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Community Voice
Preserving every building, structure or object over 50 years of age would be a fool’s errand.
By Greg Thielen
August 24, 2022 · 5 min read
Greg Thielen
Reading Kirstin Downey’s article, “Honolulu Lacks A Historic Preservation Commission. That May Put Some Sites At Risk,” inspired a trip down memory lane for me.
My dad was a builder like me and he did a lot of renovation and restoration of old buildings in Chinatown, urban Honolulu and even on neighbor islands. The most notable of these was the restoration of Honolulu’s first “skyscraper,” the Stangenwald Building on Merchant Street. There were many others and I grew up exploring these projects on a regular basis.
Fast forward to high school and summer jobs working in my dad’s shop. I helped assemble and finish many doors, windows, storefronts and even signs that are still in some of those buildings today. While I have no formal training as an architectural historian, I have a deep appreciation for the detail and craftsmanship these buildings display.
More recent memories triggered by the article were less pleasant and revolved around my efforts as a volunteer activist to resolve the building permit backlog with the State Historic Preservation Division. I first became aware of the problem in 2013 and along with many others began meeting with SHPD and eventually the Legislature to try to solve the problem causing this logjam.
As Kirstin Downey pointed out in the current article SHPD is “expected to process some 2,400 to 2,700 permit reviews each year.” To put that into perspective that is 24,000 to 27,000 permits in the last decade. Why so many? Does anyone really believe there are 27,000 historic properties in Hawaii that all needed building permits in the last 10 years?
Ironically the answer to that question starts with another question. What is a historic property? A simple Google search will provide a handful of mostly consistent answers that focuses on the age of the property as well as it having historical, architectural, archaeological or cultural significance.
Unfortunately, what the state of Hawaii defines as “historical property” is significantly looser. The statute governing historic preservation is HRS Chapter 6E and the section governing definitions is 6E-2. The Hawaii State definition reads as follows: “Historic property” means any building, structure, object, district, area, or site, including heiau and underwater site, which is over 50 years old.
So, there is no requirement or threshold beyond age to become “historic.” Do you live in a 1960s tract home? It’s historic. Is the grocery store you shop at built before 1972? It’s historic.
There’s a fast-food restaurant that has been in my neighborhood since before I was alive. It has been remodeled so many times it is unrecognizable from what it was 50 years ago, but it’s never been torn down. Therefore, yes, you guessed it, it’s historic. Essentially the definition itself casts such a wide net, that it covers far too much ground.
Despite repeated attempts to correct what many see as a problematic definition, the law remains as is. As a result, SHPD spends time reviewing 2,400 to 2,700 permits a year and as Alan Downer, state historic preservation administrator, said: “There is no question in my view we don’t have enough resources to do enough proactive preservation stuff.”
I believe that preservation allows for a very real and tangible connection with our past that has an important cultural value.
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have SHPD doing “proactive preservation stuff” than looking over 2,400 to 2,700 permit applications a year.
That to me is the deciding factor when faced with the possibility of an overhauled and active Oahu Historic Preservation Commission. What in fact will this commission be tasked to do and how will they deal with the issue of defining “historic property?” If the goal is to simply take over or, worse yet, duplicate the current SHPD review process, that is doubling down on a losing bet. Also, will the OHPC simply accept the state definition of “historic properties” as its mandate for preservation? Preserving every building, structure or object over 50 years of age would be a fool’s errand.
If Honolulu wants to take a proactive approach to cataloging and documenting historic properties, that is a noble and worthwhile goal, provided they decide on a reasonable threshold for what historic property is. If they want to advocate for property owners to preserve and restore historic property, that is a noble and worthwhile goal, however it still comes back to qualifying what historic property is in the first place. If they can do this the right way, no one would be happier than me.
I still take pride when I see some of my work in these buildings. I still feel a very real connection with my dad when I pass by his work. I believe that preservation allows for a very real and tangible connection with our past that has an important cultural value. However, calling everything over 50 years old “historic” does nothing but diminish that value.
Community Voices aims to encourage broad discussion on many topics of community interest. It’s kind of a cross between Letters to the Editor and op-eds. This is your space to talk about important issues or interesting people who are making a difference in our world. Column lengths should be no more than 800 words and we need a photo of the author and a bio. We welcome video commentary and other multimedia formats. Send to [email protected]. The opinions and information expressed in Community Voices are solely those of the authors and not Civil Beat.
· August 25, 2022 · 6 min read
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Greg Thielen
Greg Thielen is President of Complete Construction Services and is currently working as a Developer and Construction Manager for affordable housing projects. Greg also serves as a volunteer chair for BIA Hawaii Codes Committee, a Member of the City and County of Honolulu Building Board of Appeals and the Board of Directors for Hawaii Habitat for Humanity.
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Strangely I agree, if everything is historical, urban renewal projects are dead in the water. I really can not see preserving the 2 story walk-up cinder block apartment buildings that inundate Honolulu that look eerily like Motel 6’s on the mainland, and can attest to the fact they serve no practical purpose in civilization what so ever but to bombard my eyes with “brutalist” Imagery.But, Hawaii does have some interesting architectural anomalies worth saving. For example the old Haleiwa theatre had a unique “tropical art deco” design not seen anywhere in the world, and should have been preserved. Which is why that same design for that theatre on Waialae Ave in Kaimuki should be saved. Or the art deco design at Haleiwa beach park that was torn down a few years ago. There are also many turn of the 20th century designs in public buildings and private that deserve a new lease on life and are very unique to the islands. That includes the natatorium and reopening it to the public for swimming. Perhaps adding, “pleasing to eye” and “historical and artistic significance” to the wording would help?
· 19 hours ago
If you look at buildings like Aloha Tower, Iolani Palace, Mission House Museum, and Kawaihao Church. It’s pretty much out of context now as every bit of commercial land has built towering structures around them. Even “Historic” Haleiwa Town and it’s old architecture has buildings and store fronts built in front of them now hides what is historic. Even the re-purposed sugar mills.Going on surf trips to Tahiti, and Bali, the older generation all tell me that this was Hawaii 50+ years ago.Makes me think we are really just destroying everything that makes this place what it is.
· 20 hours ago
If it’s so important to preserve certain properties and structures, then the government should buy the property, or community members should get a nonprofit organization to own and preserve it. The historic property designation also sets owners up for tax breaks. This tax avoidance strategy in the name of preservation of history and culture deserves public scrutiny too. What value are these properties really contributing, and is it worth the property tax breaks they’re receiving? There is a significant public opportunity cost when we try to hold onto old buildings that have fallen into disrepair regardless of whether the owners of the properties are private individuals, private organizations, or government.
· 21 hours ago
IDEAS is the place you’ll find essays, analysis and opinion on every aspect of life and public affairs in Hawaii. We want to showcase smart ideas about the future of Hawaii, from the state’s sharpest thinkers, to stretch our collective thinking about a problem or an issue. Email [email protected] to submit an idea.
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