Army Airfield

Wheeler Army Airfield Played a Significant Role in World War II Events Wheeler Army Airfield in central O’ahu was established in 1922 by a small detachment of men from Luke Field at Ford Island. This working party cleared the area of weeds, guava, and algaroba trees, built housing, and erected two canvas hangers in the flying field. The area was officially christened Wheeler Field on November 11, after the late commander of Luke Field, Major Sheldon H. Wheeler, who was killed when his plane crashed on Ford Island the previous year. In June 1923, oil storage tanks, a new flying field, shop hangers, and new airplane hangars were all constructed. ln 1930 the first permanent structures were erected. Due to Hawai‘i’s year-round climate, Wheeler Field was a popular area for aviation training. During the pre-World War II era, Wheeler Field witnessed multiple historic events. Several "firsts" in flight history occurred here. These included the 1927 first mainland-to-Hawai‘i nonstop flight; the 1928 trans-pacific flight from Australia to the United States; a 1927 nonstop flight from Oakland, California to Wheeler and in 1935, Amelia Earhart’s departure on the first solo flight between Hawaii and California, the first of several subsequent visits by the famed female pilot. Kingsford Smith, in his plane the Southern Cross, used the airfield on his historic flights across the Pacific. Amelia Earhart's airplane, the Vega, at Wheeler Field as she prepares for her Oahu to Oakland flight in January 1935 Photo courtesy of http://americahurrah.com Just years before United States involvement in World War II, Wheeler Field had transitioned into the primary base for Army Air Corps pursuit aircraft, the first generation of real fighter planes. This garrison of aircraft was tasked with patrolling [...]

2022-11-18T09:21:07-10:00November 4th, 2022|Categories: Blog|

Local Organizations and Businesses Celebrate 100 Years of Service

CADES SCHUTTE With a century of dedicated excellence, Cades Schutte has helped businesses and families find prosperity in Hawai‘i. Attorneys Arthur G. Smith and Urban E. Wild founded this firm in 1922 as Smith & Wild. From that beginning, the history of Cades Schutte can be traced through the milestones of Hawai‘i’s history. As the states largest full-service law firm, they have and continue to offer a wide range of corporate and personal legal services. Cades Schutte has continually strived to exceed the expectations of their clients and community with a mission to provide solutions that are unique, lasting, and substantial.   HAWAI‘I EDUCATION ASSOCIATION The Hawai‘i Education Association (HEA) celebrates 100 years of supporting educators across Hawai‘i. HEA was formed in 1921 to help educators in their fight for better pay and work conditions. HEA was the original advocacy organization representing the education community before the Territorial and State Legislatures. During the State Constitutional Convention of 1968, HEA was the first to testify in support of public collective bargaining. After the constitution was amended to allow public sector employees the right to organize, HEA played a major role in the establishment of three collective bargaining units for educators that endure to this day — Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA), University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA), and Hawaii Government Employee Association (HGEA) Unit 6. With the formation of the unions, HEA’s focus shifted to promoting teacher excellence and professional development. In 1994, HEA acquired 501(c)(3) nonprofit status to continue support for local educators. A hundred years later, HEA is a champion for the teaching profession and supports the professional excellence of educators at all schools and grade levels statewide. What remains unchanged over the past [...]

2022-11-18T09:21:38-10:00October 27th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

