Honorees to receive preservation awards

Historic Hawai‘i Foundation’s 46th annual Preservation Honor Awards will livestream from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Maui honorees include: The Ho‘opai Archaeology Apprenticeship, the Mural Wall at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center (both receiving a Programmatic Award). The F. Garcia Building Rehabilitation will receive a Project Award. Maui Anniversary recognitions include Alexander & Baldwin (150 Years) and the Kamehameha Schools Song Contest (100 Years).

Attendance is free of charge, but registration is required. To register, visit historichawaii .org/awards-2020-2/.

There will be a total of 23 award honorees and 15 kama‘aina anniversaries.

Since 1975, HHF has selected historic preservation honor award winners throughout the State of Hawaii. The Historic Preservation Honor Awards are Hawaii’s highest recognition of projects, organizations, publications or individuals active in preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, or interpretation of the state’s archaeological, architectural and cultural sites.

PROGRAMMATIC AWARD

≤ Ho‘opai Archaeology Apprenticeship, Makena: This program allows five hand-selected apprentices to experience and learn basic archaeological survey skills and Hawaiian cultural knowledge of place through historical teachings and traditional mo‘olelo. Apprentices learn both manual and digital survey skills using instruments from a compass and paper to a GPS and total station. Property owner Makena Golf and Beach Club sponsors the program as its commitment to being a supportive member of the community and its natural and cultural resources.

≤ Mural Wall at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, Kahului: Local artist Kirk Kurokawa created this largerthan-life mural on a bare concrete wall using ordinary house paint. He started with photos of the soldiers and reproduced them as the black-and-white originals, creating subtle yet powerful imagery. The mural is an educational resource reminding the public of a significant event in Hawaii’s history and how it impacted the Maui community. It is a reminder of what these men stood for and the sacrifices that are made as a result of war.

PROJECT AWARD

≤ F. Garcia Building Rehabilitation, Paia: This project was an ambitious undertaking to rescue the 1934 F. Garcia Building in Paia which had fallen into disrepair. Particular effort was put into restoration of the historic facade and to bring the remaining building up to current codes and serviceability. The building has been returned to a functioning, sustainable structure and regains its proper place among upper Paia’s historic building stock.

ANNIVERSARY RECOGNITIONS

≤ Alexander & Baldwin, Oahu, Maui and Kauai: The firm was founded in 1870 as a venture to grow sugar cane by Samuel T. Alexander and Henry P. Baldwin, who first met growing up in Lahaina. Now primarily a real estate company that owns, operates and manages local properties in Hawaii’s business, industrial and retail communities, A&B has evolved over 150 years from agriculture to include railroads, shipping companies, commercial real estate and other business ventures.

≤ Kamehameha Schools Song Contest, Hawaii Island, Maui, and Oahu: From humble beginnings on the steps of Bishop Hall in Kaiwi‘ula, what originated as an a cappella singing competition 100 years ago, when the Hawaiian language was under threat of being lost, has matured into a practice of mele and mo‘olelo reflecting the revitalized ‘olelo makuahine of today.