Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 9, 1 September 1997 — BOT vote to lease Haleʻiwa's historic Waialua Courthouse [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BOT vote to lease Haleʻiwa's historic Waialua Courthouse

by Paula Durbin At its Aug. 5 meeting, the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs approved the leasing of the newly restored Waialua Courthouse in Hale'iwa. While finalization of a contract is being worked, the leasehold may represent OHA's first acquisition of a significant property interest since

Hawai'i Kai's Pahua Heiau was donated in fee simple eight years ago. With six votes in favor, the Trustees approved a lease that gives OHA use of the l-acre site, rent-free, for the next 35 years. "The arrangement had been in the works for several vears," said Trustee Rowena Akana, chairperson of the Land and Sovereigntv Committee. "The lease had to be worked out with the Department of Land and Naturāl Resources. The hope is that we will have agencies such as Department of Hawaiian Home Lands or Alu Like so that Hawaiians on this (Waialua) side of the island will have more opportunity to access services. Of

course, it would be good for OHA to also have a satellite office there, too." Officials at OHA will interview possible sub-lessees. Trustee Akana and Trustee Hannah Springer visited the site on Aug.l . They were welcomed by DLNR staff and members of Hale'iwa Mainstreet, the grass-roots organization that had lobbied the legislature for $460,000 to renovate the structure, now on state and nahonal historic registries. Mainstreet had also polled the

community on the use of the building and wrote the results into a proposal to OHA Board Chairman Clayton Hee. "Hawaiians definitely want to see services out here," said Marianne Abrigo, Mainstreet's secretary and a Hale'iwa resident since 1968. Built in the 1920s, the courthouse ^ was later used as a post office and to house Department of Health staff. In the 1980s, it was emptied — just before the roof eollapsed. The renovation budget allowed only for the roof and first floor consisting of the court room, an office, the judge's chambers and an entryhall. Thebasement, where four hole ing cells are still Iocated, and an adjacent pump house could no be touched. The entir effort took six years,

including two for demolition and construction. Restored to its former dignity, the interior has alabaster walls and woodwork, gray carpeting and abundant tupelo wood flooring stained a rich dark

caramel. I he court room has six large windows that allow breezes to waft under the high ceiling. Outside, the building is surrounded by lush native vegetation; a rare pride of India tree shades a front corner. A huge burial stone sits at one edge of the lot. While the historical value and beauty of the courthouse have not been ignored, its service to the community is still primary. "There is a population who never comes closer

to the office than Pearlridge," said acting OHA Land l- and Natural Resources Officer Lynn Lee. "From Kailua and Kāne'ohe, it is actuaUy easier to access services in Hale'iwa, and the Courthouse is a more eomt fortable setting for many of our beneficiaries." Trustee e Akana said the building should be occupied and operahonal by December.

The Board of rrustees approved the lease whieh gives OHA use of the 1 -acre site, rent-free, for 35 years.

Ka Wai Ola o OHA

Waialua Courthouse under renovation.

Trustees Rowena Akana and Hannah Springer flank Peggy Paty of Hale'iwa Mainstreet.

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