Friday, September 21, 2007
HAF and AIA host Kakaako Pump Station Work Party
The American Institute of Architects (AIA), in association with the Hawaii Architectural Foundation (HAF), is seeking 20 volunteers on Saturday, October 27, 2007 for its third Pump Station Work Party. Bring your work and painting clothes, yard cleaning tools and $100 tax deductible volunteer donation to help maintain this historic structure. We’ll be painting the historic arch doors, clearing the gutters and downspouts, and cleaning the yard from 8:30 am – 2:00 pm. Lunch will be served and volunteers will receive an autographed book on Chinatown “A Close Call,” courtesy of David Cheever. Donations will pay for supplies and the balance will benefit the HAF scholarship endowment fund. Corporate sponsors include Painter’s Warehouse, Skylights Hawaii, Ferraro Choi, and Clifford Projects Inc. For reservation call Dawn Watanabe at 537-3544, by Friday, October 26, 2007. Click here for a PDF flyer with more information about this event.
NEA Delivers The Big Read to Hawai'i
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jackie Smythe
September 18, 2007
808-371-4366
SassHawaii@hawaii.rr.com
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS ANNOUNCES BIG READ GRANT TO HAWAI'I CAPITAL CULTURAL DISTRICT
TO CELEBRATE - THE JOY LUCK CLUB
Washington, D.C.—September 18, 2007—The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced that Hawai'i Capital Cultural District (HCCD) is one of 117 organizations that received grants to support Big Read programs between September and December 2007. The Big Read, launched nationally in 2006 by the NEA, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and Arts Midwest, encourages literary reading by asking communities to come together to read and discuss a single book. The organizations selected to participate in the Big Read receive grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to promote and carry out community-based programs. The Big Read in the state of Hawai'i received $20,000 for program which will take place throughout the month of October.
“Culture in Hawai'i is revered, and literature is a powerful way to communicate our cultural experiences, both within and outside of our communities. Besides studies show literary reading promotes community involvement and an appreciation for culture and arts" said HCCD President, Mona Abadir "We are honored to receive this nationally competitive grant. HCCD and our partners are thrilled to be part of the Big Read, in order to share our diverse and unique programs associated with our book selection, The Joy Luck Club.”
Modeled on successful “one book, one community” programs, the Big Read was created to address the national decline in literary reading as documented in the NEA’s 2004 landmark survey Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America. The survey showed that less than half the American adult population now reads literature.
To encourage community-wide participation, Hawai'i Capital Cultural District, the Office of the Governor, Hawai'i State Library System, Department of Education, Hawai'i Council for the Humanities, the Manoa Foundation and University of Hawai'i are collaborating to develop a program on activities related to the selected novel. Big Read events in Hawai'i include celebrity readings, theatrical interpretations, movie screenings, cultural events and panel discussions throughout the state.
“It is inspiring to see so many community-based organizations pull together to support The Big Read. Partnerships at the federal, state, county and private levels will ensure the success of this important campaign for community literacy and lifelong learning. The book selection, The Joy Luck Club, is a perfect fit for Hawai'i because it represents several themes that permeate our rich culture: diversity, immigration, family and love. I am anxious to read the book again, along with members of the community statewide” said Governor Linda Lingle.
“By joining the Big Read, these cities and towns are showing that reading is necessary to the cultural, civic, even economic fabric of their communities. They understand the benefit of having people from different generations and walks of life reading and discussing a great book,” said NEA Chairman Dana Gioia. “Yes, this is about reading, but it’s also about getting people to leave their homes and offices, unplug themselves for a few hours, and enjoy the pleasures of literature with their neighbors.”
“We are pleased to announce this second round of Big Read grants. The first-round grantees created innovative and exciting partnership activities that exceeded our expectations,” said IMLS Director Anne-Imelda Radice, Ph.D. “We’re eager to support these additional communities in launching their collaborative efforts. Through the Big Read, IMLS and NEA are assisting people all across the country as they come together in community to rediscover the great American novel.”
The NEA has provided participating communities with a library of free materials, including readers’ and teachers’ guides for each of the Big Read novels, an audio guide for each novel featuring distinguished actors and writers, an online organizer’s guide for hosting a Big Read program, Big Read publicity materials, and a comprehensive program Web site. The Big Read for military communities is made possible by The Boeing Company.
For a complete list of communities participating in the Big Read, a list of the Big Read novels, program application guidelines to view reading at risk survey, or more information on Hawai'i’s program, please visit www.neabigread.org and www.hawaiicapitalculture.org
The Hawai'i Capital Cultural District coalition is a dynamic partnership of arts and cultural organizations, businesses, public agencies, and individuals who share a vision of a vibrant and active downtown Honolulu characterized by Hawai'i’s unique and diverse heritage, cultures, and arts. The organization’s mission is to preserve, nurture, and interpret the rich heritage of Hawai'i’s past and present; promote Hawai'i as a premier destination for cultural and heritage tourism; and generate economic development and neighborhood vitality in the collective District through its cultural assets.
The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts—both new and established—bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases. For more information, please visit www.arts.gov.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit: www.imls.gov.
Arts Midwest connects people throughout the Midwest and the world to meaningful arts opportunities, sharing creativity, knowledge, and understanding across boundaries. Arts Midwest connects the arts to audiences throughout the nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. One of six non-profit regional arts organizations in the United States, Arts Midwest’s history spans more than 25 years. For more information, please visit www.artsmidwest.org.