Historic Pu‘unēnē School on Maui Commemorates its 100th Year

  The Puʻunēnē School is a historic school building in the community of Puʻunēnē in the central part of Maui, Hawaii near Kahului.  Puʻu nēnē means “nēnē goose hill” in Hawaiian.  Puʻunēne's primary industry was growing, harvesting and processing sugarcane for over a century. Puʻunēnē School was built in 1922 by the Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company (a division of Alexander & Baldwin). The school was constructed on 10 acres of land donated by the company in 1913. Upon completion, it replaced an earlier four-room school on the site that was built to hold 350 students. In 1937 to 1940, Puʻunēnē School science teacher Soichi Sakamoto's began training boys in a Three-Year Swim Club to compete for the 1940 Summer Olympics originally scheduled to be held in Tokyo, Japan but cancelled due to World War II.  "Sakamoto’s swimmers would win medals in later Olympics, fulfilling his dream of creating world-class athletes and continuing Hawai‘i’s tradition of cultivating great swimmers like Duke Kahanamoku." (See Further Resources below.) Puʻunēnē School is significant as a surviving architectural example of a school from the early twentieth century on Maui and for its role in the history of education on Maui. The Classical Revival 1922 two-story concrete building became Maui’s largest elementary school with about 1000 students in grades one through eight from nearby communities. In the 1950s the area went into decline as many families moved to Kahului. In the 1950s and 1960s the building was used for special education classes. In 1979 it became an administrative annex for the Department of Education. Puʻunēnē School was added to the Hawai‘i Register of Historic Places in August 2000. The 1o0th anniversary of  Pu‘unēnē School in Maui was commemorated at the 2022 [...]

2022-11-18T09:22:11-10:00October 27th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

Celebrating 100 years of Service at Wai‘oli Tea Room

Opened in 1922, the Wai‘oli Tea Room was conceived as a vocational training facility for the orphans housed at the Salvation Army Girls Home that was also located on the Manoa Campus.  At its peak, hundreds of guests from around the world enjoyed breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea which were served daily. The young women from the Girls Home staffed and operated the restaurant and were provided the opportunity to learn skills such as cooking, cleaning, food service, and hospitality. At the time, this was considered a valuable head start into the work world and self-reliance after they had aged out of the program. Many of the young woman who grew up at the orphanage and spent their time at Wai‘oli found that it had made a significant impact in their lives and helped pave the way for viable employment in the Hawaiian Islands. The Tea Room operated with this mission until the early 1970’s when the orphanage closed as the state developed foster care programs that are in place today. For the next 40 years, the building had many operators but never recaptured the sense of purpose that was its foundation for the first 50 years. Today in Hawaii, the Salvation Army does not serve orphan children, but rather is one of the largest providers of treatment for individuals suffering with substance abuse disorders. Renamed the Wai‘oli Kitchen & Bake Shop, new owners Ross and Stefanie Anderson have revitalized this historic treasure and restored Wai‘oli's mission to help transform lives by providing vocational training, life skills and hope to individuals in recovery. We consider ourselves the next ones to run with the baton that is Wai‘oli...and  we want to definitely honor the host culture [...]

2022-11-18T09:22:38-10:00October 13th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

Hilo’s Pacific Building Turns 100

The Pacific Building located in downtown Hilo is a prominent two-story concrete reinforced structure which carries a physical historic presence and landscape within the core of downtown Hilo and was built during the territory of Hawai‘i. It is the home of Bears Coffee, one of the first businesses that developed the concept of a sidewalk cafe in downtown Hilo. The main building was built in 1922. Lyman Museum’s records call this the Pacific Hotel with a hotel on the second floor and commercial businesses on the first floor. In 1924 the Hilo Library was a tenant on the first floor and in 1929 a bakery moved in at the corner of Keawe Street. An outdoor oven or smokestack stands in the back could have belonged to the bakery. The Pacific Hotel was still in business in 1942 and served as a gathering place for people travelling on the railroad tracks from Hāmākua and Kona, allowing them overnight eating and resting place, and a library for entertainment, and access to other businesses on the first floor. The commercial property has upkept its image as a community gathering place. In order to be profitable for owner, tenants and the islanders/tourists have tried to have diverse businesses as tenants - to be a place to shop, eat, sit and meet. Keawe Street is covered with a canopy so shopkeepers put tables and chairs outside, provide free internet and allow people an open-air dining experience. While customers are eating or doing work, some with their pets alongside, others are playing a music and singing, and making new acquaintances. The general feeling is uplifting and community centered. The 100th anniversary of the Pacific Building in Hilo will be commemorated at [...]

