EFFORT UNDERWAY TO REBUILD ICONIC BRIDGE AT LILIʻUOKALANI GARDENS
EFFORT UNDERWAY TO REBUILD ICONIC BRIDGE AT LILIʻUOKALANI GARDENS
One of the most recognizable structures in Lili‘uokalani Gardens, the vermillion wooden bridge pavilion, will undergo a complete rebuild as the current structure deteriorated significantly due mainly to extensive termite damage.
Preparation for the bridge removal began today, and following a blessing ceremony, the removal of the bridge structure is schedule to take place Thursday morning to make way for a new bridge of matching design that will be rebuilt in its place. The work coincides with the regular maintenance schedule for the park, which will be closed Thursday.
The bridge rebuild is being led by the Department of Parks & Recreation and the Friends of Lili‘uokalani Gardens, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the garden.
“Every garden, especially those of a certain age, needs fostering that goes beyond just maintenance,” said K.T. Cannon-Eger, President of the Friends of Lili‘uokalani Gardens. “To foster Lili‘uokalani Gardens, to carry it forward to the future while maintaining the feeling of the last 108 years, means every now and then something needs to be replaced. This bridge will be rebuilt close to the original design and will continue to be a special place for many years to come.”
The bridge that’s being removed is not the original. The original, and its successor, were destroyed by tsunamis, in 1946 and in 1960. The bridge that is being replaced is the one built following the 1960 tsunami.
The stone base of the bridge is not being removed.
The bridge pavilion will be rebuilt by Parks & Recreation carpenters, who have already reconstructed other pavilions within Lili‘uokalani Gardens.
The wooden bridge has been several colors in its lifetime: green, brown, tan, red, and now vermillion, a red-orange color recommended by a garden designer from Kyoto. When the bridge is rebuilt it will continue to be vermillion, or “shuiro” in Japanese, a color that holds special significance in Japanese culture.
“This bridge is an important feature of Lili‘uokalani Gardens, and we know there are a lot of memories attached to it,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “By rebuilding, we can ensure the longevity and integrity of this unique structure and its continued connection to the community.”
Lili‘uokalani Gardens is a 25-acre park originally established in 1917 by the Legislature of the Territory of Hawai‘i and dedicated to the memory of Queen Liliʻuokalani. The majority of the park is designed as a Japanese-style garden.
For more information about the park, visit Friends of Liliʻuokalani Gardens in Hilo.
Contact: KT Cannon-Eger, president of Friends of Liliuokalani Gardens, 808-895-8130
