MES Hawaii

Ala Kahakai Mauka to Makai Trails (2016)

Photos: Courtesy of State Historic Preservation Division Article Written By: Katrina Valcourt, HONOLULU Magazine What is it? Ancient Hawaiians used a system of trails called ala loa to travel between ahupuaa in precontact Hawaii. Over time, many evolved from footpaths tp our modern highways, but the routes remain. One of the best preserved examples is a 175-mile trail on the Big Island called the Ala Kahakai. Portions of it are on the National Register of Historic Places, however, there are many other "in-between" trails that are not, especially connecting trails running mauka to makai. What threatens it? All ancient trails are threatened by forces of nature (suck as lava flows or landslides), neglect or development. It's especially hard to preserve the trails that have not been identified as part of the ancient system; however, when they are identified, the State Historic Preservation Division takes measures to protect and preserve them, according to administrator Alan Downer. "The difficulty is that we are often working with fragmentary information. So we may have bits of trail segments identified in a report but nothing to put them in context of a system of trails," he says. "In such instances, it is difficult to make really effective management decisions because we don't have the information we need to make better ones." According to Aric Arakaki, superintendent of the Ala Kahakai with the National Park Service, "Everything is voluntary on the part of the land owners and the public to preserve it." He says that about50 percent of the trail runs through private property. "Any place that you see development coming up, we're kind of worried." What can be done? Arakaki says, "Trails that fall outside of our corridor, if they [...]

2017-04-21T01:01:12-10:00November 17th, 2016|Categories: MES Hawaii|Tags: , |

Ninole Stream Bridge (2016)

Article Written By: Katrina Valcourt, HONOLULU Magazine What is it? THis is one of the last remaining timber bridges in the Hawaii state highway system, according to the State Historic Preservation Division's files. Built in 1940 by engineer William R. Bartels, the 60-foot historic bridge carries Mamalahoa Highway over Ninole Strea. Though 76 years ole, its wooden columns and railings remain structurally sound, but it's not wide enough for modern transportation needs and does not match other bridges in the system. What threatens it? THe Federal Highway Administration's Federal Lands Highway Division and the state Department of Transportation have proposed a replacement bridge that would be able to accommodate larger vehicles and be safer. The project overview states that, as of Setp. 1 the final Environmental Assessment is being prepared, maps are being reviewed and the project is almost 100-percent designed. Funding, however, hasn't been acquired yet. What can be done? Because the bridge is eligible for the Hawaii Register of Historic Places, someone can nominate it to the state register without having to get the Department of Transportation's permission (this is not the case for sites nominated to the national register). Being listed on the register wouldn't guarantee its protection, but the State Historic Preservation Division would have to review the demolition first and could ask for other proposals to be considered. The current proposal calls for a temporary bridge to be constructed next to the current one whole the new bridge is being built. If the temporary bridge were built as the permanent replacement, the original bridge could remain for pedestrians and bicyclists.

2017-04-21T01:01:15-10:00November 17th, 2016|Categories: MES Hawaii|Tags: , |

Pohakuloa Training Area Quonset Huts (2015)

Photography: Courtesy of USAG-HI Directorate of Public Works Article Written By: Loren Moreno, HONOLULU Magazine What is it? Quonset huts were designed during World War II as easy-to-assemble, temporary buildings that could be broken down and reassembled quickly. Many of the more than 100 huts at the Pōhakuloa Training Area were constructed during the 1950s and reportedly contain the only Quonset-hut chapel in the Army. The state says they make up one of the last remaining groups of huts still in use in the U.S., and it’s probable their materials were used on other military bases prior to coming to Pōhakuloa. What threatens it? The Army is looking into demolishing the huts, which are corroded and no longer meet Pōhakuloa’s requirements. “From an engineering perspective, we don’t believe they’re repairable,” says Sally Pfenning, director of Public Works for the U.S. Army Garrison Hawai‘i. “They were never meant to be permanent.” The huts may qualify for listing on the National Register of Historic Places because the type of structure is associated with World War II, but, in that case, only a few huts would need to be preserved. What can be done? Pfenning says the Army is currently going through the legal process with the state Historic Preservation Division, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation and other partners to see if the huts are eligible for the register. Within the next six months there will be a public comment period for the proposed changes. However, most of the huts were used as Cold War-era housing; a loophole in the National Historic Preservation Act requires the Army must take comments into consideration, but is not obligated to formally resolve them. To preserve the huts, some alternatives to demolition may be: Move them to another area, reevaluate the treatment of Cold War-era housing review or reevaluate to which era the huts truly belong.

