HONOLULU – The state Department of Transportation (DOT) invites the general public and all interested parties to public informational meetings regarding the State Scenic Byways Program at the following locations statewide:
BIG ISLAND
Saturday, May 23, 2009, at 10 AM
Aupuni Center Conference Room
101 Pauahi Street, Hilo
KAUA‘I
Thursday May 28, 2009, at 7 PM
King Kaumuali‘i Elementary School
Cafeteria
4380 Hanamaulu Road, Lihu‘e
MAUI
Saturday May 30, 2009, at 10 AM
Pomaikai Elementary School Cafeteria
4650 S Kamehameha Avenue, Kahului
O‘AHU
Monday, June 1, 2009, at 7 PM
Nu‘uanu Elementary School Cafeteria
3055 Puiwa Lane, Honolulu
The purpose of these meetings is to provide an informational overview of the State
Scenic Byways Program with a question-and-answer session with DOT Highways Division program coordinators and consultant staff.
Scenic Byways are highway corridors which are determined to have outstanding intrinsic qualities that make them unique and integral to their communities. These include such qualities as scenery, recreational activities, cultural sites, archaeological features, natural areas, and/or historic qualities.
Additionally, listing of a state scenic byway corridor as a national scenic byway by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highways Administration, can have tangible benefits that support state transportation, natural resource, and tourism goals. It also provides opportunities for byway-specific federal grants for projects along these designated corridors. A full list of U.S. Scenic Byways can be viewed at http://www.byways.org/.
For more information, please contact Wayne Kawahara, Highways Division Planning
Office, at (808) 587-6357 or via e-mail at wayne.kawahara@hawaii.gov.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Mayor Hannemann Announces Natatorium Task Force
On May 27, Mayor Hannemann's office announced the formation of the Natatorium Task Force. The first meeting of the group will take place tomorrow afternoon (May 28) from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. in the Mayor's Conference Room, on the 3rd floor of Honolulu Hale.
Kiersten Faulkner, Executive Director of Historic Hawaii Foundation was selected by the Mayor's office to be on the 17-person task force.
The meeting is open to the public.
Read the City's press release here: Mayor Hannemann Announces Natatorium Task Force
Kiersten Faulkner, Executive Director of Historic Hawaii Foundation was selected by the Mayor's office to be on the 17-person task force.
The meeting is open to the public.
Read the City's press release here: Mayor Hannemann Announces Natatorium Task Force
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Hawaii State Historic Preservation Division seeks public input for Hawaii Preservation Plan
The Hawai‘i State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) is gathering public input to assist it as it updates the Hawai‘i Preservation Plan. SHPD has provided an online survey to help evaluate areas of public interest and concern. The survey takes about 10 minutes.
A Preservation Plan is required of every state in order to meet federal mandates under the National Historic Preservation Act and to qualify states for federal funding of preservation programs. Plans are usually updated in five year cycles; because Hawaii’s plan is overdue, the National Park Service has mandated that a new draft plan be complete by September 30, 2009. The Hawai‘i Preservation Plan was last updated in 2001 and can be found at www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/hpd/presplan.htm
The statewide plan is required to achieve broad-based public and professional involvement throughout the state; take into consideration issues affecting the broad spectrum of historic and cultural resources; be based on analysis of resource data and user needs; encourage the consideration of historic preservation within broader planning and environments at the federal, state and local levels; and is implemented through SHPD operations.
A Preservation Plan is required of every state in order to meet federal mandates under the National Historic Preservation Act and to qualify states for federal funding of preservation programs. Plans are usually updated in five year cycles; because Hawaii’s plan is overdue, the National Park Service has mandated that a new draft plan be complete by September 30, 2009. The Hawai‘i Preservation Plan was last updated in 2001 and can be found at www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/hpd/presplan.htm
The statewide plan is required to achieve broad-based public and professional involvement throughout the state; take into consideration issues affecting the broad spectrum of historic and cultural resources; be based on analysis of resource data and user needs; encourage the consideration of historic preservation within broader planning and environments at the federal, state and local levels; and is implemented through SHPD operations.
Friday, May 22, 2009
HISTORIC HAWAI‘I FOUNDATION AWARDS PRESIDENT’S COMMENDATION
Preservation Architects Honored for Community Service
May 22, 2009
HONOLULU: Historic Hawai‘i Foundation has awarded its annual President’s Commendation to Tonia S. Moy and Glenn E. Mason for outstanding service to the organization.
At the foundation’s annual meeting on May 21, Mason and Moy were recognized for providing exceptional service to Historic Hawai‘i Foundation, including significant pro bono services.
“These preservation professionals are well-known across the state for their expertise in preservation architecture, architectural history and the complexities of preservation standards and processes,” noted President Tim Johns in the award presentation.
Johns outlined the breadth and quality of the services that both Moy and Mason have provided, adding, “These activities, and the generous sharing of their time, expertise and professional credentials have strengthened Historic Hawai‘i Foundation’s Preservation Resource Center and furthered HHF’s larger educational and advocacy mission.”
