Historic Preservation

Preserving Our Sense of Place

Haleiwa Main Street/NSCOC works to perpetuate the North Shore’s authentic rural character, heritage, and traditions through historic preservation, restoration, and beautification efforts that protect our past for future generations.

Preservation Achievements

Buildings Restored

The Chamber is an instrumental force in preserving and restoring the town’s distinctive architecture. Buildings restored to date include: Waialua Courthouse, Anahulu Bridge, Historic Haleiwa Gym, the Haleiwa Mutual Telephone Company building, and the Chamber’s headquarters and Visitor Center. The Chamber received HUD’s Best Practices award for the Waialua Courthouse and a Preservation Award from the Historic Hawaii Foundation for the restoration of the Telephone Company building.

Haleiwa Town Plan

Haleiwa Main Street, now doing business as the North Shore Chamber of Commerce, raised the funds for and sponsored the development of the Haleiwa Town Plan, which was completed in 1991. The purpose of the plan was to address the future of the town with a focus on preserving the special character of Haleiwa and the North Shore. It involved in-depth interviews of the North Shore’s leaders and 349 residents in several workshops. Click HERE to view.

Researched and Documented Local History

The Chamber developed the Walking Tour of Haleiwa: An Historic Village by the Sea brochure highlighting the historic buildings in Haleiwa and using the drawings of noted local artist Ilona Hemperly. The walking tour received a Preservation Award from Historic Hawaii Foundation.

Chamber volunteers also developed tours of Haleiwa and Waialua during the Haleiwa Arts Festival and the Taste of Waialua, tours of the agriculture history, presented lectures on What’s Historic About Haleiwa Town?, local agriculture history, the history of Waialua Agriculture Company, and local aviation history.

Historical Tours

Join us on a Historical Tour to learn more about the history of the North Shore.

History at the Chamber

A historical display in our restored, plantation-era building is open to visitors and residents alike in the Visitor Center. Volunteers are available to share our history with guests.

Historical Talks & Outreach

As part of our “Preserving a Sense of Place” mission, we organize historical illustrated talks focusing on a topic with an emphasis on North Shore history. Past events include Theaters of Hawaii, History of Aviation, History of Surfing, Japanese Buddhism in Hawaii, and the History of the Waialua Sugar Company. We also do seminars/workshops at events and participate in the Historic Preservation Awareness Day at the Capitol.

Haleiwa Interpretive Signage

In 2016, Haleiwa Main Street will develop signage that tells the history and story of the town. This will include building plaques and information kiosks.

Haleiwa Beach Park Restoration

Currently, we are working with the city to restore Haleiwa Beach Park, one of the buildings in Haleiwa that is on the State Register.