2016-11-17T10:47:36-10:00November 1st, 2015|Categories: MES Hawaii|Tags: , |

Star of the Sea Church (2015)

Article Written By: Katrina Valcourt, HONOLULU Magazine What is it? The Kalapana painted church isn’t in Kalapana anymore. That’s because, when lava was about to take the town in 1990, the church parishioners decided to move the building to safety. (Good thing they did, since lava covered the highway just hours later.) In 1996, the church moved again to its current location along Highway 130; it was added to the National Register of Historic Places shortly thereafter. The building is one of only two remaining painted churches by Father Evarist Gielen, who built it in 1930 and painted the ceiling with religious scenes. Other artists have since added their work, covering the walls as well. What threatens it? The paintings are peeling, and someone threw a rock through a stained-glass window. Roseanna Kanoa, owner of Big Island Processing across the street, says people go there and abuse the building, so they’ve had to lock some of its windows. Previously, the Kalapana ‘Ohana Association helped maintain the church, but the group is no longer active, leaving Kanoa and two other volunteers to care for it. “We try to raise funds, but everything goes to overhead, electric, porta-potty, water, general liability and fire insurance, the lease and property tax,” she says. What can be done? The paintings need to be restored by a specialized craftsman, but donations from tourists who pick up religious trinkets are minimal and go toward basic costs and repairs. Right now, Kanoa’s goal is to finish painting the outside of the church. “People always say they’ll help, but they never come through.... I really don’t know what’s going to happen.” She says if someone were to find a painter and put up the money, it could be restored, but nobody has time to even fundraise. She says the state is too overwhelmed to take it on, even though it’s on [...]

2016-11-17T10:47:47-10:00November 1st, 2015|Categories: MES Hawaii|Tags: , |

Mokuaikaua Church (2014)

Photography: Courtesy of David Croxford Article Written By: Loren Moreno, HONOLULU Magazine What is it? A landmark in the Kailua Village in Kona, Moku‘aikaua Church enjoys the unique distinction of being Hawai‘i’s first church. Its 195-year history began when Boston missionaries arrived on the Big Island after the death of King Kamehameha I. The current building sits on land once belonging to Prince Liholiho. In fact, Liholiho donated his home in 1820 to be the first church building. It was later rebuilt in 1837. Recently named one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Moku‘aikaua represents the “new” western architecture of early 19th-century Hawai‘i and is a symbol of Hawai‘i’s missionary past. Its roof and iconic steeple were built with ‘ōhi‘a wood that had been cured in the ocean. Its walls are constructed of lava rock and mortared coral. What threatens it? While far from crumbling, Moku‘aikaua is in need of major repair and restoration, says senior pastor David de Carvalho. The church suffered earthquake damage in 2006, including large cracks in the south corner walls, which threaten its structural integrity. Salt air has also caused deterioration in the building’s aging wiring and electrical system. Moku‘aikaua’s steeple, the highest structure in this sleepy community, is perhaps its greatest problem, suffering from termite damage and severe rotting. What can be done? Civil engineers are helping the church develop a plan to reinforce the building’s walls, replace its rotting beams and rebuild its steeple. Work would be done in three phases, but Moku‘aikaua will need some $3 million to do it.