The President’s Commendation is given to an individual or organization annually who has contributed not only to the cause of historic preservation, but specifically to Historic Hawai‘i Foundation (HHF) as an organization. HHF is a membership-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization that encourages preservation of historic sites on all the islands of Hawai‘i. More information is available at http://www.historichawaii.org/.
Kiersten Faulkner
Executive Director
(808)523-2900
Kiersten@historichawaii.org
www.historichawaii.org
May 22, 2009
HONOLULU: Historic Hawai‘i Foundation has awarded its annual President’s Commendation to Tonia S. Moy and Glenn E. Mason for outstanding service to the organization.
At the foundation’s annual meeting on May 21, Mason and Moy were recognized for providing exceptional service to Historic Hawai‘i Foundation, including significant pro bono services.“These preservation professionals are well-known across the state for their expertise in preservation architecture, architectural history and the complexities of preservation standards and processes,” noted President Tim Johns in the award presentation.
Johns outlined the breadth and quality of the services that both Moy and Mason have provided, adding, “These activities, and the generous sharing of their time, expertise and professional credentials have strengthened Historic Hawai‘i Foundation’s Preservation Resource Center and furthered HHF’s larger educational and advocacy mission.”
The President’s Commendation is given to an individual or organization annually who has contributed not only to the cause of historic preservation, but specifically to Historic Hawai‘i Foundation (HHF) as an organization. HHF is a membership-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization that encourages preservation of historic sites on all the islands of Hawai‘i. More information is available at http://www.historichawaii.org/.
Photo: Tonia Moy visiting historic sites on Kauai as part of her volunteer work with Historic Hawaii Foundation.
CONTACT
Kiersten Faulkner
Executive Director
(808)523-2900
Kiersten@historichawaii.org
www.historichawaii.org
SOON ELECTED PRESIDENT OF HISTORIC HAWAI‘I FOUNDATION
New HHF Trustees, Officers Elected at 35th Annual Meeting May 21
HONOLULU: Ray Soon was elected as President of Historic Hawai‘i Foundation on May 21 by unanimous vote of the members at the 35th annual meeting.
Soon is President of Solutions Pacific, an independent consulting firm that provides culturally sensitive and actionable planning and project implementation services to private and public sector companies in Hawai‘i and the Pacific. He has an undergraduate degree in planning from the University of Hawaii and a Masters in City Planning from Harvard University. He served for nine years on the President’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, whose role is to advise the Congress and the President on historic preservation issues, and to work with the Department of Interior in overseeing the implementation of the National Historic Preservation Act.
Soon is a founding board member of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, is the Chairman of the Board of Hawaiian Homes Technologies and sits on the boards of Ho‘okako‘o Corporation, PILI, Inc, and the Advisory Council of the Queen Liliuokalani Children Center. He has served on the board of Historic Hawai‘i Foundation for five years.
Historic Hawai‘i Foundation’s members also elected the following to serve on the Board of Trustees:
· Carl Carlson, President, Hu‘ehu‘e Ventures, LLC
· David Cheever, President, David Cheever Marketing
· Greg Chun, President, Bishop Holdings Co.
· Eric Crispin, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Financial & Physical Management, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
· Anna Grune, Preservation Architect, Mason Architects, Inc.
· Robert Iopa, President, WCIT Architecture
· Timothy Johns, President & CEO, Bishop Museum
· Samuel Lyons, Director, Haleakalā Ranch Company
· Curt Nakamura, General Manager, Topa Financial Center
· Robert Nobriga, Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Hawai‘i National Bank
· Lorraine Minatoishi Palumbo, President, Minatoishi Architects, Inc
Historic Hawai‘i Foundation also elected new officers at the annual meeting. The new executive committee is comprised of:
· President: Ray Soon, President, Solutions Pacific;
· First Vice President: Michael J. O’Malley, Senior Partner, Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel;
· Second Vice President: Stanton Enomoto, Special Assistant to the Administrator, Office of Hawaiian Affairs;
· Secretary: Lea Ok Soon Hong, Hawaiian Islands Program Director, The Trust for Public Land;
· Treasurer: Robert Nobriga, Chief Financial Officer, Hawai‘i National Bank;
· At Large Officer: Norbert Buelsing, President, A&B Properties
· At Large Office: Robert Iopa, President, WCIT Architecture
· Past President: Timothy E. Johns, President & CEO, Bishop Museum
Historic Hawai‘i Foundation is a membership-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization that preserves and encourages the preservation of historic sites on all the islands of Hawai‘i. More information is available at www.historichawaii.org
CONTACT
Kiersten Faulkner
Historic Hawaii Foundation
808-523-2900
Kiersten@historichawaii.org
HONOLULU: Ray Soon was elected as President of Historic Hawai‘i Foundation on May 21 by unanimous vote of the members at the 35th annual meeting.