September 18, 2007
808-371-4366
SassHawaii@hawaii.rr.com
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS ANNOUNCES BIG READ GRANT TO HAWAI'I CAPITAL CULTURAL DISTRICT
TO CELEBRATE - THE JOY LUCK CLUB
Washington, D.C.—September 18, 2007—The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced that Hawai'i Capital Cultural District (HCCD) is one of 117 organizations that received grants to support Big Read programs between September and December 2007. The Big Read, launched nationally in 2006 by the NEA, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and Arts Midwest, encourages literary reading by asking communities to come together to read and discuss a single book. The organizations selected to participate in the Big Read receive grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to promote and carry out community-based programs. The Big Read in the state of Hawai'i received $20,000 for program which will take place throughout the month of October.
“Culture in Hawai'i is revered, and literature is a powerful way to communicate our cultural experiences, both within and outside of our communities. Besides studies show literary reading promotes community involvement and an appreciation for culture and arts" said HCCD President, Mona Abadir "We are honored to receive this nationally competitive grant. HCCD and our partners are thrilled to be part of the Big Read, in order to share our diverse and unique programs associated with our book selection, The Joy Luck Club.”
Modeled on successful “one book, one community” programs, the Big Read was created to address the national decline in literary reading as documented in the NEA’s 2004 landmark survey Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America. The survey showed that less than half the American adult population now reads literature.
To encourage community-wide participation, Hawai'i Capital Cultural District, the Office of the Governor, Hawai'i State Library System, Department of Education, Hawai'i Council for the Humanities, the Manoa Foundation and University of Hawai'i are collaborating to develop a program on activities related to the selected novel. Big Read events in Hawai'i include celebrity readings, theatrical interpretations, movie screenings, cultural events and panel discussions throughout the state.
“It is inspiring to see so many community-based organizations pull together to support The Big Read. Partnerships at the federal, state, county and private levels will ensure the success of this important campaign for community literacy and lifelong learning. The book selection, The Joy Luck Club, is a perfect fit for Hawai'i because it represents several themes that permeate our rich culture: diversity, immigration, family and love. I am anxious to read the book again, along with members of the community statewide” said Governor Linda Lingle.
“By joining the Big Read, these cities and towns are showing that reading is necessary to the cultural, civic, even economic fabric of their communities. They understand the benefit of having people from different generations and walks of life reading and discussing a great book,” said NEA Chairman Dana Gioia. “Yes, this is about reading, but it’s also about getting people to leave their homes and offices, unplug themselves for a few hours, and enjoy the pleasures of literature with their neighbors.”
“We are pleased to announce this second round of Big Read grants. The first-round grantees created innovative and exciting partnership activities that exceeded our expectations,” said IMLS Director Anne-Imelda Radice, Ph.D. “We’re eager to support these additional communities in launching their collaborative efforts. Through the Big Read, IMLS and NEA are assisting people all across the country as they come together in community to rediscover the great American novel.”
The NEA has provided participating communities with a library of free materials, including readers’ and teachers’ guides for each of the Big Read novels, an audio guide for each novel featuring distinguished actors and writers, an online organizer’s guide for hosting a Big Read program, Big Read publicity materials, and a comprehensive program Web site. The Big Read for military communities is made possible by The Boeing Company.
For a complete list of communities participating in the Big Read, a list of the Big Read novels, program application guidelines to view reading at risk survey, or more information on Hawai'i’s program, please visit www.neabigread.org and www.hawaiicapitalculture.org
The Hawai'i Capital Cultural District coalition is a dynamic partnership of arts and cultural organizations, businesses, public agencies, and individuals who share a vision of a vibrant and active downtown Honolulu characterized by Hawai'i’s unique and diverse heritage, cultures, and arts. The organization’s mission is to preserve, nurture, and interpret the rich heritage of Hawai'i’s past and present; promote Hawai'i as a premier destination for cultural and heritage tourism; and generate economic development and neighborhood vitality in the collective District through its cultural assets.
The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts—both new and established—bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases. For more information, please visit www.arts.gov.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit: www.imls.gov.
Arts Midwest connects people throughout the Midwest and the world to meaningful arts opportunities, sharing creativity, knowledge, and understanding across boundaries. Arts Midwest connects the arts to audiences throughout the nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. One of six non-profit regional arts organizations in the United States, Arts Midwest’s history spans more than 25 years. For more information, please visit www.artsmidwest.org.
Four Appointed or Reappointed to ACHP
September 18, 2007
Contact: Bruce Milhans
202-606-8513
bmilhans@achp.gov
President Announces Four Appointments to
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – President George W. Bush has announced his appointment of four individuals to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP).
New appointments to the ACHP are Mayor Thomas R. Miller of Franklin, Tennessee, and John A. Garcia of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Miller will serve as the ACHP’s designated representative for the nation’s mayors. Garcia will fill one of the general public positions on the 23-member council.
Reappointed to the ACHP to historic preservation expert positions for a second four-year term are Julia A. King of St. Mary’s City, Maryland, and Ann A. Pritzlaff of Denver, Colorado.
“We are delighted to welcome Mr. Garcia and Mayor Miller to the ACHP, and to retain the expertise and enthusiasm of Ms. Pritzlaff and Dr. King who have been vital to our preservation efforts,” said John L. Nau, III, ACHP chairman.
Thomas R. Miller is mayor of Franklin, Tennessee. He is a strong advocate of historic preservation and citizen involvement in civic affairs, and has a professional real estate and other business background in addition to his public sector and volunteer activities. Franklin was the first Preserve America Community in Tennessee and the mayor has been a leader in the effort to acquire and reclaim a 110-acre portion of the Battle of Franklin, a Civil War episode of great historic significance that has been underappreciated. He attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City and Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
John A Garcia is chief economic development officer for the University of New Mexico. He also consults for Grubb & Ellis New Mexico and oversees his management company, Hospitotally. He is the former Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Tourism, and the New Mexico Economic Development Department, and served as the Senior Officer of Cultural Affairs for the state of New Mexico. He has experience on a statewide level in developing cultural tourism. He received his BBA from the Anderson School of Business at the University of New Mexico.