2015-05-08T19:45:20-10:00December 8th, 2014|Categories: MES Hawaii|Tags: , |

Bond Memorial Public Library (2014) – UPDATE (2023)

Library restoration to result in new Kohala Heritage Center By Linsey Dower, June 19, 2023 – Honolulu Star-Advertiser (Reprinted with permission.) A small group of volunteers in Kohala is working to raise funds to restore the town’s nearly century-old Bond Memorial Library. The group is called the Bond Library Restoration Project, and they have been restoring the building across from the King Kamehameha statue in Kapaau to transform it into what will eventually become the Kohala Heritage Center. “It’s really a very historical little corner,” said Christine Richardson, one of the leading volunteers of the Bond Library Restoration Project. “It served as a library from 1928 until 2010, and it has rich and deep community memory.” Sharon Hayden and Richardson, who are spearheading the project, initiated the restoration about a year after the library closed. They understood the historical significance of the building and sought to turn it into a heritage center rather than see it deteriorate. “We want to tell the history of Kohala,” Hayden said. “There’s also never been a repository for any of the items that the older folks have.” Two nonprofits, the North Kohala Community Resource Center and Friends of the Future, have served as the project’s fiscal sponsors, helping to process the grants and donations the project has received, Richardson said. The restored structure will house resources for the community to learn more about Kohala as a historic town and the birthplace of Kamehameha the Great. Funding aside, Richardson said that one of the biggest challenges throughout the process so far was transferring the title of the property from the state to the Bond family, who were the original property owners before the library’s construction . The transfer took about 11 [...]

2023-06-20T10:42:39-10:00December 8th, 2014|Categories: MES Hawaii|Tags: , |

Kekealiiwahine Heiau, Kailua-Kona (2005)

Photos: Courtesy of Macario UPDATE: December 2011 According to Holly McEldowney of State Parks Division, before improvements or major management efforts can begin, the division of state parks needs to amend its master plan and environmental impact statement to include these parcels.  This is dependent upon state funding.  In the meantime, Keakealaniwahine sustained damaged during the 2006 earthquake, while the 2010 tsunami ruined shoreline features at Keolonahihi. LISTED AS ENDANGERED IN 2005 Article Written By: A. Kam Napier, HONOLULU Magazine What is it? This complex features at least 29 known archaeological sites over more than 16 acres, including heiau, platform foundations and, most impressively, the remaining 10-foot high walls of chiefess Keakealaniwahine's home, dating back to about 1650. Only two women are known to have ever ruled the Big Island, Keakealaniwahine and her mother, Keakamahana. It was quite a family: Keakealaniwahine was also the great-great-grandmother of Kamehameha I. What threatens it? First Hawaiian Creditcorp acquired the complex though a foreclosure and donated it to the state in 1998. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has reported that the complex suffers from natural and manmade deterioration and lacks comprehensive monitoring, restoration or interpretation. The site is also threatened by surrounding development. To date, none of these threats have been countered. What can be done? Some of this is about to change, says Martha Yent, state parks interpretive program supervisor. Keakealaniwahine and the nearby Keolonahihi State Historical Park have since been placed on the Hawai'i Register of Historic Places as the Holualoa Archaeological District. DLNR recently received $1.2 million in state and federal money to purchase a piece of private property between Keakealaniwahine and Ali'i Drive. "A lot of the Hawaiian community have asked us [...]

2016-11-17T10:48:00-10:00March 3rd, 2014|Categories: MES Hawaii|Tags: , |

Old Railroad Roundhouse, Hilo (2005)

Photos: Courtesy of Macario Article Written By: A. Kam Napier, HONOLULU Magazine What is it? Once the heart of Hilo's rail system, where engines were serviced, this roundhouse was actually a casualty of the April 1, 1946 tsunami that devastated Hilo. The wave didn't physically touch the 1921, eight-bay concrete roundhouse, but it destroyed nearby railroad tracks and bridges. A group of Big Island sugar plantations had run the trains as the Hawaii Consolidated Railroad. They decided to close the crippled railroad rather than repair it. Tsunami or no, closure was likely inevitable as plantations throughout the Islands moved to trucking, closing their rail lines around the late 1940s. Little else of Hilo's railroad history remains in the town. What threatens it? The roundhouse has been used for storage for decades by various construction Inc., which has used it since 1972 and owned it for the past 15 years. It has fallen into disrepair. What can be done? The roundhouse has its fans, but as yet, none with a specific plan for adopting and preserving the structure. Wayne Subica, owner of the Hilo museum Memories of Hawaii, would like to buy the roundhouse and use it for a museum of plantation history. "it's not in perfect condition, but its restorable, " he says. "It would be neat, I've got some railroad memorabilia and other people have a lot more. If that history isn't preserved, it will be lost. Bryson Saiki, President of Constructors Hawaii says, "We're open to suggestions. If an offer came in, we'd seriously consider it. To be honest, it's deteriorating and at some point it may become necessary to tear it down.

