Malama o Manoa has started a new and exciting historic preservation program to encourage owners of residential property within the historic College Hill area to have their property included in a multiple property nomination to the Hawaii Register of Historic Places. The College Hill area is that area in lower Manoa roughly bounded by East Manoa Road, Oahu Avenue, University Avenue, Vancouver Avenue and McKinley Street (see map to see exact boundaries). The result will be a Thematic Historic District, based on the association with the development of the College Hills Tract by Punahou School, then Oahu College, and its importance in the development of Honolulu, as one of its first suburban communities. Other existing thematic historic entities include the Tantalus Thematic District and the Tudor Thematic Group, with houses scattered around the island
College Hills is filled with outstanding examples of Craftsman architecture, gracious plantings and wonderful trees. The historic character is threatened, however, with each house lost to the bulldozer or just neglect. Placing properties on the Register helps to maintain the sometimes fragile sense of place residents have come to treasure.
Plans for the Thematic Historic District included surveying the entire area within the historic boundaries and notifying those owners who have properties that may be eligible and encouraging them to participate. Since this area was surveyed from 1978 to 1993 the task consists of looking for changes and confirming that the structure still exists..
The program started in December, 2000 when representatives from the State Historic Preservation Division conducted a 90 minute training in surveying houses that might be eligible for nomination to the State Register of Historic Places in College Hills Tract. About 26 families indicated interest in having their properties considered. The training gave participants a clearer picture of just what makes a house a good candidate and what does not.
This group of homeowners owners has been working with the Malama o Manoa facilitators and the Hawaii State Historic Preservation Office to form this Thematic Historic District. This is a district consisting of only the properties nominated to the register and does not include or affect neighboring properties. The properties share the same historic significance: being a part of the early suburban development of Honolulu when Oahu College (Punahou School) subdivided its mauka lands to raise money for the school.
Professional help is often needed for preparation of the nominations. Some property owners look forward to doing part or all of the research themselves; others simply don't have the time and have the research work done for them by willing volunteers or paid researchers. Assistance has also been available from Dr. Bill Chapman who is head of the Historic Preservation Program at University of Hawaii, many of whose students have participated in the effort. Additionally available is a nominations editor who prepares the statement of historic significance for College Hills Tract used in each nomination, and prepares the nominations for submission to the State Historic Review Board. There are fees attached to all this work, but all the interested owners agree that it's worth it, especially with the prospect of property tax abatement. (You must apply for this after being listed on the Register.) After the nominations have been completed, they are then submitted to the Review Board of the State Historic Preservation Office.
It's not too late to join in if you are within the historic boundaries of College Hills. There are still so many wonderful historic homes that could be included. In you are interested, or if you live in another area of Manoa and are interested in a similar project, please call or email Linda LeGrande, 947-7400.
Malama o Manoa has also published a color
brochure
demonstrating how Manoa's existing historic houses contribute to the
identity of our Valley, and suggesting guidelines on how homeowners can
help to preserve, protect and enhance to look and feel of Manoa
Valley. You can obtain this brochure by emailing us at
postmaster@malamaomanoa.org, or viewing it on the web here.
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