Letter - Neal S. Blaisdell Center War Memorial Project

March 25, 2015
George I. Atta, Director
Department of Planning and Permitting
City and County of Honolulu
650 S. King Street, 7th Floor
Honolulu, HI 96813
Mr Atta,
We are writing in regards to the potential redevelopment of the Neal Blaisdell Center campus. The
Recent Past Preservation Network is a nationwide advocacy support system working to preserve the
buildings of the recent past – those within 50 years of age and those that may not have a champion
but are within the 20th century. We do this work through a network of State Representatives, social
media, and newsletters.
The Blaisdell Center Concert Hall and Arena, which date to 1964, are a superb example of modernist
architecture and they are representative of an era of buildings that are rapidly being lost. The
prominent and prolific modernist architect Adrian Law Wilson designed the center. His firm was active
in residential, commercial, religious, and civic design in Los Angeles and around the world. In addition
to Blaisdell Center, the architect is known for large scale modernist buildings in Las Vegas. The firm
also designed Tiber Island as part of the first national Urban Renewal project located in Southwest
Washington, D.C. The Blaisdell Center’s Concert Hall and Arena are excellent examples of the firm’s
aesthetic as evidenced through its expressive use on concrete and strong geometry. The buildings are
an important visual landmark in the community and have been determined eligible for the Hawai’i
and national Registers of Historic Places by the Hawaii State Historic Preservation Division.
The Neal Blaisdell Arena is also significant as a public war memorial. While many may have forgotten
this history, ‘functional’ memorials like the Blaisdell Arena are the most accessible symbols of
post-WWII America’s urge to honor those recently lost in the Pacific and European theaters.
Functional memorials like parks, community centers and arenas are important and
preservation-worthy components of our shared history.
We have become aware that this modernist complex is potentially threatened with demolition as part
of redevelopment plans for the campus. We understand that there are several local groups in Hawai’i
who are willing to consult with the city to find a redevelopment option that preserves the historically
significant arena and concert hall. These groups include the Docomomo-US Hawai’I chapter and ​
Neal
S. Blaisdell Center War Memorial Project. We hope that the City and County of Honolulu will make sue
of these community resources when developing its plan for the future of the Neal Blaisdell Center.
Preservation requires all sides to work together effectively.
Sincerely,
Recent Past Preservation Network Board
[email protected]
Copied to
Alan S. Downer, PhD.
Administrator
State Historic Preservation Division
[email protected]
Anna Broverman
Architectural Historian
State Historic Preservation Division
[email protected]
Jessica Puff
Architectural Historian
State Historic Preservation Division
[email protected]
Kaiwi Yoon
Architecture Branch Chief
State Historic Preservation Division
[email protected]
Kirk Caldwell
Mayor
City and County of Honolulu
[email protected]
Art Challacombe
Deputy Director
Department of Planning and Permitting
City and County of Honolulu
[email protected]
Renee Espiau
Department of Planning and Permitting
[email protected]
Kiersten Faulkner
Executive Director
Historic Hawai‘i Foundation
[email protected]
Carol Fukunaga
Councilwoman - District 6
City and County of Honolulu
[email protected]
Ann Kobayashi
Councilwoman - District 5
City and County of Honolulu
[email protected]
Tanya Harrison
Neal S. Blaisdell Center War Memorial Project
[email protected]
Liz Waytkus
Executive Director
Docomomo US
[email protected]
Alison Chiu
President
Docomomo-US/Hawai’I Chapter
[email protected]