FacebookTwitterYouTubeNewsletter SignupNewsletter Signup

News

Giving Thanks

Thanks for all you do to help preserve Hawai‘i’s historic places! Here's some highlights from 2017 that you helped make possible. January 26: (left to right) Iolani Palace Docent Educator, Zita Cup Choy; Iolani Palace Curator, Teresa Valencia & Dr. William Chapman, Director of the Graduate Program in Historic Preservation and Professor in the Department of American Studies at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, at the first of five Experts at the Cathedral lectures.   February 21: Līhu‘e residents showing the postcards they signed in support of saving the Līhu‘e Post Office from closure and relocation.   April 1: Our first-ever Mission Houses Saturday Sketch event paired art and heritage.   May 19: Architectural historian Don Hibbard accepting the Frank Haines Award. Mr. Haines unexpectedly passed away this year. A memorial service is scheduled for December 27th at the Star of the Sea Church.                             July 1: Learning about the history and culture of Waimea Valley at our Volunteer Mahalo event.   July 12: Welcoming our 2017-2018 Board of Trustees at the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation Annual Meeting.    August 4: Community members working on a preservation case study at our Tools for Saving Places seminar on Maui. The seminars, a collaboration with National Park Service, were held between August 2 and August 11 on Kaua‘i, Maui, Hawai‘i Island (Hilo and Kona) and O‘ahu. August 17: Sean McNamara sharing Native Hawaiian History of Leahi Crater at our Diamond Head Unseen Walking Tour, a collaboration with Hawai‘i State Parks (photo credit: Denby Fawcett).  

2017-12-13T12:04:28-10:00November 21st, 2017|Categories: Blog|

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Introduces Legislation to Honor Nation’s World War I Memorials

Repost Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Introduces Legislation to Honor Nation’s World War I Memorials November 9, 2017 Press Release Washington, DC—Ahead of the 100th Anniversary of World War I next year, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) today introduced bipartisan legislation to rehabilitate World War I memorials in Hawai‘i and across the country. H.R. 4328, the Honoring World War I Memorial Act of 2017 would authorize $50 million awarded through VA grants to eligible entities for the rehabilitation of World War I memorials throughout the United States. Eligible entities include non-profit organizations or state or local governments with direct jurisdiction over the rehabilitation of a World War I memorial. Hawai‘i is home to one eligible World War I memorial at Waikiki Natatorium, along with 47 other states. In recognition of Veterans Day, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard will deliver the keynote address during the Veterans' Day Ceremony in commemoration of the 99th Anniversary of the end of World War I at the Waikiki Natatorium this Saturday, November 11. “More than four million brave men and women, including 10,000 soldiers from the territory of Hawai‘i, bravely served our country during World War I,” said Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. “Nearly a century later, many of the memorials, like the WWI Waikiki Natatorium in Hawai‘i, are deteriorating, decaying, and crumbling due to decades of neglect, and many have been closed to the public for decades. The heroes of World War I fought bravely and sacrificed greatly for our country and deserve places of rest and reflection that honor their service. Passing the Honoring World War I Memorials Act of 2017 to restore our country’s World War I memorials would provide a small measure of our nation’s gratitude to those who served and sacrificed.” “Part [...]

2017-11-21T02:02:57-10:00November 9th, 2017|Categories: Blog|Tags: |
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3

Exclusive Historic Home Open House Event on December 8

It was an amazing evening!  Click here for a short slide show of the event by HHF volunteer, photographer Kristian Gallagher.  Exclusive Historic Home Open House at the Bayer Estate (aka Steve McGarrett's Hawaii Five-0 House) LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!! Dress for the season and join us for this unique evening event at the historic Bayer Estate, the site of Steve McGarrett’s home on the hit TV series, Hawai‘i Five-0. Enjoy a stunning sunset oceanside at this charming 1936 Craftsman-style home decorated for the holidays. The evening will include docent tours of the home and an informative presentation from Hawai‘i State Film commissioner and HHF board member, Donne Dawson, followed by a talk story with the homeowners. Pūpū and drinks will be served.  Mystery wine and mystery boxes, great for holiday gift giving, will be available for purchase. DATE: Friday, December 8, 2017 TIME: 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM EVENT DESCRIPTION: Docent tours of the house, presentation by Hawaii State Film Commissioner, talk story with the homeowners, time to socialize with old and new friends. TICKETS: $50 Historic Hawaii Foundation Member; $65 General Not yet a member? Click here to join. Parking:  Valet parking at the estate. Limited to 70 people. Download Flier (PDF)

2025-02-28T13:02:00-10:00October 31st, 2017|Categories: Events - Past|
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3