Soon is President of Solutions Pacific, an independent consulting firm that provides culturally sensitive and actionable planning and project implementation services to private and public sector companies in Hawai‘i and the Pacific. He has an undergraduate degree in planning from the University of Hawaii and a Masters in City Planning from Harvard University. He served for nine years on the President’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, whose role is to advise the Congress and the President on historic preservation issues, and to work with the Department of Interior in overseeing the implementation of the National Historic Preservation Act.
Soon is a founding board member of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, is the Chairman of the Board of Hawaiian Homes Technologies and sits on the boards of Ho‘okako‘o Corporation, PILI, Inc, and the Advisory Council of the Queen Liliuokalani Children Center. He has served on the board of Historic Hawai‘i Foundation for five years.
Historic Hawai‘i Foundation’s members also elected the following to serve on the Board of Trustees:
· Carl Carlson, President, Hu‘ehu‘e Ventures, LLC
· David Cheever, President, David Cheever Marketing
· Greg Chun, President, Bishop Holdings Co.
· Eric Crispin, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Financial & Physical Management, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
· Anna Grune, Preservation Architect, Mason Architects, Inc.
· Robert Iopa, President, WCIT Architecture
· Timothy Johns, President & CEO, Bishop Museum
· Samuel Lyons, Director, Haleakalā Ranch Company
· Curt Nakamura, General Manager, Topa Financial Center
· Robert Nobriga, Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Hawai‘i National Bank
· Lorraine Minatoishi Palumbo, President, Minatoishi Architects, Inc
Historic Hawai‘i Foundation also elected new officers at the annual meeting. The new executive committee is comprised of:
· President: Ray Soon, President, Solutions Pacific;
· First Vice President: Michael J. O’Malley, Senior Partner, Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel;
· Second Vice President: Stanton Enomoto, Special Assistant to the Administrator, Office of Hawaiian Affairs;
· Secretary: Lea Ok Soon Hong, Hawaiian Islands Program Director, The Trust for Public Land;
· Treasurer: Robert Nobriga, Chief Financial Officer, Hawai‘i National Bank;
· At Large Officer: Norbert Buelsing, President, A&B Properties
· At Large Office: Robert Iopa, President, WCIT Architecture
· Past President: Timothy E. Johns, President & CEO, Bishop Museum
Historic Hawai‘i Foundation is a membership-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization that preserves and encourages the preservation of historic sites on all the islands of Hawai‘i. More information is available at www.historichawaii.org
CONTACT
Kiersten Faulkner
Historic Hawaii Foundation
808-523-2900
Kiersten@historichawaii.org
Historic Homes of Ford Island Tour
Members of Historic Hawaii Foundation are invited to a traditional Hawaiian blessing of the historic homes at Ford Island at 10 a.m. on June 3, 2009. Following the ceremony, open house tours will provide a rare opportunity to see several historic homes of Ford Island. This event is hosted by Forest City Military Communities. There is no charge to Historic Hawaii Foundation members. To reserve your spot, please e-mail Historic Hawaii Foundation at member@historichawaii.org or call us at (808)523-2900 x 21. Reservations will be honored on a first-come-first-reserved basis.Wednesday, June 3, 2009
10:00 a.m.
For Historic Hawaii Foundation Members
Aloha AttireRSVP Required
For more information or to RSVP:
Call: (808)523-2900
E-Mail: member@historichawaii.org
Space is extremely limited so reserve soon for best availability!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
LAND BOARD APPROVES AGREEMENT WITH NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR ALA KAHAKAI NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL
The Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) has approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Park Service and the County of Hawai‘i for cooperative management of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. The “Ala Kahakai” is a proposed 175-mile system of coastal trails (ala loa) that connect historic shoreline communities, national, state and county parks, natural areas and resort and rural communities. It also connects all four National Parks on Hawaii Island and is the only National Historic Trail designation in Hawai‘i and one of the 18 National Historic Trail designations in the U.S. along with the Iditarod, the Pony Express, the Trail of Tears, Nez Perce and the Lewis and Clark.
This shoreline trail corridor traverses Hawai‘i island from ‘Upolu Point, along the island’s western shoreline through the Kohala, Kona, Ka‘u and Puna districts and terminating at the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s Puna boundary. It crosses federal, state, county, and private land and contains sensitive Hawaiian cultural and natural resources. It is unique to the National Trail System in that the indigenous Hawaiian culture constructed portions of the proposed trail corridors in stone that are still widely used for daily coastal access, recreational, traditional and cultural experiences. “This memorandum of understanding between DLNR, the National Park Service and Hawai‘i County represents an important step to strengthen inter-agency partnerships and work with the community, to support recreational and educational opportunities, and ensure appropriate use and historic preservation objectives,” said Laura H. Thielen, Land Board Chairperson.
