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Star-Bulletin file photo
The view looks great from the bridge of the restored Battleship Missouri.

USS Missouri receives
top preservation award

By Burl Burlingame
Star-Bulletin

The slogan of this week's Statewide Historic Preservation Conference is "It's Cheaper to Keep Her," and that's true of the recipients of the 2000 Preservation Honor Awards.

These certificates, courtesy the Historic Hawaii Foundation, are given annually to organizations and buildings that strike the golden balance between cultural integrity, architectural trueness and fiscal responsibility.

CONFERENCE What: Statewide Historic Preservation Conference with seminars, tours, lectures When: Thursday through Saturday Where: Hawaii State Capitol Admission: $100 ($90 for Historic Hawaii members) or $45 per day Call: 523-2900 Online: http://www.historic hawaii.org

For the past quarter-century, Historic Hawaii has sought nominations for the awards as a way of promoting preservation awareness, as well as creating appreciation for the islands' fast-disappearing cultural treasures.

This year, though, the group inaugurated the "Governor's Preservation Honor Award" for projects that combine the three-legged achievement of preservation, restoration and interpretation.

This year, the Governors' Award goes to the Battleship Missouri Memorial. As the group's application states, "The scope of the USS Missouri will always be staggering dues to its enormous size and extensive amount of restorative work it needs in environmental remediation and perseveration."

Mrs. Governor, Vicky Cayetano, will present the award at 5 p.m. Thursday at Washington Place, at a ceremony in conjunction with the preservation conference. Also receiving awards are:

Lihue Theater, Kauai -- Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Kauai Housing Development Corp., Sueda and Associates, and Olga Urminska. Damaged by Hurricane Iniki, the building was converted into senior housing, the only use that required fewer parking spaces than other commercial uses.

Vision Properties Inc. building, Kauai. The former five-bedroom Higuchi residence was restored as viable office space while retaining the charm of the original 1929 structure.

Waimea Mill Camp Restoration, Kauai -- Kikiaola Land Co., Kikiaola Construction Co. and County of Kauai Offices of Community Assistance Housing Agency. The former plantation homes are being used as affordable housing.

Waimea Theatre, Kauai -- West Kauai Business and Professional Association, Kikiaola Construction Co. and County of Kauai Offices of Community Assistance Housing Agency. Restored as a viable community theater.

"Grandma's House," Kawamura Property, Kauai -- Richard Sugiyama and Glen Kawamura. Renovation of the house, belonging to Sugiyama's grandparents, was kickstarted by damage from Hurricane Iniki. Restoration progress was documented online and with digital photography.

Kona Coffee Living History Farm, D. Uchida Farm, Hawaii -- Kona Historical Society. This building tells the story of this unique industry in the islands.

Pacific Tsunami Museum, Hawaii. The museum is housed in a former First Hawaiian Bank building designed by Charles Dickey in 1931. The history of the building is part of the museum's exhibit.

Preservation commendations for organizations go to Palace Theater, Hawaii (Historic Hilo Preservation Association, Friends of the Palace, Hilo Downtown Improvement Association) and the Laupahoehoe Train Museum, Hawaii (North Hilo Community Council, William Pape).

Preservation certificates for individuals go to Robert "Steamy" Chow, Paulette Nohelani Kahalepuna, William Kenji "Pila" Kikuchi, Thomas Quinlan and Francis P. Sinenci.

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