2022-11-18T09:23:13-10:00October 13th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

Bank of Hawai‘i Commemorates 125 years of Community Banking

May, 1910: New head office completed in new location of Makai-Diamond Head corner of Fort and Merchant Streets. Photo: Hawai‘i State Archives HPP-7-7-004-00001.   In 1893, Charles Montague Cooke (1849–1909) with his brother-in-law Joseph Ballard Atherton and business partner Peter Cushman Jones founded Bank of Hawai’i.  In 1897, it was chartered in the Republic of Hawaii by Interior Minister James A. King and opened its main branch located at the corner of Fort and Merchant streets. A decade after its founding, in 1903, the bank opened its first branch in Kauai. In 1922, the bank acquired First Bank of Hilo, which had four branches. Charles Dexter Lufkin organized First National Bank of Wailuku in 1901. Five years later, he had organized Lahaina National Bank. Then he organized the First National Bank of Paia in 1913. Lastly, in 1917, First National Bank of Paia merged with Lahaina National Bank and First National Bank of Wailuku to form Bank of Maui. In 1930, Bank of Hawai‘i  amalgamated Bank of Maui. From the beginning, Bank of Hawai‘i’s mission has been to provide banking services to the community. The bank’s growth depended on the growth of that community, which was directly related to the growth of Hawai‘i’s pineapple industry. During the first years of the 20th century, at roughly the same time the territory's political leaders first pushed for statehood, advances in the efficiency of canning methods fueled the expansion of pineapple production. Sugar production increased as well, providing the seeds for Bank of Hawai‘i’s continued growth—waves of new immigrants and new businesses, both attracted by the flourishing pineapple and sugar industries. The growth in population greatly increased Bank of Hawai‘i’s potential customer base, which enabled it [...]

2022-11-18T09:23:57-10:00October 12th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

Celebrating 100 years of film and performance at Hawai‘i Theatre

  The iconic Hawai‘i Theatre, featuring an elegant neo-classical theme with stately Corinthian columns, a domed ceiling and Lionel Walden’s mural, Glorification of the Drama, on the proscenium arch, first opened its doors on Wednesday, September 6, 1922. Over the decades, the theater has played a significant role in Honolulu’s cultural landscape bringing live music and performances to O‘ahu. Its original neo-classical design by Honolulu residents and architects Walter Emory and Marshall Webb, saw the theater christened the ‘Pride of the Pacific’ on its opening. From plays, world-renowned musicians, award shows like the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, film screenings and comedy shows, the theater, nestled in Honolulu's Chinatown, has been a gathering place of creators and fans alike. In 1984, a group of concerned citizens reestablished the theater as a nonprofit organization, renamed it the Hawai‘i  Theatre Center (HTC) and rescued it from demolition. HTC was restored to its former glory with public and private funds and re-opened in 1996. While the theater has experienced several shortfalls and closings throughout its lifetime, the mission of the non-profit Hawaii Theatre Center helped to continue to provide a broad range of entertainment, cultural and educational experiences; promote redevelopment and revitalization of downtown Honolulu/Chinatown; and enhance the quality of life in Honolulu. As part of the conversion to a non-profit, the theater was also designated as a national historic property, preserving many of the historically significant features of the architecture.  Elements such as the fine detail of the tiny maile leaves (reminiscent of Greek-style headdresses) adorning the proscenium arch to a large canvas mural of dancing figures overlooking the audience and the theater’s 1921 Robert Morton pipe organ. HTC is the second largest proscenium performance facility in the [...]

2022-11-18T09:24:28-10:00September 30th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

A Centennial Reflection: Mānoa Valley Church, Then and Now

Mānoa Valley Church: A Look at Our Past, Present, and Future By Richelle Fujioka, Chair, Mānoa Valley Church Communication Committee; Bette Uyeda, Secretary of the Church Council and Committee member; and Roy Miyahira, Committee member Our Past: The roots of Mānoa Valley Church (MVC) go back to 1922 when the Women's Board of Missions for the Pacific Islands established the Mānoa Mission to serve the needs of farmers in Mānoa Valley. Through the 1940s, the Mission served the spiritual needs of the community and also provided programs such as a kindergarten for children, health care services, Red Cross and 4-H club classes, and other services. In November 1946 the Mission was reorganized and Mānoa Valley Church was established. Ten years later the Church was incorporated and in 1964 members raised funds and broke ground on a gymnasium and sanctuary. The video below portrays the commitment of members as they helped actually construct the buildings that exist today.   Our Present: In 2021, Mānoa Valley Church celebrated the 75th anniversary of its establishment after its reorganization from the former Mānoa Mission. Over the years it has served as a religious center for the valley, providing a place of worship and spiritual education for all and opportunities to serve the community. The Church also operates a Preschool, which recently achieved accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), After School Care and Summer Fun programs for over 200 children. These programs provide educational, social, spiritual, recreational, and cultural experiences for children whose families need child care services throughout the year. In 2013 the Church undertook a major renovation of its facilities including the installation of an elevator, a multi-purpose activity room, improvements to [...]