DLNR identified the Ala Kahakai as connecting state coastal parks in West Hawaii as a signature project in its Recreational Renaissance bill, where people could hike and/or kayak and camp to enjoy this beautiful wilderness area. The Recreational Renaissance was the first major state initiative in decades which envisioned many planned improvements to parks, harbors and trails for residents and visitors to enjoy. Thielen added, “Although the Senate did not pass the Recreational Renaissance bill, or any of the capital improvement projects that would have been funded with new, non-taxpayer revenue; we’re all encouraged and inspired by the strong support of the many recreational groups and communities who supported Senate Bill 636, and by the recreational needs expressed by Hawai‘i’s people in the updated Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (see plan on DLNR website at www.hawaii.gov/dlnr) that the Recreational Renaissance was designed to address,” she continued. “DLNR intends to move forward with the broad public support to maintain these important recreational places. We are now busily working on our ‘Plan B’ to attempt to achieve as many of these objectives as we are able to do with limited resources,” Thielen said.
MOU participating agencies agree to work together to implement the trail’s Comprehensive Management Plan which NPS adopted in March of this year. The MOU will set the stage for programmatic agreements and administrative guidelines to manage the trail’s resources as appropriate and feasible. The National Park Service will act as lead agency in coordinating and management activities. DLNR will coordinate technical support from its historic preservation, conservation and coastal lands, state parks, land, forestry and wildlife divisions. “The National Park Service wishes to thank Chairperson Thielen and the Land Board for their decision to enter into this MOU. This partnership with the State and County will allow for increased community-based involvement in the management of trails that aims at perpetuating traditional practices, protecting cultural and natural resources and meeting the need for recreational opportunities along Hawaii Island’s western shoreline,” said Aric Arakaki, Superintendent, Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. Hawai‘i County’s Planning Department will enforce county and state laws requiring public access to and along the shoreline as a condition of land use approvals and permits. The County’s Department of Parks and Recreation will work with NPS and local communities on trail management planning for trail segments passing through county parks. Hawai‘i Mayor Billy Kenoi said, “We are very excited to be a part of this historic agreement establishing Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail on the Island of Hawai‘i. We are proud to be the stewards of this precious cultural and recreational resource, which will be the first National Historic Trail in the state.. “We are especially pleased with the spirit of cooperation between our county, the state and federal government that helped bring this about. These collaborative projects are extremely important to our future as a county and state... “We look forward to honoring and preserving our indigenous cultural past while appropriately serving our future recreational needs in Hawai‘i… “Mahalo also to Sen. Daniel Akaka who introduced the legislation in Congress in 2000 which led to the signing of this memorandum. This truly is a great day for our beautiful Island of Hawai‘i,” Kenoi said.
This shoreline trail corridor traverses Hawai‘i island from ‘Upolu Point, along the island’s western shoreline through the Kohala, Kona, Ka‘u and Puna districts and terminating at the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s Puna boundary. It crosses federal, state, county, and private land and contains sensitive Hawaiian cultural and natural resources. It is unique to the National Trail System in that the indigenous Hawaiian culture constructed portions of the proposed trail corridors in stone that are still widely used for daily coastal access, recreational, traditional and cultural experiences. “This memorandum of understanding between DLNR, the National Park Service and Hawai‘i County represents an important step to strengthen inter-agency partnerships and work with the community, to support recreational and educational opportunities, and ensure appropriate use and historic preservation objectives,” said Laura H. Thielen, Land Board Chairperson.
DLNR identified the Ala Kahakai as connecting state coastal parks in West Hawaii as a signature project in its Recreational Renaissance bill, where people could hike and/or kayak and camp to enjoy this beautiful wilderness area. The Recreational Renaissance was the first major state initiative in decades which envisioned many planned improvements to parks, harbors and trails for residents and visitors to enjoy. Thielen added, “Although the Senate did not pass the Recreational Renaissance bill, or any of the capital improvement projects that would have been funded with new, non-taxpayer revenue; we’re all encouraged and inspired by the strong support of the many recreational groups and communities who supported Senate Bill 636, and by the recreational needs expressed by Hawai‘i’s people in the updated Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (see plan on DLNR website at www.hawaii.gov/dlnr) that the Recreational Renaissance was designed to address,” she continued. “DLNR intends to move forward with the broad public support to maintain these important recreational places. We are now busily working on our ‘Plan B’ to attempt to achieve as many of these objectives as we are able to do with limited resources,” Thielen said.