Julia A. King is associate professor of archaeology and anthropology at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She has been a major force in the ACHP effort to update archaeological guidelines with reference to the federal and national preservation structure. With more than two decades’ experience as an archaeologist, researcher, author, and educator, King holds a doctorate in American Civilization from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in anthropology from Florida State University, and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and history from the College of William and Mary.
Ann A. Pritzlaff is outreach coordinator for Colorado Preservation, Inc., where she oversees the annual Saving Places conference—the largest statewide preservation conference in the nation and promotes
youth programs and heritage tourism. Through her service with the ACHP she has played a key role helping to create, grow, and sustain the Administration’s Preserve America initiative. With a long preservation resume that includes serving as the Arizona State Historic Preservation Officer, she holds a bachelor’s degree from Scripps College and a master’s degree in historic preservation from the University of Vermont.
About the ACHP: An independent federal agency, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) promotes the preservation, enhancement, and productive use of our nation’s historic resources, and advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy. It also provides a forum for influencing federal activities, programs, and policies that affect historic properties. In addition, the ACHP has a key role in carrying out the Administration’s Preserve America initiative. For more information, please visit www.achp.gov.
Contact: Bruce Milhans
202-606-8513
bmilhans@achp.gov
President Announces Four Appointments to
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – President George W. Bush has announced his appointment of four individuals to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP).
New appointments to the ACHP are Mayor Thomas R. Miller of Franklin, Tennessee, and John A. Garcia of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Miller will serve as the ACHP’s designated representative for the nation’s mayors. Garcia will fill one of the general public positions on the 23-member council.
Reappointed to the ACHP to historic preservation expert positions for a second four-year term are Julia A. King of St. Mary’s City, Maryland, and Ann A. Pritzlaff of Denver, Colorado.
“We are delighted to welcome Mr. Garcia and Mayor Miller to the ACHP, and to retain the expertise and enthusiasm of Ms. Pritzlaff and Dr. King who have been vital to our preservation efforts,” said John L. Nau, III, ACHP chairman.
Thomas R. Miller is mayor of Franklin, Tennessee. He is a strong advocate of historic preservation and citizen involvement in civic affairs, and has a professional real estate and other business background in addition to his public sector and volunteer activities. Franklin was the first Preserve America Community in Tennessee and the mayor has been a leader in the effort to acquire and reclaim a 110-acre portion of the Battle of Franklin, a Civil War episode of great historic significance that has been underappreciated. He attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City and Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
John A Garcia is chief economic development officer for the University of New Mexico. He also consults for Grubb & Ellis New Mexico and oversees his management company, Hospitotally. He is the former Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Tourism, and the New Mexico Economic Development Department, and served as the Senior Officer of Cultural Affairs for the state of New Mexico. He has experience on a statewide level in developing cultural tourism. He received his BBA from the Anderson School of Business at the University of New Mexico.
Julia A. King is associate professor of archaeology and anthropology at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She has been a major force in the ACHP effort to update archaeological guidelines with reference to the federal and national preservation structure. With more than two decades’ experience as an archaeologist, researcher, author, and educator, King holds a doctorate in American Civilization from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in anthropology from Florida State University, and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and history from the College of William and Mary.
Ann A. Pritzlaff is outreach coordinator for Colorado Preservation, Inc., where she oversees the annual Saving Places conference—the largest statewide preservation conference in the nation and promotes
youth programs and heritage tourism. Through her service with the ACHP she has played a key role helping to create, grow, and sustain the Administration’s Preserve America initiative. With a long preservation resume that includes serving as the Arizona State Historic Preservation Officer, she holds a bachelor’s degree from Scripps College and a master’s degree in historic preservation from the University of Vermont.
About the ACHP: An independent federal agency, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) promotes the preservation, enhancement, and productive use of our nation’s historic resources, and advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy. It also provides a forum for influencing federal activities, programs, and policies that affect historic properties. In addition, the ACHP has a key role in carrying out the Administration’s Preserve America initiative. For more information, please visit www.achp.gov.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Historic homes keep status after sale
Star Bulletin:
Question: There is a large property in Manoa on the state's register of historic homes, but the owners pay only $494 in property taxes because the house and land are 94 percent exempt from taxes. The house is now being sold for several million dollars. Can they sell a historic home for all that money after paying so little in property taxes? Or do the owners, when they want to sell a home like this, have to remove the exemption, notify the proper authorities and pay the property taxes that would have been due from the time of the historic designation to the present?
Question: There is a large property in Manoa on the state's register of historic homes, but the owners pay only $494 in property taxes because the house and land are 94 percent exempt from taxes. The house is now being sold for several million dollars. Can they sell a historic home for all that money after paying so little in property taxes? Or do the owners, when they want to sell a home like this, have to remove the exemption, notify the proper authorities and pay the property taxes that would have been due from the time of the historic designation to the present?
Friday, August 10, 2007
Friday, August 03, 2007
Timothy E. Johns Named Bishop Museum President
International Search Lands Damon Estate Exec
Honolulu, HI…Bishop Museum has named Timothy E. Johns as President, Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2007. The announcement was made today by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, David Hulihee. Johns succeeds Michael Chinaka who has been serving as Interim President since the resignation of William Y. Brown in January 2007. Chinaka will resume his duties as Senior Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer for Bishop Museum. (Brown left the Museum to take a position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, PA.)
“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Tim Johns as Bishop Museum’s new President, Director and CEO,” said David Hulihee, Chairman of Bishop Museum’s Board of Directors. “Tim has over two decades of leadership experience with environmental and cultural issues in Hawaii, which will serve him as the leader of Hawaii’s State museum of natural and cultural history. I couldn’t be more pleased.” Bishop Museum was founded in 1889. It maintains the world’s largest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific cultural and natural history objects and since its founding has as been a premier institution for research and public education. It is designated as Hawaii’s State Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Johns most recently served as Chief Operating Officer for the Estate of Samuel Mills Damon, a position he has held since 2000.
