HISTORIC HAWAI‘I HONORS KEEPERS OF THE CULTURE

(Honolulu, Hawaii) On April 22, Billy Fields, president and principal of Fields Masonry in Kailua-Kona, will receive Historic Hawai‘i Foundation’s Frank Haines Award in recognition of his lifetime dedication to restoring significant Native Hawaiian sites and teaching others his cultural practice.

As a career stone mason, Fields concentrates on restoring sacred and traditional Native Hawaiian sites using traditional, dry-stack techniques used prior to western contact and the introduction of mortar.

Using these traditional techniques, he furthers the traditional masonry practices in the repair, restoration and reconstruction of dry-laid stone walls, platforms and terraces on significant structures including Hapaiali‘i and Ke‘eku Heiau at Keauhou; Kūka‘ō‘ō Heiau in Mānoa; and walls, fish ponds and burial platforms across the state.

Billy Fields Photo by Carl Shaneff


Fields ensures these practices transcend his lifetime by involving and training the community in techniques and cultural practices to learn and respect the Hawaiian traditions of each place. He fosters a connection between the youth and a trade based in cultural identity, pride of place and pride of people.

The Frank Haines Award, established in 2009 for master Architect Frank Haines, honors an individual’s outstanding lifetime achievements in preserving historic and cultural places of Hawai‘i.

In addition to The Frank Haines Award, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation (HHF) will recognize and honor 12 projects, people, groups and advocacy efforts at the Preservation Awards ceremony on April 22.

2010 Preservation Awards
Recognizing projects that preserved, rehabilitated, or restored an historic building, object, site or district:

• Daughters of Hawai‘i; Mason Architects, Inc.; Department of Land and Natural Resources, State Parks Division; Sawar Structural Engineering; Stan’s Contracting, Inc, for the reconstruction of the historic kitchen and restoration of Hulihe‘e Palace after earthquake damage sustained in October 2006. 

Hulihee Palace (left) photo courtesy of Daughters of Hawaii

• United States Army Garrison Hawai‘i; Conrad Schmitt Studios; David’s Custom Roofing and Painting for the restoration of the only remaining original quad theater at Quad F, Schofield Barracks.

• County of Kaua‘i, Offices of the County Clerk and Department of Public Works, Building Division; Mason Architects, Inc; Martin & Chock; Prepose Engineering; Douglas Engineering Pacific; Pacific Blue Construction for the successful rehabilitation of the Kaua‘i County Building- Annex 1.

• Hawai‘i Conference Foundation, Kalahikiola Congregational Church; Mason Architects, Inc.; Kikiaola Construction Company; Tanimura & Associates, Inc; Wallace T. Oki, P.E., Inc. for the reconstruction of the historic Kalahikiola Church after earthquake damage sustained in October 2006.

• Forest City Hawai‘i; Commander Navy Region Hawai‘i; Mason Architects, Inc.; Alan Shintani, Inc. for the renovation and conversion of 39 Makalapa duplex units into single family homes.

• Forest City Hawai‘i; Commander Navy Region Hawai‘i; Mason Architects, Inc.; Alan Shintani, Inc. for the successful rehabilitation of 1 Kamakani Drive at Makalapa, Pearl Harbor Naval Base.

Preservation Commendations
Recognizing individuals, organizations or government agencies that engaged in an advocacy, educational, programmatic or other activity supporting preservation efforts, either for a specific site or through a broad-based program:

• Kepa and Onaona Maly of Lāna‘i for providing a compelling example of how historic preservation initiatives can positively impact the outlook of an entire community.

• Hui O Pikoiloa, for grassroots efforts to stop commercial development that would threaten the Kawaewae Heiau complex

• University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Historic Preservation Program and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, National Park Service for the 1877 Volcano House Historic Structures Report, a detailed study of the old Volcano House, intended to serve as a baseline document for future management of the site.

• The Nature Conservancy for pioneering efforts to achieve LEED certification at the Wing Wo Tai Building while maintaining the historic integrity of the existing building.

Wing Wo Tai & Co. Photo Courtesy of the Nature Conservancy 

• Group 70 International for pioneering efforts to achieve LEED certification at the McCandless Building while maintaining the historic integrity of the existing historic building.

• Forest City Hawai‘i; History Matters, LLC for the development of a series of educational brochures about historic neighborhoods at Pearl Harbor Naval Base.

Centennial Club

The Centennial Club recognizes kama‘āina businesses, educational institutions and organizations celebrating their 100th anniversaries. This year’s recipients are:

• Aloha Council, Boy Scouts of America (Honolulu)
• First Church of Christ, Scientist (Mānoa)
• Hasegawa General Store (Hāna)
• Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club
• Holy Cross Church (Kalāheo)
• M. Miura Store (Kapa‘a)
• Mun Lun Chinese Language School (Honolulu)

More About the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation Honor Awards
See a list of all past recipients