Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Search
Blogs
HiLife Online 
Most Read
- Sprinkle leaving KITV; wife Young clearing plate
- Friends and associates join search for missing kayaker
- Man missing since Monday is found in Kakaako
- Husband and wife team will no longer anchor at KITV
- Saint Louis Heights home a total loss, fire official says
- Legislators cancel party plans
- Jamora ready for Govs
- Teachers willing to return for restored furlough days
- Desserts offer options to usual pumpkin pie
- Coast Guard rescues 2 sailors missing for 2 days
- Wahine advance to WAC final
Congregation resurrecting broken church
The historic site on the Big Island was severely damaged in the 2006 earthquakes
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 21, 2009
HILO » More than two years have passed since the two large earthquakes of 2006 knocked gaping holes in the walls of historic Kalahikiola Congregational Church near the northern tip of the Big Island.
On the Net:» www.kalahikiolacongregationalchurch.com |
The long wait has had a good effect on church members, said interim pastor George Baybrook.
"We are a more unified church now," he said. "People are just ... well, they have faith."
Kalahikiola, meaning "The Day Salvation Comes," was consecrated on Oct. 11, 1855. Its roughly 30-inch thick walls were made of irregular river stones and its timbers were brought from the nearby Kohala Mountains.
On the morning of Oct. 15, 2006, a 6.7 magnitude quake, followed by a 6.0 aftershock, left such huge holes in the walls that their ability to continue supporting the roof seemed miraculous.
"We're kind of the poster child for the earthquake," Baybrook said.
Rebuilding would have been hard for the congregation of just 80 people, but the structure was insured for about $1 million. Demolition and reconstruction is contracted at $1.1 million. The church has some additional money but Baybrook expects more expenses, such as rebuilding the floor.
Reconstruction is expected to be complete by this summer.
Rebuilding with river stones was out of the question, so the congregation had to decide between concrete blocks or wooden walls. They decided on the blocks, boosting the cost by $100,000.
The old outside walls had false lines incised in them to look like building blocks. Since the building is on the state and national registers of historic places, it must be rebuilt to resemble the original building, complete with lines.
"The architect (Glenn Mason) spent more time talking about the lines than anything else," Baybrook said.
A special craftsman is being brought from the East Coast to do the plastering and the decorative lines.
Another architectural trick will be to build an interior wall that gives the impression of the old 30-inch walls, since the concrete blocks will be only 8 inches thick.
Contributions can be sent to P.O. Box 159, Kapaau, HI 96755,
HILO » More than two years have passed since the two large earthquakes of 2006 knocked gaping holes in the walls of historic Kalahikiola Congregational Church near the northern tip of the Big Island.
On the Net:» www.kalahikiolacongregationalchurch.com |
The long wait has had a good effect on church members, said interim pastor George Baybrook.
"We are a more unified church now," he said. "People are just ... well, they have faith."
Kalahikiola, meaning "The Day Salvation Comes," was consecrated on Oct. 11, 1855. Its roughly 30-inch thick walls were made of irregular river stones and its timbers were brought from the nearby Kohala Mountains.
On the morning of Oct. 15, 2006, a 6.7 magnitude quake, followed by a 6.0 aftershock, left such huge holes in the walls that their ability to continue supporting the roof seemed miraculous.
"We're kind of the poster child for the earthquake," Baybrook said.
Rebuilding would have been hard for the congregation of just 80 people, but the structure was insured for about $1 million. Demolition and reconstruction is contracted at $1.1 million. The church has some additional money but Baybrook expects more expenses, such as rebuilding the floor.
Reconstruction is expected to be complete by this summer.
Rebuilding with river stones was out of the question, so the congregation had to decide between concrete blocks or wooden walls. They decided on the blocks, boosting the cost by $100,000.
The old outside walls had false lines incised in them to look like building blocks. Since the building is on the state and national registers of historic places, it must be rebuilt to resemble the original building, complete with lines.
"The architect (Glenn Mason) spent more time talking about the lines than anything else," Baybrook said.
A special craftsman is being brought from the East Coast to do the plastering and the decorative lines.
Another architectural trick will be to build an interior wall that gives the impression of the old 30-inch walls, since the concrete blocks will be only 8 inches thick.
Contributions can be sent to P.O. Box 159, Kapaau, HI 96755,
Today’s Edition
- Friends and associates join search for missing kayaker
- Legislators cancel party plans
- Teachers willing to return for restored furlough days
- Harbor officials eye fee increase
- Mammograms: Do I really need this?
- Thanksgiving Day events serve food to those in need
- Kokua Line: Insurance verification uses Social Security info
- Newswatch
- Police and Fire
- Australia's move on credit card fees may have lessons for U.S.
- At Iraqi museum, Google chief announces plan to put artifacts online
- Kona holiday fundraiser helps culinary students
- By Request: Help others and collect the year's best recipes
- The Electric Kitchen: Desserts offer options to usual pumpkin pie
- Pet Ohana
- Da Kine
- Got nutrients?
- Wahine advance to WAC final
- Medeiros catches on at slot
- Prep World: Jamora ready for Govs
- Prep World: Athletes of the Week
- Prep briefs
- Say and Look have Aiea and 'Iolani talking, watching wins
- Cincinnati rolls through Maryland at Maui Invitational
- Couples will play in Hawaii
- Local aces
- Hawaii Beat
- Scoreboard
- TV & Radio
insideStarBulletin.com
