Historic Preservation Staff to Survey Island Architecture

DLNR photo.

The State Historic Preservation Division is about to begin a survey of residential neighborhoods on the Big Island, as well as Maui and Kaua’i.

Efforts will be made to identify and document the remaining places that distinguish Hawai’i’s identity and provide a glimpse into the past. These places include “old-time” buildings, structures, and other historic places.

Surveying will begin in mid-February and will aim to record what still exists and provide written histories for each area.

The surveys will give communities an opportunity to share their stories and explain why a place is important.

Funding for the surveys is coming from the Hawai’i State Legislature. A total of $200,000 was appropriated in 2015 for the next two years through Act 89.

The field work aspect of the project is anticipated to be completed by May, which is also National Historic Preservation month.

Surveying will consist of two parts. A team of architectural historians and interns will walk the neighborhoods and photograph specific features of each buildings. The second team will consist of architectural historians who will do archival research and interviews to create historic contexts for each survey area.

Architectural historians and interns will walk through Hilo and Na’alehu from March 28 through March 30, and to Papa’aloa and Hawi on April 11 and April 13.

The surveys will not list buildings on a historic register and will not restrict property owners from modifying their buildings.