Board of Trustees

Whisper Architects Chris Hong is a Principal at Whisper Architects, where he oversees projects ranging from financial institutions to healthcare architecture. Mr. Hong graduated from California Polytechnical Institute at San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Architecture. He is a licensed architect in Hawai‘i and Washington. He worked with the Seattle-based architecture firm NBBJ before returning to Hawai‘i to join G70, a local design and planning firm. After a time with Redmont Group as the president of architecture, Chris co-founded English Hong Architecture in 2019. The successor firm of Whisper Architects was formed in 2023. His community service includes terms as director and president of the Hawai‘i Architectural Foundation, president of AIA Honolulu, and an active member of the Build Committee and Board member for Honolulu Habitat for Humanity.

Barbara Shideler is a principal and historical architect with MASON. She has over 25 years of experience as a historic preservation professional. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture and a Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Ms. Shideler values opportunities to protect and renew our community’s architectural treasures. She particularly enjoys the technical challenge of restoring Hawaii’s storied places and has designed the restoration of significant historic buildings and residences, including award winning projects at Shangri La, Kaumakapili Church, and the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace. She is president of the Hawai‘i-Pacific Island Chapter of the Association for Preservation Technology and is member of the American Institute of Architects Honolulu Chapter. Ms. Shideler is a frequent presenter and collaborator for Historic Hawai‘i Foundation’s educational programs.

Dr. Chiu has a private medical practice in Kailua, O‘ahu and specializes in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck surgery, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and pediatric otolaryngology.  She is affiliated with Castle Medical Center. Dr. Chiu is an avid traveler and photographer, with an emphasis on learning about the histories and cultures of destinations across the globe. Her wide-ranging interests encompass photography, collectable figurines and graphic novel-themed art, and archaeology. Her community service includes medical missions to perform cleft lip, head and neck surgeries in Laos, The Philippines, Honduras and Mexico. She has served on the Boards of Directors for the Physician’s Exchange, the Ko‘olau Federal Credit Union and several healthcare associations.

Hal Hammatt is President and Principal of Cultural Surveys Hawai‘i. He founded the firm in 1982 and has been active in the field of archaeology and historic preservation for 40 years.  He is trained in federal historic preservation regulations including Section 106 and NAGPRA, and has conducted training in historic preservation compliance.  He served, by Governor Appointment, on the State of Hawai‘i Historic Places Review Board for 8 years. His expertise in Hawaiian archaeology includes agricultural systems, sediment studies, lithic studies, and geoarchaeology.  Dr. Hammatt is experienced in handling multidisciplinary studies and complex, large projects, including surveys, data recovery, and site protection and interpretation.  He has extensive experience working on federal jobs and served as Historic Preservation Manager for the Navy’s 5-year Kaho‘olawe Ordnance Clearance Project.