Prior to that, he was the Chairperson of the State Department of Land and Natural Resources. He has also served as Vice-President and General Counsel for AMFAC Property Development Corporation. He has been a Lecturer in Business Law at the University of Hawaii and Windward Community College and has held the position of Director of Land Protection with the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii. An honors graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, Johns received a Bachelor’s degree in history and business economics. He also completed a Master’s degree in economics and Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California.
Johns is very active in environmental issues. His memberships include the State of Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Advisory Council. A Rotarian, Johns is a member of the Rotary Club of Honolulu. “With Tim’s impressive background and experience, he will be able to provide critical links between scientists, resource managers and policymakers to advance important biodiversity conservation efforts that are the driving forces for many of our research programs,” says Allen Allison, Ph.D., Vice President of Bishop Museum’s world-renowned Science Department.
Johns serves on the Board of Directors for Grove Farm Company, Inc., Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., YMCA Honolulu, Hawaii Nature Center, St. Andrew’s Priory School, Child and Family Services, Helping Hands Hawaii, Diamond Head Theatre, and Hawaii Public Television Foundation. In June 2005, he was named a Trustee of Parker Ranch Foundation Trust.
“We are delighted the Board of Directors has chosen a candidate with a deep commitment to the preservation and perpetuation of Hawaiian culture and respectful sensitivity to cultural issues. He is well known in the community and is held in high regard, and this will surely be beneficial in many ways,” said Betty Lou Kam, Vice President of Cultural Resources for Bishop Museum.
Johns was selected after a seven-month executive search by the international search organization Morris & Berger from Glendale, California. Founded in 1984, Morris and Berger is a generalist executive search firm that has developed a specialty practice serving the nonprofit sector, including performing and visual arts and institutions of higher learning. The company was named to the list of “50 Leading Search Firms in North America” in The Executive Recruiter News and also named Outstanding Executive Search Firm in John Lucht’s 1995 edition of Rites of Passage at $100,000+.
Members of the Executive Search Committee included Bishop Museum Trustee Dr. Charman J. Akina (Chairman), David C. Hulihee, Isabella A. Abbott, Ph.D., Haunani Apoliona, H. Mitchell D’Olier, Russell K. Okata, Gulab Watumull, Walter A. Dods, Jr., Allen Allison, Ph.D., and Amy Miller Marvin.Bishop Museum is world renowned for its scientific achievements and contributions. Among the many accomplishments are the following: the sequencing of DNA of Hawaiian fishes to provide a worldwide barcode of fish life; efforts in partnership with the National Marine Fisheries Service to protect and conserve the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal; the world’s 5th largest collection of insects with over 14 million specimens; the discovery of over 130 new species of frogs, lizards and snakes in Papua New Guinea as part of a National Science Foundation-funded survey; the world’s largest collection of Indo-Pacific reef and shore fishes; the natural science collections contain more the 22 million specimens and ranks among the top 5 in the United States; the Hawaii Biological Survey has produced the only complete checklist of plants and animals of any state in the Union and has documented 25,615 species; Bishop Museum was the first major museum in the United States to be connected to the Internet; Bishop Museum also has the world’s largest collection of land snails of Hawaii and the Pacific; Bishop Museum scientists are among the best in their respective fields and have published more than 100 scientific articles and books every year. Bishop Museum’s cultural collections include the world’s largest collections of barkcloth, makaloa mats, Hawaiian featherwork, and two of the only known Hawaiian feather sashes. Bishop Museum’s extraordinary collection of visual art of and about Hawaii and the Pacific focuses on art from the 18th and early 19th centuries. This collection represents a remarkable window into the past—a visual documentation of Pacific cultures at the time of first western contact and beyond and is unrivaled.
Johns will assume the top leadership position for the largest museum in the State of Hawaii in the midst of an unprecedented era of renovation and revitalization. Bishop Museum is presently undertaking a $21 million renovation of its iconic Hawaiian Hall complex with the support of world-class museum designer Ralph Appelbaum and Associates of New York. In 2005, Bishop Museum opened the Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center, an award-winning $17 million, 19,000-square-foot interactive science and cultural exploration center. Major traveling and cultural exhibitions are presented in the Castle Memorial Building year-round. Bishop Museum hosts nearly 400,000 visitors and students each year. Bishop Museum also administers the Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook, Hawaii and the Hawaii Maritime Center in Honolulu. “I am thrilled and honored to be given the opportunity to join this wonderful institution. The Museum has long been one of Hawaii’s most important and cherished treasures. It is blessed with a wonderful staff, great board of directors, and widespread support throughout our community. This is a dream job for me, “ says Timothy E. Johns, newly named President, Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bishop Museum.
For more information about the appointment of Timothy E. Johns, call (808) 847-3511 or visit http://www.bishopmuseum.org/
BISHOP MUSEUM PRESS Web Site: http://www.bishopmuseum.org/ http://www.bishopmuseum.org/
Online Press Room: http://www.bishopmuseum.org/media/press_releases.html
Honolulu, HI…Bishop Museum has named Timothy E. Johns as President, Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2007. The announcement was made today by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, David Hulihee. Johns succeeds Michael Chinaka who has been serving as Interim President since the resignation of William Y. Brown in January 2007. Chinaka will resume his duties as Senior Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer for Bishop Museum. (Brown left the Museum to take a position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, PA.)
