Blog – Page 9 – Historic Hawaii Foundation

Preserving Hawai‘i’s Heritage: Aiko Yamashiro, Executive Director of the Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities
Preserving Hawai‘i’s Heritage: Aiko Yamashiro, Executive Director of the Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities

Preserving Hawai‘i’s Heritage: Aiko Yamashiro, Executive Director of the Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities

Since 1972, the Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities (HIHumanities) has encouraged and supported programming that "binds the people of Hawai‘i together as a stronger community." HIHumanities is one of 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils in the US. Organized as the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in 1972, HIHumanities is now a 501(c)3 organization. Its key programs include the annual Hawai‘i History Day which engages elementary and high school students in the interpretation of history; robust grant programs; and other community events. HHF reached out to the executive director of HIHumanities, Aiko Yamashiro, to learn more about her own connection with history and path to the present. HHF: Please tell us about yourself—where were you born and raised? What were you like as a kid? Aiko Yamashiro, Executive Director of Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities I grew up in Kāneʻohe. My dad really liked to talk about history, and his own family’s history there as Okinawan immigrants. My great-grandfather came over from Okinawa, and our families worked as peddlers, sold farm produce too, and then my grandparents’ generation were mechanics and okazuya-owners. So Kāneʻohe was full of those kinds of stories for me. As a kid I loved reading and playing ʻukulele. My first job was as an ʻukulele instructor at Roy Sakuma Studios in Kāneʻohe. I got to meet a lot of kids and families that way. In high school I played in the band, and we would play at football games. Castle HS won the OIA championship in 2002. That was so exciting; the town lined the streets with signs waiting for the buses to come home late that night. Looking back, I feel grateful to [...]

HistoricHawaii2022-07-25T13:01:48-10:00May 26th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: #HIHumanities|

My Tour of the Historic Judd Building, Hawai‘i’s First “Skyscraper”
My Tour of the Historic Judd Building, Hawai‘i’s First “Skyscraper”

My Tour of the Historic Judd Building, Hawai‘i’s First “Skyscraper”

By Wendy Tolleson, MA On May 25th, I toured the Judd Building at 851 Fort Street in downtown Honolulu with Columnist and Consultant Bob Sigall. The building is located on the corner of Fort and Merchant and was erected in 1898. The architect, Oliver Traphagen, also designed The Moana Surfrider around the same time. Bank of Hawai‘i, First Federal Savings, and Alexander & Baldwin have each occupied the building at some point in the past. Mark Davis of the law firm Davis, Levin, Livingston and Grande was our host. The firm moved in in 2000 and occupies the fourth and fifth floors today. Davis’ office was, at one time, the Honolulu Stock Exchange, from 1898-1977. The original desk and six of the ornate chairs from that time (see below) are still in his offices. Our tour guide, Mark Davis. Mark was gracious and deeply knowledgeable about the building’s history. Although I already knew a little of the building's history and learned more from the National Register of Historic Places nomination form, the tour Mark provided of the interior really delivered a view into the history of the past businesses that occupied the building that wasn't included in the nomination. The basement is an extraordinary space that includes architectural features and artifacts representing the former occupants. These included the two vaults used by the Bank of Hawai‘i and Alexander and Baldwin, a working dumb waiter, and the mechanical “guts” of the first electric elevator of its kind installed in Hawai‘i's first "skyscraper". One architectural element in the basement -- cut basalt stone bases that supported the pillars of the building—is a material that was used in construction of buildings in Chinatown that are [...]

HistoricHawaii2022-07-01T10:43:39-10:00May 26th, 2022|Categories: Blog|

Bridging Youth Education and Volunteerism at Hāmākua Jodo Mission
Bridging Youth Education and Volunteerism at Hāmākua Jodo Mission

