Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

DAVID Y. IGE GOVERNOR

CARTY CHANG INTERIM CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release April 21, 2015    

REPAIR AND RESTORATION OF ʻIOLANI PALACE STATE MONUMENT |
PERIMETER FENCE, GATES AND WALL UNDERWAY 

HONOLULU — The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of State Parks is in the process of renovating and repairing the ironwork fence and plastered wall surrounding the grounds of ʻIolani Palace. Gates at the ground’s multiple entrances are also included in the renovation project as is the ironwork fence and brick wall enclosing the Royal Tomb Site on the palace grounds.

ʻIolani Palace and its grounds will remain open to the public for the duration of the project although some entrances and adjacent sidewalks will be temporarily closed as work is done in those areas. The anticipated project completion date is January 2016.

The renovation work includes stripping all rust and paint from the fence and gates and then hot-dip galvanizing and repainting the fence segments and gates. This process requires incrementally removing sections of the fence and gates to an off-site location. Temporary barriers and fencing will be installed to secure the grounds during this process.

The project also requires fabricating and installing missing and broken ironwork components of the fence, welding where needed, and plastering portions of wall and wall cap that are cracked or chipped. A portion of the mauka/Ewa perimeter wall will be rebuilt because it is currently tilting inward towards the palace grounds.

The ironwork fence was installed in 1892 after the 8-foot high wall that originally surrounded the palace grounds was reduced in height to increase visibility from the grounds. The fence was mounted on the lowered and capped wall. The protective fence enclosing the Royal Tomb Site was installed in the early 1930s as part of a larger landscaping effort. The Royal Tomb Site is marked by a low, grassed mound created by King David Kalâkaua in the 1880s to memorialize the site of the first mausoleum on the grounds. The Hawaiian Royalty were laid to rest in this mausoleum from 1825 to 1865 after which most were removed to the newly constructed Royal Mausoleum at Mauna ‘Ala in Nuʻuanu.

ʻIolani Palace and it grounds, including the perimeter fence and Royal Tomb Site, were designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 as part of the Hawaii Capitol Historic District.

Kaikor Construction Company, Inc. is the contractor for this project. Mason Architects, Inc. prepared the project plans and specifications and is providing oversight of the historic preservation aspects of the project. The total project construction cost is $1.5 million.

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Media Contact:
Deborah Ward
Public Information Specialist
(808) 587-0320