“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Tim Johns as Bishop Museum’s new President, Director and CEO,” said David Hulihee, Chairman of Bishop Museum’s Board of Directors. “Tim has over two decades of leadership experience with environmental and cultural issues in Hawaii, which will serve him as the leader of Hawaii’s State museum of natural and cultural history. I couldn’t be more pleased.” Bishop Museum was founded in 1889. It maintains the world’s largest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific cultural and natural history objects and since its founding has as been a premier institution for research and public education. It is designated as Hawaii’s State Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Johns most recently served as Chief Operating Officer for the Estate of Samuel Mills Damon, a position he has held since 2000.
Prior to that, he was the Chairperson of the State Department of Land and Natural Resources. He has also served as Vice-President and General Counsel for AMFAC Property Development Corporation. He has been a Lecturer in Business Law at the University of Hawaii and Windward Community College and has held the position of Director of Land Protection with the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii. An honors graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, Johns received a Bachelor’s degree in history and business economics. He also completed a Master’s degree in economics and Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California.
Johns is very active in environmental issues. His memberships include the State of Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Advisory Council. A Rotarian, Johns is a member of the Rotary Club of Honolulu. “With Tim’s impressive background and experience, he will be able to provide critical links between scientists, resource managers and policymakers to advance important biodiversity conservation efforts that are the driving forces for many of our research programs,” says Allen Allison, Ph.D., Vice President of Bishop Museum’s world-renowned Science Department.
Johns serves on the Board of Directors for Grove Farm Company, Inc., Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., YMCA Honolulu, Hawaii Nature Center, St. Andrew’s Priory School, Child and Family Services, Helping Hands Hawaii, Diamond Head Theatre, and Hawaii Public Television Foundation. In June 2005, he was named a Trustee of Parker Ranch Foundation Trust.
“We are delighted the Board of Directors has chosen a candidate with a deep commitment to the preservation and perpetuation of Hawaiian culture and respectful sensitivity to cultural issues. He is well known in the community and is held in high regard, and this will surely be beneficial in many ways,” said Betty Lou Kam, Vice President of Cultural Resources for Bishop Museum.
Johns was selected after a seven-month executive search by the international search organization Morris & Berger from Glendale, California. Founded in 1984, Morris and Berger is a generalist executive search firm that has developed a specialty practice serving the nonprofit sector, including performing and visual arts and institutions of higher learning. The company was named to the list of “50 Leading Search Firms in North America” in The Executive Recruiter News and also named Outstanding Executive Search Firm in John Lucht’s 1995 edition of Rites of Passage at $100,000+.
Members of the Executive Search Committee included Bishop Museum Trustee Dr. Charman J. Akina (Chairman), David C. Hulihee, Isabella A. Abbott, Ph.D., Haunani Apoliona, H. Mitchell D’Olier, Russell K. Okata, Gulab Watumull, Walter A. Dods, Jr., Allen Allison, Ph.D., and Amy Miller Marvin.Bishop Museum is world renowned for its scientific achievements and contributions. Among the many accomplishments are the following: the sequencing of DNA of Hawaiian fishes to provide a worldwide barcode of fish life; efforts in partnership with the National Marine Fisheries Service to protect and conserve the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal; the world’s 5th largest collection of insects with over 14 million specimens; the discovery of over 130 new species of frogs, lizards and snakes in Papua New Guinea as part of a National Science Foundation-funded survey; the world’s largest collection of Indo-Pacific reef and shore fishes; the natural science collections contain more the 22 million specimens and ranks among the top 5 in the United States; the Hawaii Biological Survey has produced the only complete checklist of plants and animals of any state in the Union and has documented 25,615 species; Bishop Museum was the first major museum in the United States to be connected to the Internet; Bishop Museum also has the world’s largest collection of land snails of Hawaii and the Pacific; Bishop Museum scientists are among the best in their respective fields and have published more than 100 scientific articles and books every year. Bishop Museum’s cultural collections include the world’s largest collections of barkcloth, makaloa mats, Hawaiian featherwork, and two of the only known Hawaiian feather sashes. Bishop Museum’s extraordinary collection of visual art of and about Hawaii and the Pacific focuses on art from the 18th and early 19th centuries. This collection represents a remarkable window into the past—a visual documentation of Pacific cultures at the time of first western contact and beyond and is unrivaled.
Johns will assume the top leadership position for the largest museum in the State of Hawaii in the midst of an unprecedented era of renovation and revitalization. Bishop Museum is presently undertaking a $21 million renovation of its iconic Hawaiian Hall complex with the support of world-class museum designer Ralph Appelbaum and Associates of New York. In 2005, Bishop Museum opened the Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center, an award-winning $17 million, 19,000-square-foot interactive science and cultural exploration center. Major traveling and cultural exhibitions are presented in the Castle Memorial Building year-round. Bishop Museum hosts nearly 400,000 visitors and students each year. Bishop Museum also administers the Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook, Hawaii and the Hawaii Maritime Center in Honolulu. “I am thrilled and honored to be given the opportunity to join this wonderful institution. The Museum has long been one of Hawaii’s most important and cherished treasures. It is blessed with a wonderful staff, great board of directors, and widespread support throughout our community. This is a dream job for me, “ says Timothy E. Johns, newly named President, Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bishop Museum.
For more information about the appointment of Timothy E. Johns, call (808) 847-3511 or visit http://www.bishopmuseum.org/
BISHOP MUSEUM PRESS Web Site: http://www.bishopmuseum.org/ http://www.bishopmuseum.org/
Online Press Room: http://www.bishopmuseum.org/media/press_releases.html
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Lingle picks DLNR head
The governor praises Laura H. Thielen for her passion regarding environmental issues
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
Friday, July 20, 2007
First Lady Awards $150000 to Honolulu for Preserve America Grant
First Lady Awards $150000 to Honolulu for Preserve America Grant
Hawaii Reporter
Hawaii Reporter
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Time to intervene in historic office mess
From the Honolulu Advertiser:
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Jul/03/op/FP707030301.html/?print=on
By its inaction with the now clearly dysfunctional State Historic Preservation Division, the Lingle administration is treading dangerously close to a precipice. The state is at risk of failing at its missions to protect historic resources and provide sensible oversight for development planned throughout the Islands.
