Historic Hawai‘i Foundation has issued a revised brochure to assist owners of vintage and vernacular homes in Hawaii with maintenance and preservation guidelines. Originally published in the mid-1980s by the County of Kauai, the reissued brochure has been updated to include revised practices related to sustainability and environmental guidelines, including energy and water efficiency, lead paint and vegetation.

The recommendations are not complicated or costly. Rather, these are maintenance-oriented guidelines and financially feasible considerations to help owners solve normal wear and tear problems. These guidelines are based on the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preservation, which are the foundation for many rehabilitation and home improvement projects in Hawaii. The purpose of this brochure is to address typical repairs necessitated by island environmental conditions – rain, humidity, strong sun, salt-air, mildew, algae and many pests that contribute to house upkeep challenges.

The process of keeping your property in a state of utility through maintenance and repairs is important. Rehabilitation makes possible efficient, continuing use while saving those features of your property that are significant to its original appearance and design.

3185 Elua (Photo by Pat Griffin)

4696 Hoomana (Photo by Pat Griffin)

Plantation House at Grove Farm Museum (Photo by HHF)

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Guidelines for Maintaining Hawaii’s Traditional Houses by Historic Hawai‘i Foundation (2023)

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Waimea Plantation Cottage (Photo by HHF)

  • Good building maintenance is good housekeeping,
  • Keep as much as possible of original materials, features, finishes, construction techniques and examples of craftsmanship that characterize the home.
  • Keep the original style and character.
  • If you have to replace deteriorated features, replace them with components that match the original in design, color, texture and, where possible, materials.