2022-11-18T09:25:14-10:00September 30th, 2022|Categories: Blog|

Historic Ali‘iōlani Hale Commemorates its 150th Year

  Since 1874, Ali‘iōlani Hale has been the home of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court. The building was commissioned by King Kamehameha V and built between 1871 and 1874.  The name means “house of Heavenly Kings.” Originally designed as a palace, King Kamehameha V instead decided to use it as a government office building for the growing kingdom.  It held the executive offices, legislature and judiciary. The name Ali‘iōlani was one of the given names of Kamehameha V. He laid the cornerstone in 1872, but died before the building was completed in 1874.  Seeking to abolish the Hawaiian Monarchy, the Committee of Public Safety took over Ali‘iōlani Hale on January 17, 1893. Queen Lili’uokalani, to avoid violence, abdicated. At the Ali’iolani Hale, the declaration of the Provisional Government of the Hawaiian Island was read marking the overthrow of the traditional Hawaiian monarchy and the beginning of government by American interests which eventually led to statehood for Hawai‘i. After the overthrow of the sovereign in 1893, the legislature and administrative functions were relocated to Iolani Palace, leaving Ali‘iōlani Hale for the courts. The Hawai‘i Judiciary remains the primary occupant. The King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center is also located in the building and provides public exhibits and programs related to Hawai‘i’s legal history. Ali‘iōlani Hale was designed by Thomas Rowe of Sydney, Australia and is constructed of concrete blocks that were cast and fitted to resemble cut stone, with a coral foundation to support the concrete block walls.  The interior features two open rotundas with lantern roofs, and the exterior walls are lined with arched entrances and windows.  The central clock tower is four stories high and has dials facing each of the four directions.   The [...]

2022-11-18T09:25:41-10:00September 23rd, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

The King David Kalākaua Building Marks its Centennial

The History & Architecture The King David Kalākaua Building in Honolulu is a government building at 335 Merchant Street originally built for the U.S. Post Office, Customhouse, and Courthouse. It served as the official seat of administration for the Territory of Hawaii. The building sits opposite Iolani Palace on the previous site of the opera house. It was designed in 1918 by New York architecture firm York and Sawyer in cooperation with local architects, and built from 1921 to 1922 in the Mission/Spanish Revival style. An addition to the building for the Treasury Department was started in 1929 and opened in 1931. Design features include terracotta tile, adobe and stucco walls, courtyards, arches, arcades, towers, and bell-gables.  Hawai‘i-based architects included a melding of outdoor-indoor spaces, skylights, local decorative elements, and adaptations to accommodate trade winds and maximize air flow. Some of its significant architectural features include its asymmetrical composition and cluster design, with structures joined by the exterior arcade and corridors. A flat-roofed arcade wraps from Merchant to Richards Streets around the mauka side of the building and leads into a corridor lined with postboxes—creating a seamless transition between the outside and inside. Neoclassical columns with stylized hibiscus blossoms give a nod to Hawai‘i. Inside, a spacious lobby with a marble double staircase establishes a sense of openness, which is matched by the wide main corridors on the second and third floors. The building is set back from the street behind a lawn with tropical trees and foliage. Although its stucco and terracotta style contrasts with the more ornate Neoclassical styles of its neighbors Iolani Palace and Ali‘iōlani Hale, its Spanish Colonial Revival vernacular links it with the nearby Honolulu Hale complex. Its current use is to house the offices [...]

2022-11-18T09:26:10-10:00September 16th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: |
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