MOU participating agencies agree to work together to implement the trail’s Comprehensive Management Plan which NPS adopted in March of this year. The MOU will set the stage for programmatic agreements and administrative guidelines to manage the trail’s resources as appropriate and feasible. The National Park Service will act as lead agency in coordinating and management activities. DLNR will coordinate technical support from its historic preservation, conservation and coastal lands, state parks, land, forestry and wildlife divisions. “The National Park Service wishes to thank Chairperson Thielen and the Land Board for their decision to enter into this MOU. This partnership with the State and County will allow for increased community-based involvement in the management of trails that aims at perpetuating traditional practices, protecting cultural and natural resources and meeting the need for recreational opportunities along Hawaii Island’s western shoreline,” said Aric Arakaki, Superintendent, Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. Hawai‘i County’s Planning Department will enforce county and state laws requiring public access to and along the shoreline as a condition of land use approvals and permits. The County’s Department of Parks and Recreation will work with NPS and local communities on trail management planning for trail segments passing through county parks. Hawai‘i Mayor Billy Kenoi said, “We are very excited to be a part of this historic agreement establishing Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail on the Island of Hawai‘i. We are proud to be the stewards of this precious cultural and recreational resource, which will be the first National Historic Trail in the state.. “We are especially pleased with the spirit of cooperation between our county, the state and federal government that helped bring this about. These collaborative projects are extremely important to our future as a county and state... “We look forward to honoring and preserving our indigenous cultural past while appropriately serving our future recreational needs in Hawai‘i… “Mahalo also to Sen. Daniel Akaka who introduced the legislation in Congress in 2000 which led to the signing of this memorandum. This truly is a great day for our beautiful Island of Hawai‘i,” Kenoi said.
Memorial War
From the Honolulu Weekly
May 20, 2009
When people say the debate over the Waikiki Natatorium has been raging their entire lives, they’re not exaggerating. Sunday marks the 30th anniversary of the 82-year-old World War I memorial’s closure, and the tug-of-war over whether to demolish it has raged for even longer than that. Now the race is on again. Mayor Mufi Hannemann acknowledged in March that the City is “seriously considering” demolition, and as the City finalizes the creation of a task force that will work to seal the Natatorium’s fate, it’s becoming clear that officials aren’t seriously considering anything else.
More..
May 20, 2009
When people say the debate over the Waikiki Natatorium has been raging their entire lives, they’re not exaggerating. Sunday marks the 30th anniversary of the 82-year-old World War I memorial’s closure, and the tug-of-war over whether to demolish it has raged for even longer than that. Now the race is on again. Mayor Mufi Hannemann acknowledged in March that the City is “seriously considering” demolition, and as the City finalizes the creation of a task force that will work to seal the Natatorium’s fate, it’s becoming clear that officials aren’t seriously considering anything else.
More..
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
National Landmarks Photo Contest - due June 30
The 6th annual National Natural Landmarks photo contest is underway. The National Natural Landmarks Program, administered by the National Park Service, was established to identify and recognize outstanding examples of our country’s natural history. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in both public and private ownership. Site designations are made by the Secretary of the Interior following an extensive evaluation process and the landowner’s concurrence. There are currently 586 National Natural Landmarks nationwide. Deadline to enter the
contest: June 30.
http://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/photocontest/index.cfm
Monday, May 18, 2009
21ST ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE AT THE WAIKIKI WAR MEMORIAL NATATORIUM
Sunday, May 24, 10 a.m.
“Kupa’a i ke kuleana, Ka ‘ihi, Ka mahalo, a me ke kupili”
Committed to Responsibility, Respect, Reverence and Reason
Since 1989, the Friends of the Natatorium have sponsored this annual Memorial Day Weekend ceremony in memory of Hawaii’s beloved lost from all American wars and in honor of the state’s military veterans. This highly visual ceremony at the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium annually attracts hundreds to the state’s official memorial to the 101 from Hawaii who died in World War I. The ceremony is open to all and covered seating will be available.
The ceremony includes both somber and joyful moments, celebrating the sacrifice of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guards and the triumph of the freedom and democratic values they fought to defend. This year’s event will include a keynote speech by Brig. Gen. Gary Hara (chief of staff of the Hawaii Army National Guard) and remarks by former congressman and current congressional candidate Ed Case and former councilman and current congressional candidate John Henry Felix.
Also featured will be the traditional bugle call “Taps” and a 21-gun salute. Performances include patriotic music from the Royal Hawaiian Band and Hawaiian songs and hula from Hula Halau Olana, The Prince Kuhio Civic Club Chorale and soloist, Nalani Olds.
The Friends of the Natatorium is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium, the state’s official memorial to those from Hawaii who died in the cause of freedom in World War I.
“Kupa’a i ke kuleana, Ka ‘ihi, Ka mahalo, a me ke kupili”
Committed to Responsibility, Respect, Reverence and Reason
Since 1989, the Friends of the Natatorium have sponsored this annual Memorial Day Weekend ceremony in memory of Hawaii’s beloved lost from all American wars and in honor of the state’s military veterans. This highly visual ceremony at the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium annually attracts hundreds to the state’s official memorial to the 101 from Hawaii who died in World War I. The ceremony is open to all and covered seating will be available.
The ceremony includes both somber and joyful moments, celebrating the sacrifice of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guards and the triumph of the freedom and democratic values they fought to defend. This year’s event will include a keynote speech by Brig. Gen. Gary Hara (chief of staff of the Hawaii Army National Guard) and remarks by former congressman and current congressional candidate Ed Case and former councilman and current congressional candidate John Henry Felix.