Bridging Youth Education and Volunteerism at Hāmākua Jodo Mission

By Sandy Takahashi, Hāmākua Jodo Mission Member and volunteer at Honoka‘a Heritage Center In early 2022, Dr. Patsy Iwasaki, an accomplished author, researcher and instructor of the English Department at University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo (UHH), contacted Hāmākua Jodo Mission (HJM) about scheduling a visit. Dr. Iwasaki was making plans to bring a group of students on a field trip to the Hāmākua Coast to visit various historic points of interest, such as Laupāhoehoe Point, Waipiʻo Valley lookout, the Honokaʻa Hongwanji Mission, and wished to add Hāmākua Jodo Mission to the itinerary. The students were enrolled in a hybrid pilot course called "Kuleana & Community" which encourages students and instructors to develop and strengthen their connections with the University, the Hilo community and Hawaiʻi Island as a whole. Reciprocity through community service is a key element. When HJM's President Masa Nishimori learned about Dr. Iwasaki's request, he was ecstatic; sharing Hāmākua Jodo Mission’s history with the younger generation was something he had been aspiring to do for years. He arranged to give the students a tour of the facilities and a history lesson. He had always hoped that the history of the Mission, along with the story of Katsu Goto, a Japanese immigrant turned labor rights activist, could be incorporated into Hawaiʻi's school curriculum. Goto, a pioneer of his time, is buried at the Hāmākua Jodo Mission cemetery. Cemetery Tour Sandy Takahashi shared the story of Katsu Goto before his gravesite. Sadly, Mr. Nishimori passed away unexpectedly before the students' visit. Dr. Iwasaki asked HJM member Sandy Takahashi if she could step in and provide the tour. Ms. Takahashi, who has done [...]

HistoricHawaii2022-07-25T13:02:07-10:00May 26th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: #Hamakua #HamakuaJodo|

Merchant Street Commercial & Civic Historic District Nomination Amended
Merchant Street Commercial & Civic Historic District Nomination Amended

Merchant Street Commercial & Civic Historic District Nomination Amended

The Merchant Street Commercial and Civic Historic District located in downtown Honolulu is an excellent example of an early commercial center in post-contact, pre-territorial, and Territorial Hawai‘i. As one of the first official streets in Hawai‘i and one of the city’s first economic hubs, it is significant for its role as ‘Honolulu’s Wall Street’, the location of the Honolulu Stock Exchange, banks, insurance companies, sugar factors, and commission agents. Four out of the five members of the ‘Big Five’ maintained their offices in buildings included within the District. The District retains a notable concentration of intact, historic, commercial, and municipal buildings from the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries. In November 2021 the Hawai‘i Historic Places Review Board approved an update and amendment to the Merchant Street Commercial and Civic Historic District listing on the Hawai‘i State Register of Historic Places. The original nomination was approved in 1973. (Download the nomination forms.) This amended form provides much needed clarification, along with expanded description and significance sections, details the district’s history as well as its architectural character, and has added two buildings to the district (The Honolulu Star-Bulletin Building and the Alexander & Baldwin Building). Other new resources added to this district nomination are the site of the original Honolulu Hale and four objects: granite curbs and sidewalks, lava rock curbs, cannons, and a remnant of a cast-iron storefront. (See detailed descriptions below.) Click below to download a poster with a map of the district sites (the original sites and those added to the amended nomination in 2021 are delineated). DOWNLOAD THE POSTER A Walk Though Historical Merchant Street Historical images of several of the iconic buildings of Merchant Street Historic District photographed between 1879 [...]

HistoricHawaii2022-06-15T10:02:02-10:00May 5th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: #DowntownHonolulu #MerchantStreet|

Grant Supports Three Projects Preserving Lahaina’s History
Grant Supports Three Projects Preserving Lahaina’s History

Grant Supports Three Projects Preserving Lahaina’s History

The HHF Historic Preservation Grants Program supports projects that preserve historic buildings or sites as a vehicle for building community and enhancing Hawai‘i's sense of place. These 3 Lahaina projects are great examples! Lahaina Restoration Foundation recently completed three important preservation projects in Lahaina, Maui: replacing cracked roof tiles at Old Lahaina Courthouse (1859); repairing and repainting the perimeter fence at Hale Aloha (1853) and replacing the wooden viewing platform for the locomotives at the Pioneer Mill Smokestack (1928). The Mill is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The other buildings are designated as contributing structures in the Lahaina National Historic Landmark. Repairs to the Red Tile Roof at Old Lahaina Courthouse Built in 1859, this two-story building with full basement was a customs house for whaling and trading ships and government offices. The Lahaina Post Office was located here until the early 1980s. Today the building is home to the Lahaina Heritage Museum, Lahaina Visitor Center and Lahaina Arts Society. The building features a video theater, hallway exhibits and public restrooms. Over 150 of the red tiles on the roof were cracked during a termite tenting process due to the weight of the tent and fragility of the tiles. The project included using drone photography of the roof to identify the number and location of each of the individual broken tiles. The roofing contractor then individually replaced and repaired the damaged areas. The resulting roof is weather-tight and the repairs match the original materials and design. Theo Morrison, executive director of Lahaina Restoration Foundation (LRF), said that the biggest challenge was finding appropriate tiles that matched the material, dimensions, color and finish. The current tiles were installed in the [...]

