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Koloa Field System and Hapa Trail Visitor Center
The last intact remains of the Koloa Field System which is comprised of a continuous and integrated complex of auwai, fields and habitation sites is located along the east side of the Hapa Trail. The KĆloa Field System spreads over 700 acres in KĆloa hema and was a successful agriculture enterprise that met the needs of the communities in each ahupuaÊ»a it occupied for over 500 years. Its demise was due to lands leased by sugar plantations that disrupted the water system of over 100 miles of Ê»auwai built to bring water to irrigate the crops from PaÊ»a, Weliweli, KĆloa and LÄwaÊ»i. AEPAC has created a concept design for the visitorâs center. The site shape and existing conditions are challenging; however, plans include incorporating the auwai on the site into the teaching component of the building and using the preserve as a working site. The visitorâs center will include an exhibit space explaining the Field System and its history, a community gathering space for Hula, Hawaiian bands, and Farmerâs Market. A full functioning rest stop with restrooms. A Train Stop and transportation Hub â trail line. Pedestrian, and bike route on the Hapa Trai
Hilo High School Auditorium Renovation
AEPAC is proud to announce our newest project. We will be providing architectural and engineering services to renovate the Hilo High School Auditorium! This is a historic building listed on the Hawaii Register of Historic Places.
Hilo High School was the only high school on the island of Hawaii for many years. Before its establishment, children on the island would have to travel and board in Honolulu, which was difficult for those families who could not afford it. Hilo High School first opened their doors in 1905 at the neighboring site of the Hilo Union School. In 1909, the first graduating class of 7 students was celebrated.
The auditorium, built in 1928, is a reinforced concrete building with a stucco finish also built in the Classical Revival Style, featuring an entrance portico facing the courtyard and a T-shaped plan with the top of the âTâ facing the courtyard. The land slopes down to the back of the building and accommodates the raked concrete floor of the 801- seat auditorium, though the original official seating capacity was noted as 781.
The alumni association donated the money to build the Auditorium building with a fund-raising campaign that started in 1924. Alumnus Frank Arakwa, who designed many Neo-Classical buildings in Hilo such as the District Courthouse and Police Station (Hawaii and National Registers), the Hilo Frist State and the Hilo Hongwanji, designed the building. A 16â x 24â marble cornerstone was laid on September 23, 1927 with the following inscription: âDedicated 1927, by the Hilo High School Alumni Association. Shigeru K. Oda, contractor, Frank F. Arakawa, architect.â Shigeru Oda also attended Hilo High.
Happy Halloween from AEPAC
As we move further into the fall season, AEPAC wanted to add some âpumpkin spiceâ to our blog and give an update!
For Halloween, we celebrated in our office by having a socially-distanced pumpkin carving contest! Judging was conducted via FaceTime and we all had quite the memorable experience!
We've been hard at work ensuring that deadlines are sticking to their planned schedules. We are meeting clients virtually, over the phone, and through email correspondence. In the rare instance that we have to meet in person, we don our face masks and produce results. Recently, weâve secured an amazing project that we canât wait to announce!!!
The work never stops and it is truly rewarding.
Mahalo Central Pacific Bank
âA big mahalo to the bankers at central Pacific bank who went beyond the Call of Duty and made sure that my SBA PPP loan was processed correctly. In the first days of the PPP Loan availability, there was confusion and misunderstanding of how to apply for the loan. CPB was on our side and helped correct mistakes by working with the SBA âwar roomâ. Their diligence and caring for our business is what makes CP be the best small business bank in Hawaii.â - Lorraine Minatoishi
Local Dress Designer Makes Masks
Eleanor Minatoishi is using her design skills to combat COVID-19, making face masks for Central Pacific Bank. As owner of E. Mina, she has been designing and sewing dresses since 1970 for high-end retail boutiques. She was inspired by the mask her granddaughter Hana designed. The next day, Blenn Fujimoto, Executive Vice President of CPB, asked his mom to make some for his staff. Since then, Eleanor has been hand making masks for the CPB team!
Fiona Leung CPA, Our support team!
"As a small business owner, we outsource important parts of our business like accounting and payroll to licensed individuals. And now, as things like stimulus packages come into the news and I feel out of my depth, Fiona and her learn have really taken care of us by gathering materials, crunching numbers, and explaining what to do. They have saved our company these past weeks I feel so lucky to have those sorts of relationships and be supported." - Lorraine Minatoishi
Home Builder Digest: The Best Residential Architects and Designers in Honolulu, Hawaii
Valuing culture and heritage through historic architecture preservation and conservation is one of the missions of Honolulu firm, AEPAC. A leading name in the care, protection, and continuation of the tangible culture of the state.