Also featured will be the traditional bugle call “Taps” and a 21-gun salute. Performances include patriotic music from the Royal Hawaiian Band and Hawaiian songs and hula from Hula Halau Olana, The Prince Kuhio Civic Club Chorale and soloist, Nalani Olds.
The Friends of the Natatorium is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium, the state’s official memorial to those from Hawaii who died in the cause of freedom in World War I.
Honolulu posts ideas to replace natatorium
City weighs options to replace unsafe pool closed 30 years ago
By mary vorsino
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
May 17, 2009
A sandy beach could be created at the site of the crumbling Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium for as little as $1.7 million — not counting the cost of demolishing the monument — and with little to no effect on the surrounding shoreline, says a new city-commissioned report that weighs proposals for doing away with the landmark.
Some of the options, the report notes, could also cause "significant erosion" at adjacent Kaimana Beach.
The study, which presents seven options for creating a sandy beach at the site, comes as the city weighs what to do with the legendary saltwater pool. Conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it will be used to help make a decision. A separate study is being conducted to estimate the costs of refurbishing the natatorium, whose fate has been in limbo since it was closed for safety reasons in 1979.
The Army Corps study, which cost $300,000, lays out how the creation of a sandy beach at the site is possible using a variety of rocky structures, including T-head groins, straight groins and breakwaters.
Three of the options could result in erosion of Kaimana Beach, which the study indicates could be significant; three of the options would have no impact on Kaimana; and one of the options would not impact Kaimana but would create a sandy beach in front of the natatorium described as "unstable."
More..
By mary vorsino
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
May 17, 2009
A sandy beach could be created at the site of the crumbling Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium for as little as $1.7 million — not counting the cost of demolishing the monument — and with little to no effect on the surrounding shoreline, says a new city-commissioned report that weighs proposals for doing away with the landmark.
Some of the options, the report notes, could also cause "significant erosion" at adjacent Kaimana Beach.
The study, which presents seven options for creating a sandy beach at the site, comes as the city weighs what to do with the legendary saltwater pool. Conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it will be used to help make a decision. A separate study is being conducted to estimate the costs of refurbishing the natatorium, whose fate has been in limbo since it was closed for safety reasons in 1979.
The Army Corps study, which cost $300,000, lays out how the creation of a sandy beach at the site is possible using a variety of rocky structures, including T-head groins, straight groins and breakwaters.
Three of the options could result in erosion of Kaimana Beach, which the study indicates could be significant; three of the options would have no impact on Kaimana; and one of the options would not impact Kaimana but would create a sandy beach in front of the natatorium described as "unstable."
More..
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Lawsuit By National Trust for Historic Preservation Claims VA & FEMA Failed To Follow Federal Environmental Requirements For New Orleans Hospitals
Suit asks Federal court to order VA and FEMA to prepare a full Environmental Impact Statement and reduce neighborhood destruction, or select alternative sites
Contact pr@nthp.org or 202-588-6141
A lawsuit filed today in federal court by the National Trust for Historic Preservation against the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) challenges their decisions to approve the construction of two major new hospitals in New Orleans. VA plans to build a new medical center, and Louisiana State University (LSU) plans to build a new academic medical center, which would be funded in part by FEMA. The sites chosen would require bulldozing 25 square blocks, containing 165 historic properties in the Mid-City Historic District, including homes already renovated by their owners after Hurricane Katrina.
The lawsuit charges that VA and FEMA violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analyzing the impacts on historic properties and the local community from the proposed new hospitals.
Alternative locations for both medical centers would require significantly less neighborhood destruction than the 67-acre Mid-City location, and would return medical care more quickly than the selected sites, by minimizing the need for time-consuming acquisition of homes and businesses from local owners, relocating hundreds of people, and extensive demolition, while still providing the space necessary to construct high-tech medical facilities. Rather than delaying the return of medical care to veterans and the people of New Orleans, the intention of the lawsuit is to have the opposite effect: by encouraging the agencies to revisit their site-location decisions, the agencies could choose sites that would not only avoid delays, but allow hospitals to open sooner than under current plans.
"Bulldozing a historic neighborhood in New Orleans in order to build these two medical centers is wrong, both legally and morally," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "There are other sites that would bring state-of-the-art medical care to the community faster and for less money, without destroying Mid-City."
"VA and FEMA have refused to recognize the magnitude of the community destruction these projects will wreak," Moe said. "Instead, they have dismissed this massive demolition as ‘insignificant,' and have chosen the most destructive alternatives, offering nothing more than token mitigation measures. We hope this lawsuit will lead VA and FEMA to go back and revisit the less destructive options."
"A lot has changed since VA and FEMA announced their decisions," said Moe. "The new administration in Washington has placed an emphasis on sound environmental reviews, and on transparency, accountability, and public input, all of which were short-changed in New Orleans. Also, it has become clear in recent months that the supposed ‘synergy' between the LSU and VA hospitals is nothing more than a fiction, eliminating the need to co-locate the hospitals in Mid-City. Given these major changes, we expect the agencies can now find a better way to deliver much needed health care in New Orleans."
