MES Kauai

Photos: Courtesy of Sue Boynton UPDATE: DEMOLISHED IN 2012 In 2012 the Kakaha Sugar Mill was demolished. LISTED AS ENDANGERED IN 2007 Article Written By: Michael Keany, HONOLULU Magazine What was it? Kekaha Town literally grew up around this mill. From the founding of Kekaha Sugar Co. in 1898 until the end of sugar operations in 2000, the mill provided the area its main economic driver, not to mention one of its most prominent landmarks: the smokestack that still towers above the town. It may not look it today, but the Kekaha Sugar Mill is actually the most modern sugar facility in Hawai‘i—it was built in 1954 as an upgrade to older, smaller mills before it. What threatened it? In a general sense, the wane of the sugar era on Kaua‘i means that plantation towns such as Kekaha and Lıhu‘e are faced with reinventing themselves. The mills that defined these towns may fall victim to the search for new commercial activity. Specifically, Pahio Development Inc., the company that bought the Kehaha Mill property earlier this year, and which also owns Lıhu‘e Mill, may be looking into replacing the structure with a new development, although president and CEO Lynn McCrory won’t say exactly what kind. “We’re still looking at the options for the site,” she says. “We’d like to take a bit more time looking at those possibilities and moving forward on them.” What could have been done? Jose Bulatao, vice-chair of the Kaua‘i West Side Watershed Council and a lifelong resident of Kekaha, says he wants Pahio Development to involve the Kekaha community in the discussion over what to do with the mill property. He acknowledges that it may be a costly endeavor to adapt [...]

  UPDATE: SAVED IN 2010 Restoration of the building was completed in 2010. LISTED AS ENDANGERED IN 2007 Article Written By: Michael Keany, HONOLULU Magazine What is it? Built in 1909 by Rev. Jissei Muroyama, the Koloa Jodo Mission was one of Kaua‘i’s first Japanese temples, erected by immigrants who settled in the area. The mission built a larger temple to replace the aging structure in the 1980s, and it has since been used as a columbarium (a place for urns). Lorraine Minatoishi-Palumbo, an architect with expertise in Hawai‘i’s traditional Japanese architecture, calls the temple a fine example of early period Japanese temples built in the Islands, and says it’s one of only a handful still standing. What threatens it? The temple is beginning to feel its age, particularly in the past two years. The mission’s minister, Rev. Ishikawa, says, “We still use the building as a columbarium, but the ceiling is falling down and there’s also termite damage. I feel it’s become dangerous to use.” According to Minatoishi-Palumbo, the situation is a result of changing times. “What has been traditional in the upkeep of these temples is that the congregations would maintain them,” she says. “A lot of the Japanese men were carpenters, but everyone has gotten older.” At this point, many in the congregation are pushing to simply demolish the temple. Ishikawa says he’d like to save it, although he’s not sure what repairs would cost. What can be done? Minatoishi-Palumbo plans to submit the Koloa Jodo Mission to the state and national historic registers, which, if approved, will make it easier to apply for bricks and mortar grants. Another interesting prospect: A former minister of the temple, Rev. Kodo Tanaka, visited the [...]

Photos: Courtesy of Sue Boynton UPDATE: DEMOLISHED IN 2010 The Wainiha Stream Bridges were demolished as a result of structural failure from overloaded vehicles exceeding the bridge weight limit. LISTED AS ENDANGERED IN 2007 Article Written By: Michael Keany, HONOLULU Magazine What were they? A group of single-lane wooden timber bridges crossing the Wainiha Stream near Hanalei on Route 560. Since their construction in 1957, the low-profile, white-painted bridges have become an integral element of the rural character of the district, which is listed on both the Hawai‘i and National Register of Historic Places. What threatened them? The bridges are indisputably in terrible shape. State Department of Transportation inspectors have found heavy corrosion on the steel girders as well as rotting of some of the timbers. In fact, one of the bridges has already been replaced with a utilitarian-looking prefabricated modular steel bridge. DOT spokesperson Scott Ishikawa says the remaining two bridges are slated for demolition in mid-2009. “Temporary single-lane Acrow bridges will be installed, which will provide us some time to come up with a permanent bridge design that is safe and something the community is happy with,” he says. What could have been done? The problem is that the community is happy with the existing bridges. Susan Tasaki from the State Historic Preservation Division, as well as local community groups such as the Hanalei Road Committee, are pushing to repair and reinforce the structures instead of tearing them down. “These bridges should be repaired, replacing the existing materials in kind,” says Tasaki. “They’re not supposed to replace it with concrete. Nothing in the guidelines allows that.” Tasaki says the situation in Hanalei is indicative of a larger problem throughout Hawai‘i. Over the next [...]