A story in today's paper by Advertiser Big Island writer Kevin Dayton illustrates that the operation of that agency has become nothing short of irrational.
The staffing shortages at Historic Preservation, a division of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, have been longstanding and well documented. Some patience was warranted when problems first came to light a few years ago, but the time for patience has run out.
The current situation — a shortage of state archaeologists, which has created a backlog of more than 300 pending building permits and caused overdue archaeological reports on historic sites — demands intervention.
Perhaps calling it a "shortage" is misleading. O'ahu already lacks its archaeologist, so with the resignation of the lead archaeologist for Maui and Hawai'i counties, the remaining staff is unable to handle the workload. And with that work already sitting in mile-high stacks, the situation has reached crisis stage.
With the untenable delays for permit-seekers and burials protection being handled haphazardly, the state is vulnerable to legal challenges.
A separate but equally alarming symptom has been the sudden decision by division chief Melanie Chinen to order burials on the Victoria Ward Village Shops project to be left in place. State burial law allows for such restrictions, but the time to have issued them was at the start of site work, not now.
Dissatisfaction at the division and with Chinen's leadership surfaced publicly at the reconfirmation hearing of former DLNR chief Peter Young. Some may argue that Young bore some responsibility for the division's failure, but even those who support the Senate's decision to replace him can't argue that his departure solved the Historic Preservation issue.
The state cannot uphold its duty to the public by letting this division limp along. Chinen needs either to be replaced or overseen by managers who can marshal the help needed to set this sinking vessel right again. The last thing anyone wants to see is the needless loss of Hawai'i's historic resources.
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Jul/03/op/FP707030301.html/?print=on
By its inaction with the now clearly dysfunctional State Historic Preservation Division, the Lingle administration is treading dangerously close to a precipice. The state is at risk of failing at its missions to protect historic resources and provide sensible oversight for development planned throughout the Islands.
A story in today's paper by Advertiser Big Island writer Kevin Dayton illustrates that the operation of that agency has become nothing short of irrational.
The staffing shortages at Historic Preservation, a division of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, have been longstanding and well documented. Some patience was warranted when problems first came to light a few years ago, but the time for patience has run out.
The current situation — a shortage of state archaeologists, which has created a backlog of more than 300 pending building permits and caused overdue archaeological reports on historic sites — demands intervention.
Perhaps calling it a "shortage" is misleading. O'ahu already lacks its archaeologist, so with the resignation of the lead archaeologist for Maui and Hawai'i counties, the remaining staff is unable to handle the workload. And with that work already sitting in mile-high stacks, the situation has reached crisis stage.
With the untenable delays for permit-seekers and burials protection being handled haphazardly, the state is vulnerable to legal challenges.
A separate but equally alarming symptom has been the sudden decision by division chief Melanie Chinen to order burials on the Victoria Ward Village Shops project to be left in place. State burial law allows for such restrictions, but the time to have issued them was at the start of site work, not now.
Dissatisfaction at the division and with Chinen's leadership surfaced publicly at the reconfirmation hearing of former DLNR chief Peter Young. Some may argue that Young bore some responsibility for the division's failure, but even those who support the Senate's decision to replace him can't argue that his departure solved the Historic Preservation issue.
The state cannot uphold its duty to the public by letting this division limp along. Chinen needs either to be replaced or overseen by managers who can marshal the help needed to set this sinking vessel right again. The last thing anyone wants to see is the needless loss of Hawai'i's historic resources.
Permit backlog slows Hawaii construction
By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Big Island Bureau
The state Historic Preservation Division has become a bottleneck that delays construction projects on Maui and the Big Island, sometimes for years, according to developers.
Hundreds of development-related permits have not been processed on the two islands because the division no longer has the staff necessary to handle the workload, according to a resignation letter from a key archaeologist with the agency.
Melissa A. Kirkendall, lead archaeologist for Maui, Lana'i, Kaho'olawe and the Big Island, resigned Saturday, leaving one state archaeologist on Maui, none on the Big Island and none on O'ahu to review archaeological studies needed to process grading permits for new developments.
"It takes forever" to get permits, said Stanford Carr, president and chief executive officer of Stanford Carr Development LLC. Carr estimated it took two years to complete the required archaeological studies and obtain the necessary Historic Preservation Division approvals for his company's Kaloko Heights subdivision in Kona on the Big Island.
Historic Preservation is the state agency that reviews development plans to ensure that historic, cultural and burial sites are protected. The agency reviews all development plans, including proposals for golf courses, hotels, condominiums and housing subdivisions. It also scrutinizes grubbing and grading permits, along with some building permits.
Kirkendall said in her resignation letter that about 100 archaeological reports are overdue for review.
The letter, addressed to colleagues, said the problems within the Historic Preservation Division are now so severe they prevent professional staff there from meeting their "ethical obligations" to both preserve historic sites and serve the public.
Melanie Chinen, administrator of the state Historic Preservation Division, said through a spokeswoman that she had not seen Kirkendall's letter to her colleagues, and therefore could not respond to it.
"Dr. Kirkendall has offered her resignation. We have not received any information from her regarding concerns she may have over the division's operations beyond her desire that the public education component of historic preservation be expanded," Chinen said in a written statement.
"The division is processing applications to hire several new archaeologists and looks forward to their coming on board in the near future," Chinen wrote. "Staff are committed to working to fulfill the obligations of the department."
Carr said the delays in getting permits processed by the division are the worst he has seen, but said there also are backlogs in obtaining building permits from county agencies.