UPDATE on the Federal Historic Tax Credit

12/20/2017: We're pleased to share that the 20 percent federal historic tax credit (HTC) is included in the tax reform package that has now passed the House and Senate and is on its way to the President’s desk for signature. Keeping the HTC as a permanent part of the tax code is a significant victory for the preservation community—especially considering that the first House version eliminated the credit. This extraordinary success underscores the power of the credit and the broad support it has earned in the preservation community.  Its inclusion in the most expansive overhaul of our nation’s tax code in more than three decades is a reaffirmation that reviving older and historic buildings is sound federal policy and good for the nation. The final version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1) passed by Congress keeps the historic tax credit at 20 percent but requires that the credit be taken over five years instead of all at once at the time of project completion.  The legislation also repeals the 10 percent rehabilitation tax credit for non-historic buildings. While we were not able to maintain the status quo in all respects, this outcome reflects the widespread support for preserving our historic buildings from stakeholders across the country and bold leadership by several members of Congress who have long championed historic rehabilitation as a way to revitalize our communities. The Federal Historic Tax Credit is Under Threat. Find Out How You Can Help Protect It. WHAT IS IT? The Federal Historic Tax Credit (FHTC) program encourages private sector investment in the rehabilitation and re-use of historic buildings. It provides a 20% tax credit for the certified rehabilitation of historic structures and a 10% tax [...]

2018-02-02T00:21:28-10:00October 30th, 2017|Categories: Advocacy, Blog|

Energy Conservation Measures for Historic Buildings

Glenn Mason, FAIA, president of Mason Architects, Inc.; Joseph Higgin, PE, associate principal/Hawaii operations manager with Allana Buick & Bers; and Ramsey Brown, resource acquisition manager with Hawaii Energy presented a session on energy conservation measures for historic buildings at the 2017 Pacific Building Trade Expo on October 24.  The session covered what makes a historic building unique, shared energy efficiency incentives and programs, and discussed how to appropriately incorporate these to reduce building maintenance and performance costs while maintaining the historic integrity of the property. Click here to access the presentation.

2017-10-25T13:49:41-10:00October 25th, 2017|Categories: Blog, Events - Past|
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4

November 9 – Presentation on the History of Honolulu’s Historic Parks and Playgrounds

Scenic Hawai‘i invites guests to attend its general membership luncheon that will include a presentation on “Honolulu’s Parks and Playgrounds: A Brief History” by Historic Hawai‘i Foundation Executive Director Kiersten Faulkner. The public is invited to the luncheon on Thursday, November 9, 2017, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Hale Koa Hotel, Kalia Room in Waikīkī. Tickets are $30 and include lunch. Faulkner’s presentation will focus on the history and significance of the public playground movement of the 1930s, Honolulu’s historic parks and their relevance as community gathering places today. “Ever since King Kamehameha III designated Hawai‘i’s first public park in 1843, parks and playgrounds have played an important role in the social and urban fabrics of Honolulu,” said Faulkner. “Residents and visitors alike continue to gather and enjoy opportunities for recreation, socializing, community building and connecting to nature that comes with parks and open space. The historic urban parks reflect the landscape design, social organizations and cultural expectations of their times. These rich and inspiring places retain their significance and have much to offer us still today.” The event will be of interest to kama‘āina who would like to learn more about the historical treasures in their own backyards and who care about preserving open space in urban environments for community use. Visitors with a propensity toward history, landscape architecture, open space and preservation will also be interested to attend. PRESENTATION (PDF) DOWNLOAD FLIER (PDF)

2017-11-16T14:20:46-10:00October 13th, 2017|Categories: Events - Past|

Kauai Modern available for purchase online in the HHF Gift Store

“Kaua‘i Modern” showcases a small but significant portion of the mid-20th century modern architecture movement on Kaua‘i examining how Hawaii’s post-World War II building boom shaped island communities. Architectural historian Don Hibbard and noted author Pat Griffin provide insight on the architectural features, historical background and social context of Modernist buildings and places around Kaua‘i, beautifully photographed by David Franzen. Funding was provided by the Hawaii Council for the Humanities to promote the richness and value of the humanities—including an understanding of the architectural history and preservation of Hawaii’s past—for the Hawaiian Islands. (Books purchased now will be shipped beginning October 1, 2017.)

