In years past, the pictures on the calendars were so lovely that people kept them well past the dates they covered.

In particular, people sent special requests for the 1993 fishponds calendar long after 1993 was over because the pictures were so beautiful.

Since 1984, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources has been issuing calendars featuring photos of Hawai'i's historic places. One year it was ancient petroglyphs, another year the theme was plantation cottages.

In 2007 the photos showed Spanish-style architecture in Hawai'i, like McKinley High School's signature building, the tiled fountain at Wailuku Library and St. Joseph's Church in Hilo.

The calendars were the brainchild of retired Historic Preservation Department director Don Hibbard, who wanted people to be reminded of Hawai'i's historic places that continue amid our modern world.

The 2008 calendars are out and are sure to be treasured items for years to come.

The pages feature the work of Hawai'i architect Vladimir Ossipoff, a Russia-born, California-educated man who helped define what we think of as "Hawaiian-style" homes and buildings.

The text on the calendar describes Ossipoff's signature style as "the blurring of the inside-outside connection, the framing of views, the use of borrowed scenery to expand a space, and the use of natural ventilation and materials. They celebrate Hawai'i's climate and natural beauty rather than impose a building icon on the landscape."

An exhibition on Ossipoff's work will open this month at the Academy of Arts.

If the psychology of choosing a wall calendar is to find images that will interest you for a whole month, pictures that transport you out of the drudgery of daily life, and a gentle reminder that every day is a gift, Ossipoff's designs fulfill all those requirements.

Of course, for some, it's not about the pretty pictures; it's about the tide chart. The DLNR added the tide chart feature after the first few years and that sealed the deal. People love that tide chart.

The 2008 Historic Sites calendar can be purchased by mail from the Hawaii Heritage Center, P.O. Box 37520, Honolulu, HI 96837. You can stop by in person at the Hawaii Heritage Center, 1040 Smith St. in Chinatown between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Call the center at 521-2749.

The calendar is $10 each (for purchases of 10 or more calendars, cost is $5 per calendar) and includes shipping.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.