Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 1, 1 Ianuali 2008 — Huliheʻe Palace [ARTICLE]

Huliheʻe Palace

Hulihe'e Palaee in Kona started an eight- to 12-month restoration last month to repair damage done by the Oct. 15, 2006, earthquake. In 2007, the state Legislature approved $1 million for the project, whieh will focus primarily on repairing cracked plaster on the palaee interior and exterior and refitting coral blocks in the second-story gabled

area. "We intend to bring it back to even better than it was before," said Gerry Miyamoto, regent for Daughters of Hawai'i, caretakers of the 169-year-old palaee. A structural engineer and historieal architect visited the museum two days after the 6.7-magnitude earthquake and determined the structure is sound, Miyamoto said. Hulihe'e Palaee, whieh closed for restoration Dec. 10, is home to treasures such as pre-contact Hawaiian implements, 19th century beds and armoires and makaloa mats, described as the "finest sleeping mats in Polynesia" by author Peter Buck. Onee owned by Princess Ruth, the palaee attracts thousands of visitors annually because of its loeation on the main street in KailuaKona town, Miyamoto said. The palaee is on the Nahonal Register of Historic Places.