VA is building its own facility, while FEMA's role is limited to providing funding for the LSU medical center, in the form of compensation for Hurricane Katrina's damage to Charity Hospital, which has been the teaching hospital for LSU medical school. FEMA policies allow LSU to use these damage payments to build a new facility, but FEMA retains the legal responsibility to make sure the money is not spent in violation of federal environmental requirements. FEMA and VA are both required to fully evaluate the impacts of the projects for which their federal funds will be used, and consider alternatives that avoid and minimize harm to historic properties. The lawsuit challenges the "Finding Of No Significant Impact" issued by each agency, and it challenges their attempt to avoid an EIS by splitting the review into separate phases, instead of evaluating the impacts of the entire development process.
For the past year, the National Trust has been engaged as a consulting party in the historic preservation review process for both the proposed VA and LSU medical centers, and has raised repeated objections to the agencies' failure to prepare an EIS and failure to acknowledge the significance of the destructive impacts on historic properties.
"To put this into perspective," said Peter Brink, senior vice president for the National Trust, "these medical centers would wipe out more than the total number of homes that have been rehabilitated in the Lower 9th Ward's Holy Cross neighborhood through the combined efforts of the Preservation Resource Center's Rebuilding Together and Operation Comeback, the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office, and the National Trust. In our view, it would be an unconscionable waste for the government to destroy these homes in Mid-City, when the demolition could be so easily avoided through alternative sites, and when local homeowners are working so hard to bring back housing that was damaged by the hurricane."
The lawsuit was filed in the federal district court for the District of Columbia. The National Trust is represented by the Institute for Public Representation at Georgetown University Law Center.
###
The National Trust for Historic Preservation (www.PreservationNation.org) is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. By saving the places where great moments from history – and the important moments of everyday life – took place, the National Trust for Historic Preservation helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, DC, nine regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in all 50 states, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America’s stories.
Contact pr@nthp.org or 202-588-6141
A lawsuit filed today in federal court by the National Trust for Historic Preservation against the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) challenges their decisions to approve the construction of two major new hospitals in New Orleans. VA plans to build a new medical center, and Louisiana State University (LSU) plans to build a new academic medical center, which would be funded in part by FEMA. The sites chosen would require bulldozing 25 square blocks, containing 165 historic properties in the Mid-City Historic District, including homes already renovated by their owners after Hurricane Katrina.
The lawsuit charges that VA and FEMA violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analyzing the impacts on historic properties and the local community from the proposed new hospitals.
Alternative locations for both medical centers would require significantly less neighborhood destruction than the 67-acre Mid-City location, and would return medical care more quickly than the selected sites, by minimizing the need for time-consuming acquisition of homes and businesses from local owners, relocating hundreds of people, and extensive demolition, while still providing the space necessary to construct high-tech medical facilities. Rather than delaying the return of medical care to veterans and the people of New Orleans, the intention of the lawsuit is to have the opposite effect: by encouraging the agencies to revisit their site-location decisions, the agencies could choose sites that would not only avoid delays, but allow hospitals to open sooner than under current plans.
"Bulldozing a historic neighborhood in New Orleans in order to build these two medical centers is wrong, both legally and morally," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "There are other sites that would bring state-of-the-art medical care to the community faster and for less money, without destroying Mid-City."
"VA and FEMA have refused to recognize the magnitude of the community destruction these projects will wreak," Moe said. "Instead, they have dismissed this massive demolition as ‘insignificant,' and have chosen the most destructive alternatives, offering nothing more than token mitigation measures. We hope this lawsuit will lead VA and FEMA to go back and revisit the less destructive options."
"A lot has changed since VA and FEMA announced their decisions," said Moe. "The new administration in Washington has placed an emphasis on sound environmental reviews, and on transparency, accountability, and public input, all of which were short-changed in New Orleans. Also, it has become clear in recent months that the supposed ‘synergy' between the LSU and VA hospitals is nothing more than a fiction, eliminating the need to co-locate the hospitals in Mid-City. Given these major changes, we expect the agencies can now find a better way to deliver much needed health care in New Orleans."
VA is building its own facility, while FEMA's role is limited to providing funding for the LSU medical center, in the form of compensation for Hurricane Katrina's damage to Charity Hospital, which has been the teaching hospital for LSU medical school. FEMA policies allow LSU to use these damage payments to build a new facility, but FEMA retains the legal responsibility to make sure the money is not spent in violation of federal environmental requirements. FEMA and VA are both required to fully evaluate the impacts of the projects for which their federal funds will be used, and consider alternatives that avoid and minimize harm to historic properties. The lawsuit challenges the "Finding Of No Significant Impact" issued by each agency, and it challenges their attempt to avoid an EIS by splitting the review into separate phases, instead of evaluating the impacts of the entire development process.
