To the Friends of Tantalus & Mason Architects

For their grassroots efforts to nominate Tantalus to the Hawai‘i State Historic Register

The Friends of Tantalus is receiving a preservation commendation for its grassroots advocacy and mobilization to successfully nominate Tantalus-Round Top Drive for designation on the Hawai‘i State Register of Historic Places. Mason Architects is also being honored in recognition of the leadership and hard work provided by Barbara Shideler in providing the technical expertise for the effort.

The Tantalus-Round Top road is a 10-mile drive that begins near the entrance to Puowaina, also known as Punchbowl Crater, then climbs along the Kaliiwahine ridge between Pauoa and Makiki Valleys before it descends along Round Top Drive on the ridge linking Pu'u 'Ohi'a (Mount Tantalus), Pu'u Kiikea (Sugarloaf) and Pu'u 'Ualaka'a (Round Top).

The name "Tantalus" originated during a hiking excursion by the Punahou student hiking club, who began their hike at Pu'u 'Ualaka'a. As night approached, they found themselves at the edge of the ridge overlooking Poloke Valley. Unable to continue due to the thick undergrowth, the boys were forced to give up their ascent. Versed in Greek mythology, the students named the mountain “Tantalus,” referencing the mythological figure who was condemned to an afterlife of insatiable hunger and thirst due to unreachable pools of water and overhanging fruit.

Lava-rock guard walls, some dating to the road's earliest construction, remain.

The road today retains its original footprint and many of its unique characteristics.

Concrete and basalt masonry culverts were constructed in the 1950s along portions of the road to allow for storm water drainage.

Consistent with its rural character, there are no paved sidewalks or light poles along the

roadway.

The telephone and electricity lines do not typically follow the route of the road but trace the shortest distance from the bottom of the ridge to the residential area at top. There are few side streets or roads off the main corridor.

Residents were concerned about protecting the road from shortsighted, inconsistent and arbitrary "improvements" by competing governmental entities resulting from conflicting State and City agendas and priorities.  

In 1993 ownership of Tantalus-Round Top Drive was transferred to the City & County of Honolulu by The State of Hawai‘i.  The transfer resulted in a City road entirely contained within the State Department of Land and Natural Resources Conservation District.

Friends of Tantalus knew that the historic character of Tantalus/ Round Top Drive needed to be protected against the trends of today which emphasize faster, wider and straighter roads. 

In November of 2005, The Friends of Tantalus met with historic architect Barbara Shideler of Mason Architects and determined that State Historic designation of the Tantalus-Round Top Drive would be the best way to protect this historic road through the Makiki Watershed.

In March 2007, the Tantalus-Round Top Drive awarded State Historic designation and designation on the National Register is pending. The historic district includes the road, lookouts, culverts, retaining walls and curbs along the shoulder and encompasses the entire public road right of way.

The two-year effort championed by Friends of Tantalus and Barbara Shideler has ensured that the road will continue to stand as it always has - a protected and imperative part of Hawaii‘s history - for generations to enjoy and treasure.

As a result, Friends of Tantalus raised funds to initiate the project and retained Mason Architects to develop the Nomination.

Community meetings and individual interviews with long-time residents were coordinated and conducted by Barbara as well as the archival research needed to justify the historic designation.

The Friends also had particular challenges to overcome when they were caught between State and City bureaucracies, misunderstandings about the effects of historic designation, and working through legal and regulatory challenges, many at the last minute.

By Popular Demand...

In response to many requests, this page contains the photos and transcript of the 2008 Honor awards presentation.  

2008 Preservation Honor Awards