Historic Hawai‘i Foundation has developed the Heritage Houses Workshop Series to assist homeowners gain practical and in-depth knowledge on how to repair, maintain, and preserve older homes. Highly-trained professionals will provide information on issues to consider when planning a repair job; guidelines and standards appropriate to the character-defining features of the house; and instruction on proper techniques and materials to be used for repairs and ongoing maintenance.

The series is comprised of six 90-minute stand-alone sessions.
When: 6:00-7:30pm, see below for dates
Where: Dower School of Real Estate, 1114 11th Avenue, Kaimuki.

Each of the six workshops have been approved for 1.5 LU-HSW credits for AIA/CES.

Registrants may enroll in one or all of the workshops in this series. The cost is $20 per session for HHF & AIA members; $25 per session general admission. Registration for any of the Heritage Houses Workshops is ongoing and on a first-come, first-served basis.  Enrollment is limited to 30 participants in each workshop.  Registration forms and additional information may be found on the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation website at www.historichawaii.org.

Many of the topics covered in this series are relevant to houses of any age and style, with a focus on guiding principles and ways to customize information for the specific property rather than a “one-size” approach.

The workshops will include:

  • March 7: Preservation Basics.  Kiersten Faulkner, Executive Director of Historic Hawai‘i Foundation, will present a workshop on preservation basics to familiarize homeowners with rehabilitation standards for the treatment of historic properties.  Participants will learn guidelines on how to adapt an historic property for contemporary use, while preserving materials and architectural features significant to the era in which the home was built.
  • March 21: Windows.  Architect Joy Davidson and General Contractor Alan Shintani join forces to provide an introduction to cost-effective and energy-efficient repair, restoration and maintenance of original wood windows.  Participants will learn how these windows are traditionally constructed, the most common problems that affect them, and specific methods, materials and techniques used for their repair.  Specific topics to be covered include recognizing fenestration patterns, safe lead paint & glass removal, epoxy repair, glazing putty application, weather-stripping, and sash re-installation.
  • April 4: Home Finishes.  Architects Barbara Shideler and Katherine Stephens of Mason Architects, Inc. will examine color schemes, types of paint, and finishes appropriate to home interiors and exteriors from the Victorian age through the Modern era.  Practical advice will be offered on how to prepare surfaces, strip woodwork, and analyze paint samples. They will give special attention to identifying, avoiding or safely removing hazardous materials.
  • April 18: Metalwork and Hardware.  Architect Glenn Mason of Mason Architects, Inc. will discuss the damaging effects of Hawaii’s salt air environment on structural elements and decorative features of metal on the home, including metal railings, gates, window grilles, light fixtures, and hardware.  He will acquaint participants with the recommended methods and techniques, whether mechanical or chemical, to remove rust and corrosion; and the measures taken to strengthen, protect and maintain metal components from future degradation.  Mason will also provide an overview of different types of hardware, their period styles, and mechanical components.
  • May 2: Landscape. Landscape Architect Loriann Gordon will discuss the evolution of the modern landscape in Hawai‘i. The information provided will enable participants to better understand the historical context of designed landscapes, determine how to assess which period the landscape reflects, and know which elements are important to the landscape’s historical integrity. This information will provide a historical basis for maintaining and developing the design of a property landscape.
  • May 16: Disaster Preparedness.  Maja Clark, Collections Manager for the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art at Shangri La, will alert homeowners to the importance of preparing for a disaster, whether it is a local emergency or a regional disaster caused by human error, equipment failure, or events in nature.  Understanding what the potential hazards and risks are will help homeowners take the necessary precautions to protect their properties. Knowing what emergency resources are available will assist homeowners in dealing with the aftermath of a disaster.