For the past year, the National Trust has been engaged as a consulting party in the historic preservation review process for both the proposed VA and LSU medical centers, and has raised repeated objections to the agencies' failure to prepare an EIS and failure to acknowledge the significance of the destructive impacts on historic properties.
"To put this into perspective," said Peter Brink, senior vice president for the National Trust, "these medical centers would wipe out more than the total number of homes that have been rehabilitated in the Lower 9th Ward's Holy Cross neighborhood through the combined efforts of the Preservation Resource Center's Rebuilding Together and Operation Comeback, the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office, and the National Trust. In our view, it would be an unconscionable waste for the government to destroy these homes in Mid-City, when the demolition could be so easily avoided through alternative sites, and when local homeowners are working so hard to bring back housing that was damaged by the hurricane."
The lawsuit was filed in the federal district court for the District of Columbia. The National Trust is represented by the Institute for Public Representation at Georgetown University Law Center.
###
The National Trust for Historic Preservation (www.PreservationNation.org) is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. By saving the places where great moments from history – and the important moments of everyday life – took place, the National Trust for Historic Preservation helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, DC, nine regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in all 50 states, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America’s stories.
Monday, May 4, 2009
New NOAA Facility Reuses Old Hangar
NEW NOAA FACILITY REUSES OLD HANGAR
PEARL HARBOR – The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific awarded Nan, Inc., of Honolulu, Hawaii, a $21.5 million firm, fixed price contract on April 20 for the renovation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Pacific Regional Center (PRC) Building and Sea Animal Research Center.
"This award represents a major milestone in the three-phase development of NOAA's Pacific Regional Center at Ford Island," said Sam Pooley, director of the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, and chair of the NOAA Pacific Region Executive Board.
The project also represents an innovative, adaptive reuse of Building 130, an existing, World War II era aircraft hangar on Ford Island. A lot of the work to be performed under the contract is for the renovation of this historic hangar.
"The NOAA Pacific Regional Center represents a tremendous opportunity to partner with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, and to redevelop buildings that are part of the National Historic Landmark to serve NOAA's science, research and operations into the future," said John Shrewsbury, NOAA Hawaii on-site manager of the PRC project.
The new facility will help NOAA conduct research functions, and it will contain multiple live animal seawater tanks, a seawater production well, staff offices, high-bay warehouse storage with a mezzanine, an air-conditioned gear storage area, wood, metal, and electronics shops, and infrastructure to connect to the NOAA campus IT system.
"Phase One, the Ship Operations Facility, was completed in October 2007, and allowed NOAA to consolidate its three vessels in Hawaii at a single location,” said Pooley. "With the Building 130 construction award, we are moving forward with the second phase -- a facility supporting marine animal care, central warehouse and central utility plant."
The project also adds an access road and provisions for a photovoltaic system. Work is expected to be completed by November 2010, and will be administered by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Hawaii.
The contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with seven proposals received. The exact amount of the contract award is $21,451,629.
"The final phase, the main facility construction, which received funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, is expected to start in 2010, and will complete consolidation of NOAA staff and programs at Ford Island," added Pooley.
PEARL HARBOR – The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific awarded Nan, Inc., of Honolulu, Hawaii, a $21.5 million firm, fixed price contract on April 20 for the renovation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Pacific Regional Center (PRC) Building and Sea Animal Research Center.
"This award represents a major milestone in the three-phase development of NOAA's Pacific Regional Center at Ford Island," said Sam Pooley, director of the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, and chair of the NOAA Pacific Region Executive Board.
The project also represents an innovative, adaptive reuse of Building 130, an existing, World War II era aircraft hangar on Ford Island. A lot of the work to be performed under the contract is for the renovation of this historic hangar.
"The NOAA Pacific Regional Center represents a tremendous opportunity to partner with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, and to redevelop buildings that are part of the National Historic Landmark to serve NOAA's science, research and operations into the future," said John Shrewsbury, NOAA Hawaii on-site manager of the PRC project.
The new facility will help NOAA conduct research functions, and it will contain multiple live animal seawater tanks, a seawater production well, staff offices, high-bay warehouse storage with a mezzanine, an air-conditioned gear storage area, wood, metal, and electronics shops, and infrastructure to connect to the NOAA campus IT system.
"Phase One, the Ship Operations Facility, was completed in October 2007, and allowed NOAA to consolidate its three vessels in Hawaii at a single location,” said Pooley. "With the Building 130 construction award, we are moving forward with the second phase -- a facility supporting marine animal care, central warehouse and central utility plant."
The project also adds an access road and provisions for a photovoltaic system. Work is expected to be completed by November 2010, and will be administered by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Hawaii.
The contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with seven proposals received. The exact amount of the contract award is $21,451,629.
"The final phase, the main facility construction, which received funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, is expected to start in 2010, and will complete consolidation of NOAA staff and programs at Ford Island," added Pooley.
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