#savingplaces #HistoricHawaii – Historic Hawaii Foundation

Grassroots effort honors Kāne‘ohe wahi pana’s place in history

Earlier this week the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported a local effort to drive awareness to the historic significance of Kāne‘ohe Beach Park and restore its Hawaiian place name, Naoneala‘a, meaning "the sands of La‘amaikahiki.” This coastal area of Kāne‘ohe is named after the famous chief La‘amaikahiki who is said to have come from Tahiti. Mo‘ōlelo tell us that the newly appointed chief sailed by canoe around the island and decided to stop at this beach. From his canoe, he announced his official presence, throwing sand onto the shore. The beach was then named Naoneala‘a after him--“naone” means sand and “la‘a” is an abbreviation of his name. The new chief resided here through his reign and built three heiau in the area. His descendants became ali‘i on Hawai‘i, Maui, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i. Naoneala‘a is also significant as the site of a major peacemaking ceremony. In 1737, after years of war among the islands, ali‘i of Maui, O‘ahu, Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i Island gathered at Naoneala‘a. Hundreds of warriors from O‘ahu and Kaua‘i stood on the hillsides above the beach, and hundreds more waited aboard canoes along the coastline from Naoneala‘a to Mokapu. On the beach at Naoneala‘a, Chief Alapa‘i of Hawai‘i Island and Chief Peleioholani of O‘ahu, adorned with ceremonial capes and helmets, came together and declared an end to war--that "all shall be as it was before." The original name of this popular beach park and its historical significance will now be more widely known thanks to the efforts of the Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club (KHCC). On July 30th, members of the civic club celebrated the dedication of a new storyboard at Naoneala‘a that shares its origins. The signage project was funded through a grant from the [...]

Ask an Expert: What should be considered when painting historic structures?

Proper painting helps extend the life of historic structures, reduces maintenance costs, and enhances the character. Image: MASON By Principal & Historical Architect Barbara Shideler, AIA, MASON A well-executed paint job on a vintage house enhances the historic character of the architecture through the use of appropriate colors and placement. Proper surface preparation and paint application protects the building fabric, extends the life of the structure, and reduces maintenance costs. House paint is composed of a “vehicle”, such as oil or water; “binders” which form the film, usually an alkyd or acrylic resin; and “pigment” which provides the color, texture and hiding properties of the paint. The most common hiding pigment is titanium dioxide which replaced lead in the 1970s. Oil-based paints provide a tough abrasion‐resistant surface that can be cleaned and hold up well in high‐traffic areas. Oil-based paints provide the best coverage, however, they are more likely to crack, fade and yellow over time. Odorous solvents like mineral spirits and turpentine are necessary for cleanup. Latex or acrylic paints exhibit excellent adhesion and better elasticity than oil. They clean up easily with soap and water. They also dry faster allowing for quick recoating; and don’t have the strong odor associated with oil‐base paints. When repainting, consider the following: Spot Paint Maintenance: A homeowner should perform spot paint maintenance every 2‐3 years before the building requires a full paint job. This is accomplished by removing the original paint as it fails. Complete recoating is not done. Paint surfaces are cleaned; loose paint is knocked off; bare wood is spot primed and painted. Primers and paints should match the color and sheen of the surrounding paint. Lead containing waste may not require special [...]