"I know that it takes a long time to get things through, but it's just the nature of the beast because everybody is in line," Carr said. "It's the worst we've been through, but I think it's just because you've got a lot more activity or applications going in than ever before."
Bruce McClure, director of the Department of Public Works for the Big Island, said county officials are familiar with the long waits for state Historic Preservation approvals because the county has been waiting as well. The county is seeking Historic Preservation approval for three projects to repair damage from the Oct. 15 earthquakes.
"We're aware that they're real slow in coming back, just from our own experience," he said.
'IT'S BEEN VERY SLOW'
A spokeswoman for county Public Works said the department has been waiting since early April for Historic Preservation approvals for about $1.3 million in repairs to Napo'opo'o Road; to three damaged areas of Mamalahoa Highway in Kona; and to a pedestrian overpass on Palani Road.
"It's been very slow," McClure said. "Even before, when they were better staffed, some things were slow."
McClure said the county recently suggested changes that might help ease Historic Preservation's workload, but hasn't yet heard back from the agency.
Kirkendall would not comment further on the Historic Preservation Division or to discuss her letter, other than to say she did not intend that it be circulated to the general public.
Kirkendall's resignation is the latest in a string of departures of professional staff from Historic Preservation that has alarmed Hawaiians and private archaeologists. Critics worry that without proper staffing, archaeological sites and Native Hawaiian burials may be destroyed in Hawai'i's ongoing development boom.
Private archaeologists also expressed concerns about staff vacancies in the Historic Preservation Division, which is part of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Kirkendall said in her resignation letter there are already more than 227 permits pending for the Big Island alone, and at least 100 more are pending on Maui.
At the same time, reviews by the state Historic Preservation Division are overdue for another 100 archaeological reports for Maui and Big Island sites that were produced by private archaeological consultants, Kirkendall wrote. Those reports are usually prepared on behalf of developers, with state archaeologists tasked with reviewing the work to make sure it is complete and accurate.
A NEED FOR BALANCE
When backlogs build up and the agency is late in reviewing building, subdivision and other permits, "I believe we have violated our ethical obligation to the public trust," Kirkendall wrote.
"Likewise, if we are cursory in our review of these permits, our ethical obligation to the historic properties ... and to the descendants of the creators of the historic properties, has been violated."
Chinen, administrator of the Historic Preservation Division, has said publicly the agency has become more efficient and is keeping up with its workload, but Kirkendall said in her letter the agency has not been able to keep up.
"They have got to find some qualified people to fill those positions, and the Big Island situation from a historic preservation point of view is a crisis now," said Tom Dye, president of the Society for Hawaiian Archaeology.
If Kirkendall is correct that there are hundreds of permits and reports backlogged, "pretty soon, people are just going to go ahead and develop regardless of whether there are historic sites on their properties or not," Dye said.Advertiser reporter Derrick DePledge contributed to this report.
Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Advertiser Big Island Bureau
The state Historic Preservation Division has become a bottleneck that delays construction projects on Maui and the Big Island, sometimes for years, according to developers.
Hundreds of development-related permits have not been processed on the two islands because the division no longer has the staff necessary to handle the workload, according to a resignation letter from a key archaeologist with the agency.
Melissa A. Kirkendall, lead archaeologist for Maui, Lana'i, Kaho'olawe and the Big Island, resigned Saturday, leaving one state archaeologist on Maui, none on the Big Island and none on O'ahu to review archaeological studies needed to process grading permits for new developments.
"It takes forever" to get permits, said Stanford Carr, president and chief executive officer of Stanford Carr Development LLC. Carr estimated it took two years to complete the required archaeological studies and obtain the necessary Historic Preservation Division approvals for his company's Kaloko Heights subdivision in Kona on the Big Island.
Historic Preservation is the state agency that reviews development plans to ensure that historic, cultural and burial sites are protected. The agency reviews all development plans, including proposals for golf courses, hotels, condominiums and housing subdivisions. It also scrutinizes grubbing and grading permits, along with some building permits.
Kirkendall said in her resignation letter that about 100 archaeological reports are overdue for review.
The letter, addressed to colleagues, said the problems within the Historic Preservation Division are now so severe they prevent professional staff there from meeting their "ethical obligations" to both preserve historic sites and serve the public.
Melanie Chinen, administrator of the state Historic Preservation Division, said through a spokeswoman that she had not seen Kirkendall's letter to her colleagues, and therefore could not respond to it.
"Dr. Kirkendall has offered her resignation. We have not received any information from her regarding concerns she may have over the division's operations beyond her desire that the public education component of historic preservation be expanded," Chinen said in a written statement.
"The division is processing applications to hire several new archaeologists and looks forward to their coming on board in the near future," Chinen wrote. "Staff are committed to working to fulfill the obligations of the department."
Carr said the delays in getting permits processed by the division are the worst he has seen, but said there also are backlogs in obtaining building permits from county agencies.
"I know that it takes a long time to get things through, but it's just the nature of the beast because everybody is in line," Carr said. "It's the worst we've been through, but I think it's just because you've got a lot more activity or applications going in than ever before."
Bruce McClure, director of the Department of Public Works for the Big Island, said county officials are familiar with the long waits for state Historic Preservation approvals because the county has been waiting as well. The county is seeking Historic Preservation approval for three projects to repair damage from the Oct. 15 earthquakes.
"We're aware that they're real slow in coming back, just from our own experience," he said.
'IT'S BEEN VERY SLOW'
A spokeswoman for county Public Works said the department has been waiting since early April for Historic Preservation approvals for about $1.3 million in repairs to Napo'opo'o Road; to three damaged areas of Mamalahoa Highway in Kona; and to a pedestrian overpass on Palani Road.
