Our experiences in the field are diverse! Recently our Executive Director, Kiersten Faulkner, was invited on a hard hat tour of the restoration work underway at the iconic Cathedral Basilica Our Lady of Peace in downtown Honolulu.
“The Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, located at the north end of Fort Street Mall in downtown Honolulu, is said to be the oldest Catholic cathedral in continuous use in the United States and one of the oldest existing buildings in the downtown area.”* The Cathedral is a National Historic Landmark.
The coral block columns were revealed for the first time since 1843 this week.
HHF staff had a hard hat tour with historic architect Barbara Shideler (Mason Architects), construction project manager Mladena Kukin (Trinity) and the crews from Constructors Hawai‘i to see the work in progress on this restoration project.
The coral block walls and columns are being patched with a lime mortar that allows them to breathe and then will be sheathed in a special plaster from Germany that will restore the original appearance. The work is planned to be complete in time for the 175th anniversary commemoration in August.