HistoricHawaii2023-01-04T14:00:27-10:00April 26th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: #PreservationGrants #HistoricHawaii|

Two Properties Added to the Hawai‘i Register Of Historic Places
Two Properties Added to the Hawai‘i Register Of Historic Places

Two Properties Added to the Hawai‘i Register Of Historic Places

The Hawai‘i Historic Places Review Board added two properties to the Hawai‘i Register of Historic Places in November 2021. Properties are eligible for inclusion in the State and National Registers because of their association with broad patterns or events (Criterion A), or individuals whose lives are significant to our past (Criterion B). They are usually significant in architecture and design (Criterion C) or are likely to yield important information (Criterion D). Their features and other characteristics retain their qualifying integrity. Click on the address/property name to view the property's nomination form. Surf n Sea Building, Hale‘iwa, O‘ahu Photo is of the Surf n Sea Storefront, with Surfer X-ing Sign. Photo Credit: Surf n Sea. Constructed in approximately 1921, the Surf n Sea Building is significant under Criterion C as a good example of a wooden commercial building constructed in Hawai‘i during the opening decades of the twentieth century. Stylistically, it is typical of its period in use of materials, method of construction, craftsmanship, and design. The building sits on a 3,780 square foot lot between Kamehameha Highway and Maeaea Beach and is located on a street lined with commercial buildings that contributes to the retail character of Hale‘iwa’s downtown core. The principal exterior materials of the building are: wood, tongue and groove walls, a corrugated metal roof, and a concrete slab foundation. It is a two-story building that is characterized by a shed roof awning running the length of the façade between the first and second stories, as well as another situated above the second story windows. Although the building has undergone a number of alterations, it still retains its historic integrity and stands as one of the larger and more imposing historic [...]

HistoricHawaii2022-06-15T09:59:22-10:00April 20th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: #HistoricRegister #HistoricHawaii #MerchantStreet #SurfNSea|

Folk-Rock Band Streetlight Cadence to Energize This Year’s Kama‘āina of the Year Benefit
Folk-Rock Band Streetlight Cadence to Energize This Year’s Kama‘āina of the Year Benefit

Folk-Rock Band Streetlight Cadence to Energize This Year’s Kama‘āina of the Year Benefit

HHF will have the pleasure of hosting a performance by the Emmy-nominated and Nā Hōkū Hanohano award winning Folk-Rock group, Streetlight Cadence, at its 33rd annual Kama‘āina of the Year™ benefit on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at The Royal Hawaiian. We connected with band member Ben Chai recently to hear about the evolution of the band since its humble beginnings--literally busking beneath the street lights of Waikīkī. Now based in Los Angeles with a few new musicians on board, Streetlight Cadence continues to thrill audiences with their unique sound and positive energy. Here's what Ben has to say about their new chapter. HHF: Your group has a unique origin story. Please tell us about it and share a little about your members. From left: Brian Webb, Jonathon Franklin, Ben Chai. Ben: We’re street performers at heart! There’s really no easier way to get in front of people and play your songs for them. That was the idea when Jon started busking twelve years ago, and as we’ve grown as a band, that spirit is still there. Brian and Jon were in the orchestra program together at HPU, and Ben officially joined almost five years ago, but has been a part of the story since the beginning. Nowadays, you might see Evan backing us up on drums, and Clara joining us on guitar and vocals. Evan’s been a friend for a long time and recorded drums for our upcoming record, “Midnight.” We know Clara because of our time in Los Angeles, where she and we were a part of the street performing collective at Universal CityWalk. We’re all artists in our own right and do things outside of the band – for example, Jon [...]

HistoricHawaii2022-05-31T09:17:41-10:00April 20th, 2022|Categories: Blog, Events - Past|

HHF and Realtor Hui Fill Information Gap for Buyers and Sellers of Historic Homes
HHF and Realtor Hui Fill Information Gap for Buyers and Sellers of Historic Homes

HHF and Realtor Hui Fill Information Gap for Buyers and Sellers of Historic Homes