"It's been very slow," McClure said. "Even before, when they were better staffed, some things were slow."
McClure said the county recently suggested changes that might help ease Historic Preservation's workload, but hasn't yet heard back from the agency.
Kirkendall would not comment further on the Historic Preservation Division or to discuss her letter, other than to say she did not intend that it be circulated to the general public.
Kirkendall's resignation is the latest in a string of departures of professional staff from Historic Preservation that has alarmed Hawaiians and private archaeologists. Critics worry that without proper staffing, archaeological sites and Native Hawaiian burials may be destroyed in Hawai'i's ongoing development boom.
Private archaeologists also expressed concerns about staff vacancies in the Historic Preservation Division, which is part of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Kirkendall said in her resignation letter there are already more than 227 permits pending for the Big Island alone, and at least 100 more are pending on Maui.
At the same time, reviews by the state Historic Preservation Division are overdue for another 100 archaeological reports for Maui and Big Island sites that were produced by private archaeological consultants, Kirkendall wrote. Those reports are usually prepared on behalf of developers, with state archaeologists tasked with reviewing the work to make sure it is complete and accurate.
A NEED FOR BALANCE
When backlogs build up and the agency is late in reviewing building, subdivision and other permits, "I believe we have violated our ethical obligation to the public trust," Kirkendall wrote.
"Likewise, if we are cursory in our review of these permits, our ethical obligation to the historic properties ... and to the descendants of the creators of the historic properties, has been violated."
Chinen, administrator of the Historic Preservation Division, has said publicly the agency has become more efficient and is keeping up with its workload, but Kirkendall said in her letter the agency has not been able to keep up.
"They have got to find some qualified people to fill those positions, and the Big Island situation from a historic preservation point of view is a crisis now," said Tom Dye, president of the Society for Hawaiian Archaeology.
If Kirkendall is correct that there are hundreds of permits and reports backlogged, "pretty soon, people are just going to go ahead and develop regardless of whether there are historic sites on their properties or not," Dye said.Advertiser reporter Derrick DePledge contributed to this report.
Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Kamehameha acquires Varsity Theatre site
Pacific Business News (Honolulu) - 11:34 AM HAST Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Kamehameha Schools is acquiring the Varsity Theatre site in Moiliili in a land exchange that gives Robertson Properties Group the trust's old Kamehameha Drive-In property in Aiea.
The deal, announced Wednesday, gives Hawaii's largest private landowner the deed to the 1.7-acre Varsity property on University Avenue, which includes the Varsity Office Building, in exchange for the property at the corner of Moanalua Road and Kaonohi Street near Pearlridge Center and an undisclosed cash payment.
Los Angeles-based Robertson Properties Group is owned by Pacific Theatres parent Decurion. Pacific Theatres owns Consolidated Theatres and the Varsity Theatre.
"Consolidated's decision to close the Varsity provided us with an opportunity to acquire a strategically valuable piece of property," Kirk Belsby, vice president for endowment for Kamehameha Schools, said in a statement.
"It strengthens our ties with the university community and with Moiliili business and residential communities, and it strengthens our ability to support our educational programs and services."
Robertson plans to redevelop the Aiea site and will come up with a master plan in the coming months, said John Manavian, vice president of development for Robertson Properties Group.
Kamehameha Schools plans to upgrade the Moiliili area, which includes Puck's Alley, in the next few years, said Tara Young, senior commercial asset manager for Kamehameha Schools.
"The Varsity property adds even greater synergy to our options and opportunities in Moiliili," she said.
Robertson Properties Group recently completed the renovation of the former Waikiki Theatre site on Kalakaua Avenue, now called the Center of Waikiki, and is currently developing a shopping mall called Pearl City Gateway on the city's former Manana land in Pearl City.
"Oahu is one of our core target markets where we are actively developing and acquiring land," Manavian said. "It also is a challenging market but we are well-positioned to move quickly and pursue opportunities where we can bring new uses to older properties and reposition them to better serve Oahu residents."
Kamehameha Schools is acquiring the Varsity Theatre site in Moiliili in a land exchange that gives Robertson Properties Group the trust's old Kamehameha Drive-In property in Aiea.
The deal, announced Wednesday, gives Hawaii's largest private landowner the deed to the 1.7-acre Varsity property on University Avenue, which includes the Varsity Office Building, in exchange for the property at the corner of Moanalua Road and Kaonohi Street near Pearlridge Center and an undisclosed cash payment.
Los Angeles-based Robertson Properties Group is owned by Pacific Theatres parent Decurion. Pacific Theatres owns Consolidated Theatres and the Varsity Theatre.
"Consolidated's decision to close the Varsity provided us with an opportunity to acquire a strategically valuable piece of property," Kirk Belsby, vice president for endowment for Kamehameha Schools, said in a statement.
"It strengthens our ties with the university community and with Moiliili business and residential communities, and it strengthens our ability to support our educational programs and services."
Robertson plans to redevelop the Aiea site and will come up with a master plan in the coming months, said John Manavian, vice president of development for Robertson Properties Group.
Kamehameha Schools plans to upgrade the Moiliili area, which includes Puck's Alley, in the next few years, said Tara Young, senior commercial asset manager for Kamehameha Schools.
"The Varsity property adds even greater synergy to our options and opportunities in Moiliili," she said.
Robertson Properties Group recently completed the renovation of the former Waikiki Theatre site on Kalakaua Avenue, now called the Center of Waikiki, and is currently developing a shopping mall called Pearl City Gateway on the city's former Manana land in Pearl City.
"Oahu is one of our core target markets where we are actively developing and acquiring land," Manavian said. "It also is a challenging market but we are well-positioned to move quickly and pursue opportunities where we can bring new uses to older properties and reposition them to better serve Oahu residents."
Monday, June 25, 2007
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