2018-07-12T00:23:01-10:00October 4th, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized|

September 12: WWII Battlefield Preservation Plan to Be Shared With Public

Scars and remnants of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor are still visible on Ford Island. Over the past 75 years, the strafing marks, bomb craters and other reminders of the battle have been carefully documented and preserved, even as the naval station has experienced modifications and changes during World War II and the Cold War, through the current era. As part of the Pearl Harbor National Historic Landmark, the Ford Island runway and hardstand areas serve as reminders of the impact of the battle that launched the United States into World War II. The events of that day marked the start of the defining era of the 20th century. Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor has completed a historic context study and inventory about aspects of the December 7 battle and developed a plan for preserving and sharing the remaining physical elements that tell the story of the battlefield. The public is invited to learn about how the December 7 attack impacted Ford Island, and how historians are using the physical markings and scars to recreate the battle.  A preservation and historic stewardship plan for the area has been drafted for public input before finalizing the submittal to the American Battlefields Protection Program. The presentation and community discussion will be held on Tuesday, September 12 at 4:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the Pearl Harbor Visitors’ Center.  The free event is co-sponsored by Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation and the National Park Service, with support from Booz Allen and the US Navy. Event Info When: Tuesday, September 12, 4:00 pm Where: Pearl Harbor Visitor's Center Auditorium This event is FREE

2017-09-19T15:05:26-10:00September 6th, 2017|Categories: Events - Past|

How Can I Address Energy Efficiency in My Historic Building? Thinking and Acting with a Sustainable Mindset

By Melanie Islam It’s undeniable that preserving an existing building is one of the most sustainable building actions. Embodied energy is conserved and environmental impacts are limited by building reuse. Yet, nearly 74% of the energy produced in the U.S. is used to operate buildings and 38% of CO2 emissions are byproducts of buildings. Inefficient building operations are a result of many things that can be contributed to a building envelope’s response to the natural elements, specified equipment and its performance, or user behavior. Existing building stock represents a majority of building portfolio and addressing the role historic buildings have in positively reducing the larger impact buildings have towards the environment requires a holistic approach that involves all parties – owner, consultant, and occupants—in the decision-making process. By applying the “SWOT process” to building analysis, all parties have the opportunity to understand why historic buildings are inherently sustainability, while identifying the challenges to meet energy efficiency targets. For example, we know that many historic buildings were originally designed to be passive and low-energy structures. These buildings have tall ceilings with operable windows, beautiful day lit stairwells, good wall-to-window ratios, and facades that respond to the local climate conditions. All of these qualities support key sustainability strategies for day lit and naturally ventilated spaces. But, historic building envelopes are often poor thermal barriers, as the walls, roof, and windows lack the required U-value to accommodate for the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor air caused by the introduction of air conditioning. A solution to this problem could be to insulate the walls or roof and properly seal windows and doors to reduce coolth loss by infiltration. This may not be the exact answer, but the [...]

2017-09-06T17:46:36-10:00September 6th, 2017|Categories: Ask an Expert|

Honolulu Joins the 100 Resilient Cities Initiative

On June 8, 2017, 140 stakeholders from 19 sectors representing 117 organizations participated in the Resilient O‘ahu Workshop at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. The workshops goal: to welcome Honolulu into the 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) initiative pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation and begin the collective process of devising a “Resilience Strategy” for Oahu.  The newly established Office of Climate Change, Sustainability & Resiliency, created in 2016 when voters approved City Charter Amendment 7, is taking the lead in this effort which falls squarely within its mission to build partnerships to increase sustainability and address climate change on O‘ahu. 100RC was born out of the need for cities, where much of the world’s population resides, to be resilient enough to survive, adapt and grow regardless of increased acute shocks and chronic stresses. Shocks are defined as sudden, sharp events that threaten a city while stresses weaken the fabric of a city over the long haul. Honolulu workshop participants identified top shocks as infrastructure failure, hurricane and other natural disasters with top stressors being rising sea level, high cost of living/access to housing and overreliance on imports. As O‘ahu moves toward formulating a plan, it is important that cultural resources defined as: archaeological sites (surface and buried); historic buildings and structures; objects; districts; ethnographic sites and cultural landscapes be viewed as valuable assets that need protection under the resiliency strategy. Both shocks and stressors have the potential to adversely affect cultural resources by increasing risk of damage or destruction, limiting access to sites which can lead to a loss of connection to a place, culture and traditions and reduced visitation which impacts local business and economy as visitor interest and spending decrease. Resilience implies adaptability, [...]

2017-09-19T15:58:13-10:00September 6th, 2017|Categories: Trends & Issues|

501(c)3

Historic Hawaii Foundation is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit organization dedicated to saving Hawaii’s historic places. Historic Hawaii Foundation exists because of the financial support of its members. Please do your part to keep Hawaii’s past preserved by becoming a member today. FEIN: 23-7441972

Sign Up For E-News

Receive HHF Newsletters to stay updated on preservation news and events.
Go to Top