Kauai’s Historic Preservation Recognized

By Tommy Noyes

Planning Director Kaʻāina Hull, shown in front of the Līhu‘e Post Office, was honored with an Historic Hawai‘i Foundation Individual Achievement Award for advancing historic preservation. Hull and a resolute corps of preservationists averted that venerable Post Office’s threatened decommissioning. Their preservation efforts included mailing US Post Office administrators on the mainland over a hundred coconuts to deliver the message that closing this Post Office would be nuts. Contributed photo

The Historic Hawai‘i Foundation honored 23 exemplary achievements from around the state in its 46th Annual Preservation Honor Awards ceremony July 22, including three from Kaua‘i. This article is based on the HHF’s July 9 media release.

“Since 1974, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation has committed itself to the preservation of places that help tell Hawai‘i’s unique, multifaceted and fascinating story,” said Pat Griffin, HHF Trustee and chairperson of the Preservation Awards selection committee. “One happy pleasure in fulfilling that mission is our annual celebration of others’ success in completing exemplary preservation projects.”

The Wailua – Ke Awawa o Na Aliʻi video was honored in the Achievements in Interpretive Media category, which recognizes printed publications or visual presentations that interpret the history, preservation or physical characteristics of a historic property. This stunning video presents the cultural importance of Wailuanuiaho‘ano, the great sacred Wailua, located on the Eastside of Kaua‘i, along the Wailua River. Captured are the abundance of historic sites in this rich cultural landscape and the royal lineage, mo‘olelo and history of people who lived in that area.

Kaʻāina Shayne Hull, director of the County of Kauaʻi Department of Planning, was recognized in the Individual Achievement category, which lauds individuals who engaged in advocacy, educational, programmatic,or other activity supporting preservation efforts, either for a specific historic property or through a broad-based program.

Over the past six years as Deputy Planning Director and now as the Planning Director, Hull’s commitment to preserve, honor and commemorate architecture, artifacts and historic sites have shifted Kaua‘i’s conversation on historic preservation from merely an advisory role to a necessary part of the land-use permitting processes.  Hull’s advocacy helped save the historic County Hanapēpē Bridge and the Līhu‘e Post Office building.

The Lua Kupapa‘u O Nohili Crypt at U.S. Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauaʻi was recognized for an Achievement in New Construction which highlights projects that are an infill in a historic district or additions to a historic property that protect and enhance the property. The coastline’s cultural district has experienced erosion to the dune areas, exposing ‘iwi kūpuna (human remains). The Lua Kupapa‘u O Nohili crypt was constructed to preserve, protect and appropriately handle and honor ‘iwi kūpuna. The process involved a dedicated and conscientious effort by lineal and cultural descendants of the ancestors and a collaborative approach with Navy officials. Each year on the Summer Solstice, which signifies the opening of the spiritual portal, the crypt is opened. Na ‘Ohana Papa O Manā takes part in an intimate ceremony to place the recently discovered ‘iwi kūpuna with the previously interred remains.

HHF (www.historichawaii.org) is the only statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the historic buildings, sites, communities and objects that tell the unique stories of Hawai‘i’s multi-layered history. Founded in 1974, HHF has become the driving force behind historic preservation in the state through its core programs of developing a community ethic of historic preservation, supporting smart legislation, offering educational events and trainings for local communities, and providing technical assistance to make preservation accessible.

• Tommy Noyes is Kaua‘i Path’s executive director, a League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor and active with the Kaua‘i Medical Reserve Corps.