The restored Hale o Lono heiau in Waimea Valley, O'ahu. Efforts by the state to restore the heiau picuted here will be awarded by the Historic Hawai'i Foundation on March 24. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

Hale o Lono restoration lauded by Historic Hawai'i Foundation

By T. Ilihia Gionson / Ka Wai Ola

The efforts behind the restoration of the 500-year-old Hale o Lono Heiau in Waimea Valley on O'ahu's North Shore will be awarded a Preservation Honor Award by the Historic Hawai'i Foundation on March 24.

"The recognition is a tremendous honor," said Gail Chew, interim executive director of Hi'ipaka LLC, which manages Waimea Valley. "It highlights the significance of the Hale o Lono restoration, having the opportunity to preserve something so unique for the community."

The foundation's Preservation Honor Awards have been presented each year since 1975 in recognition of projects perpetuating, rehabilitating, restoring or interpreting Hawai'i's archaeological or cultural heritage, or both. Honorees are selected by a committee comprised of professionals in the fields of architecture, history, planning, landscape architecture, architectural history and media. The honors are not a competition; each nomination is considered on its own merits.

"It's truly a recognition of the hard work and dedication of Kahu (Butch) Helemano and the over 200 volunteers who worked on the restoration," Chew said.

The preservation efforts to be awarded this year range in age from the half-century old Hale o Lono, to a 57-year-old Vladimir Ossipoff-designed house, the most recent. The renovation of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikīkī, the renovation of Bishop Museum's Hawaiian Hall and Picture Gallery in Kalihi, O'ahu, and the restoration of Nu'alolo Kai historic sites and cultural landscape at Nāpali, Kaua'i, are also honored.

Rounding out the list of projects receiving this year's awards are: the restoration and conversion of the Kaka'ako Fire Station to a museum for the Honolulu Fire Department; the renovation, refurbishment and preservation of the dining room, kitchen and Elizabeth Fuller Hall at Laniākea, YWCA of O'ahu; rehabilitation of five historic homes on the Pearl City Peninsula, O'ahu; and the repair, preservation and structural upgrades to the historic Pā'ia Soto Mission temple and site in Pā'ia, Maui.

The Land Management Hale of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Hi'ipaka LLC, and the other 2009 awardees, will receive their awards March 24 at a maritime luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. aboard the Golden Princess in Honolulu Harbor. Tickets to the luncheon are $40 each, and may be reserved by calling 808 523-2900.