WAIPAHU, HI (April 17, 2025) — On April 21st, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation staff and Building Industry Association of Hawai‘i’s staff and students in BIA’s Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training (PACT) program will visit Honouliuli National Historic Site to learn how tradespeople can help preserve places of historical and cultural significance. The tour, led by Christine Ogura, Superintendent of Honouliuli National Historic Site, will highlight two recent preservation projects: the 2023 restoration of the site's historic rock wall and the March 2025 preservation of the Waiāhole Water Company Aqueduct—one of 134 archaeological features identified at the former World War II internment camp. Both projects were completed by the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center, which specializes in preserving historic resources across national parks.

Honouliuli National Historic Site, near Waipahu, O‘ahu, serves as a powerful reminder of the injustices faced by Japanese Americans and prisoners of war during World War II. Operating from 1943 to 1946, it was Hawai‘i’s largest and longest-running internment and POW camp, holding around 320 internees and nearly 4,000 POWs. Designated a national monument in 2015 and a historic site in 2019, Honouliuli now stands as an educational resource and symbol of civil liberties.

2025 marks the 10th anniversary of its national designation. Explore the year-long celebration and event schedule:

https://home.nps.gov/hono/getinvolved/10th-anniversary-celebration.htm

“Construction is about more than building — it’s about preserving what matters,” said Eva Marie Whitworth, BIA Hawaii’s Education Manager. “We want students to see that their skills can help protect the stories and spaces that shape our communities.”

PACT is a no-cost, grant-funded program that prepares students for entry-level careers in construction through hands-on learning, industry certifications, and real-world experience.

For more information, contact Eva Marie Whitworth at marie@biahawaii.org or 808-629-7504.

Historic Hawai‘i Foundation is a statewide nonprofit organization that helps people save Hawai‘i’s historic places. HHF has worked with BIA in recent years to broaden opportunities for training and practice in components of traditional trades to support workforce development, enhance craftsman skills and enrich appreciation of Hawai‘i’s historic and cultural places. www.historichawaii.org

About the Building Industry Association of Hawaii

The Building Industry Association of Hawaii (BIA Hawaii) is the voice of the construction industry and Hawaii's leading not-for-profit trade organization chartered by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in 1955, with more than 300 professional members across the industry including developers, contractors, suppliers, realtors, and associate companies. BIA Hawaii is a proud supporter and advocate of housing at all price points, and our members work together to build the living spaces that kama'aina call home. Together, we educate, advocate, and grow. Industry Elite Partners are Castle & Cooke Homes, Armstrong Builders and Gentry Homes. 2025 Corporate Sponsors include Astrategy Marketing, Honsador Lumber, Hawaiian Dredging, Lung Rose Voss Wagnild, American Floor & Home, Hawaiian Electric Company, and Inspired Closets Hawaii.

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