2017-04-21T01:01:47-10:00March 3rd, 2014|Categories: MES Hawaii|Tags: , |

Bond Homestead (2007)

Photos: Courtesy of Macario UPDATE: 2012 After severe damage by the 2006 earthquake, buildings of the Homestead had to be emptied of their many contents. These items were cataloged, and are now being preserved in climate controlled containers. The buildings themselves have been stabilized and await further restoration. When restoration of the Homestead is properly completed, it will serve as a museum housing a collection of historical artifacts and showcasing the rich history of the Bond family and the people of Kohala. Selected items from this collection will soon be on display at 'Iole’s new Exhibit Center adjacent to the Homestead. LISTED AS ENDANGERED IN 2007 Article Written By: Michael Keany, HONOLULU Magazine What is it? Although no one has lived in the homestead for 60 years, this house was once the home of Father Bond, a missionary who devoted his life to the Hawaiian community in Kohala. Built in 1840, it is the oldest wooden structure in Kohala, and, along with the former Kohala Girls School and various expansions to the main house, is part of the 54-acre Bond Historic District. In 1999, the Bond family sold the estate to the New Moon Foundation, a nonprofit organization. What threatens it? In the ’06 earthquake, many of the stone buildings on the estate, including Bond’s office, suffered the same type of damage that the Kalahikiola Church did, with walls collapsing outward from the shaking. New Moon has temporarily shored up the structures, and retained Mason Architects to evaluate the damage. What can be done? Although the buildings lie within the Bond Historic District, the designation does not legally compel the private landowners to rebuild them. Ultimately, it’s up to New Moon to decide what it [...]

2017-04-21T01:01:47-10:00March 3rd, 2014|Categories: MES Hawaii|Tags: , |

Kalahikiola Congregational Church (2007) SAVED

Photos: Courtesy of Macario UPDATE: SAVED IN 2010 The Hawai‘i Conference Foundation, Kalahikiola Congregational Church, Mason Architects, Inc., Kikiaola Construction Company, Tanimura & Associates, Inc, and Wallace T. Oki, P.E., Inc. recieved a Preservation Award in 2010 for the reconstruction of the historic Kalahikiola Church after earthquake damage sustained in October 2006. LISTED AS ENDANGERED IN 2007 Article Written By: Michael Keany, HONOLULU Magzine What is it? This North Kohala church was founded by missionary Rev. Elias Bond and his wife, Ellen, who arrived in 1841. Determined to build a church that would stand the test of time, parishioners carried stones by hand from the surrounding areas for the walls, and constructed the roof from hand-hewn ‘ohia wood held together with mortise and tenon joints. The church was dedicated in October 1855, and today has been placed on both the national and state historic registers. What threatens it? Until October of last year, the thick, stone walls of the church looked plenty sturdy, but over the years, the coral mortar used by the original builders had dried and crumbled back into sand. When the 6.7 magnitude earthquake rocked the Big Island, large sections of the walls crumbled into piles of rubble on the lawn, turning the church into a media poster child of the earthquake’s devastation. Miraculously, the structure didn’t collapse entirely, and the congregation was able to temporarily shore up the walls, keeping the church upright until permanent repairs can be made. What can be done? Glenn Mason, the architect hired to rebuild the church, says that at least 90 percent of the walls need to be replaced. “The challenge is going to be saving the rest of the building—the floors, the roof—and we’re [...]

2016-11-17T10:48:28-10:00March 3rd, 2014|Categories: MES Hawaii|Tags: , |
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