Established in 1913, the Kilauea Lighthouse is an important historic navigational landmark. Operated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), the site is a National Wildlife Refuge that provides habitat support for threatened species. The Visitor Service Building for the Kilauea Point Light Station greets an average 500,000 visitors annually. Rehabilitation of the Visitor Service Building required renovation of the original assistant keeper’s cottage, a one-story bungalow with a hipped roof and blue stone lava rock walls.
The Kilauea site’s overall character had significantly changed with architectural and landscape modifications over time. Successful completion of this project provides a safe and healthy work environment for FWS staff, enhances the visitor education experience, and restores character-defining features to their original condition – thus ensuring the continued use of historic support structures to the Lighthouse.
New windows were designed and meticulously executed to match the original 1913 window conditions and trim profiles, and original interior finishes were gently restored in this design-build project. The building’s rehabilitation supports FWS’ mission to care for Hawaii’s natural wildlife and also creates interpretive possibilities for the historic site.
2018 Historic Hawaii Foundation Preservation Honor Award