Historic site that houses high court to be fixed

Aliiolani Hale, the 139-year-old downtown Hono­lulu building that is home to the Hawaii Supreme Court and the iconic statue of Kame­ha­meha I, is about to undergo nearly $3 million in repairs.

The building needs repair and restoration of its roof, facade, clock and clock tower, walkways and interior spaces, a state Judiciary news release said. Reinforcing bars are visible in the damaged ceiling of the clock tower. Weeds grow where water ponds on the roof.

Inside Aliiolani Hale there is extensive damage from water and termites.

"Thanks to the Legislature for appropriating the funds, the Department of Accounting and General Services was able to contract the project out for $2.86 million," said Marsha Kita­gawa, spokes­woman for the state Judiciary.

Construction will be done mostly at night and on weekends to avoid disruptions. The Judiciary History Center and other offices in the historic building will stay open. However, special events could be postponed during the year, the news release said.

Its clock, the first tower clock in Hawaii, has not kept time since 2003. The clock mechanism and clock faces will be replaced and its wooden hands replaced by fiberglass hands; the old clock hands will be stored by the State Historic Preservation Division. "Sickles" that adorn the walls will be retained as historical design elements.

Work will begin soon, state capital improvement specialist Joanne Krippaehne said.

Completed in 1874, Aliiolani Hale was designed to house the Hawaiian monarchy but instead was home to the Legislature until Iolani Palace opened, as well as the Judiciary. Today the two-story building contains the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court Clerk’s Office, the Law Library and the King Kame­ha­meha V Judiciary History Center, among other programs.

It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.