Photos: Courtesy of Macario

UPDATE: 2012

After severe damage by the 2006 earthquake, buildings of the Homestead had to be emptied of their many contents. These items were cataloged, and are now being preserved in climate controlled containers. The buildings themselves have been stabilized and await further restoration. When restoration of the Homestead is properly completed, it will serve as a museum housing a collection of historical artifacts and showcasing the rich history of the Bond family and the people of Kohala. Selected items from this collection will soon be on display at ‘Iole’s new Exhibit Center adjacent to the Homestead.

LISTED AS ENDANGERED IN 2007

Article Written By: Michael Keany, HONOLULU Magazine

What is it?
Although no one has lived in the homestead for 60 years, this house was once the home of Father Bond, a missionary who devoted his life to the Hawaiian community in Kohala. Built in 1840, it is the oldest wooden structure in Kohala, and, along with the former Kohala Girls School and various expansions to the main house, is part of the 54-acre Bond Historic District. In 1999, the Bond family sold the estate to the New Moon Foundation, a nonprofit organization.

What threatens it?
In the ’06 earthquake, many of the stone buildings on the estate, including Bond’s office, suffered the same type of damage that the Kalahikiola Church did, with walls collapsing outward from the shaking. New Moon has temporarily shored up the structures, and retained Mason Architects to evaluate the damage.

What can be done?
Although the buildings lie within the Bond Historic District, the designation does not legally compel the private landowners to rebuild them. Ultimately, it’s up to New Moon to decide what it wants to do with the homestead, and when.