New brochure and web page share facts and resources about historic home ownership Historic Hawai‘i Foundation receives numerous inquiries about historic properties from the public and realtors about buying, selling and owning a historic home. Frequently asked questions range from "Can I make changes to my house?" and "May I place solar panels on my roof?" to "How do I nominate my home for the Historic Register?" and "What is the process?". The number and frequency of questions suggested a need for easy-to-digest information, especially for the real estate market. In 2021 HHF reached out to members Sharon Au, Liz Bills, Gavin Hall, Dawn Marie and Doug Shanefield, who are all experienced realtors in Honolulu. We asked for their input on a suite of information resources that will encourage current homeowners and prospective homebuyers to keep (or add) a historic home to the State (or National) Register of Historic Places—and as a result, the Realtor Hui was born! The Hui met virtually and connected over email formulating new resources highlighting the benefits of having a home on the Register and clarifying often-held misconceptions about owning a listed home. The multi-phase project is underway with the first two pieces complete: a comprehensive brochure that is easy to share with clients, digitally and in print and a dedicated webpage on HHF’s website titled, "Your Historic Home". Visit the webpage to download the brochure and explore the facts, benefits, status and nomination process related to historic home ownership. The Realtor Hui will continue to meet and focus on the next phases of the project to establish a social media hub for realtors and historic homeowners and a certified continuing education course for realtors. We are [...]

HistoricHawaii2022-08-12T13:44:49-10:00April 14th, 2022|Categories: Blog|

Fort Kamehameha (2008)
Gallery
Fort Kamehameha (2008)

Fort Kamehameha (2008)

UPDATE: 2022 PUBLIC WELCOME TO COMMENT ON NAVY'S PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH THE FT. KAMEHAMEHA HISTORIC HOUSING DISTRICT In a letter addressed to Dr. Alan Downer, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer, Department of Land and Natural Resources and dated August 31, 2021, the Commander of Navy Region Hawai‘i initiated Section 106 Consultation for disposal of the Fort Kamehameha houses at Joint-Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH). Historic Hawai‘i Foundation (HHF) is engaged as a consulting party, along with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPD), Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and other parties. The remaining 33 houses are currently in a mothballed status. Navy states that this action was coordinated with the SHPD during the development of the Fort Kamehameha Environmental Impact Statement Alternatives for the Disposition of Fort Kamehameha Historic District Buildings and Structures by the Air Force in 2009. Lead and asbestos abatements were recently completed for 3 homes. Built in 1916, Fort Kamehameha was originally an Army Coastal Artillery Post. After World War II, coastal artillery became obsolete and most of the non-residential buildings were demolished. The remaining 33 homes stand as premier examples of the Bungalow/Arts and Crafts style of the era. Currently, Fort Kamehameha Housing Historic District consists of 48 buildings and structures that include officers’ housing, a chapel, bandstand, flagpole and abandoned gun batteries. The district also includes archaeological sites, a burial vault for reinternment of human remains, mature trees and landscaping in open green space and a circulation system of streets and sidewalks. The district was transferred from Army to the Air Force, then came under the Navy’s jurisdiction with joint basing in 2010. HHF added the district to the Most Endangered list in 2008 when the military moved out the residents, [...]

HistoricHawaii2022-07-20T13:44:44-10:00April 12th, 2022|Categories: Advocacy, Blog, MES Oahu|Tags: MostEndangered2008, Oahu|

HHF Seeking Donations of Art, Locally-Made Items and Gift Card Donations
HHF Seeking Donations of Art, Locally-Made Items and Gift Card Donations

HHF Seeking Donations of Art, Locally-Made Items and Gift Card Donations

Help Preserve Hawai‘i's Places by Making an In-Kind Donation to HHF's Online Auction Online Bidding Live 24/7 from 12:00 PM HST Saturday, May 14, 2022 through 12:00 PM HST Saturday, May 21, 2022 Historic Hawai‘i Foundation will hold an online auction from May 14-21, 2022 to raise funds for its education, assistance and advocacy programs. Help us make it an exciting success by donating an item or two, such as works of art, handmade crafts, gift cards to your favorite bakery or restaurant, or tickets to a concert or play. All proceeds from the auction will help preserve places that provide all of us in Hawai‘i with a tangible connection to our shared history and heritage--places that serve as invaluable touchstones for our communities. Donations of locally made items also serve to support local artists and businesses. For local businesses and artists, the auction is a great opportunity to promote your brand and highlight the unique goods and services you have to offer. The auction will be promoted to an audience of over 3,500 people. In addition, your act of generosity will be in the public eye with recognition on the auction site throughout the event. To make an in-kind donation, please contact Michelle, HHF's development assistant, by phone at (808)523-2900 or by email. We will coordinate with you on the pick up/delivery of items as needed. Mahalo for your consideration! The deadline to make an in-kind donation is April 15th. Popular auction items to donate: Art prints, paintings, ceramics, weavings, photography and other art Restaurant and retail gift cards Home decor like pillows, blankets or baskets Fashion for all ages Accessories such as hats, handbags and jewelry Sporting goods Tickets to theater or music [...]

HistoricHawaii2022-05-17T08:44:34-10:00April 5th, 2022|Categories: Blog|Tags: #Auction #HistoricHawaii|