FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nearly $500,000 allocated for necessary roof repairs
HONOLULU (September 20, 2021) – The Friends of Iolani Palace will receive $499,629 from the National Park Service and its partner agencies’ Save America’s Treasures grant. The monies will go towards repair and rehabilitation of the roof of Iolani Palace.
The National Park Service, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services earlier announced $15.5 million in Save America’s Treasures grants to help fund 49 projects in 29 states.
“We are incredibly grateful to be among the projects included in the Save America’s Treasures list of grantees,” said Paula Akana, Executive Director of The Friends of Iolani Palace. “This award underscores the importance of preserving history and helps us to ensure that the stories of our alii and the impact they had in Hawaii and around the world continue to be told.”
The Iolani Palace roof project is being funded by the Underrepresented Communities grant program, through the Historic Preservation Fund, and administered by the National Park Service, Department of Interior. The Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will provide the program’s required matching funds to complete the project.
“Iolani Palace has stood for nearly 140 years and we are pleased to support and partner with the Friends of Iolani Palace to protect and preserve this National Historic Landmark for future generations,” said Curt Cottrell, Administrator of DLNR’s Division of State Parks.
Repair and restoration work to the Palace’s roof will include: removing, reinstalling and/or replacing approximately 9,000 square feet of slate roofing; treating cast iron elements along the roofline; removing and neutralizing rust damage, and repairing the glass cupola and skylights. The improved and restored roof will mitigate water damage into the Palace and protect the thousands of cultural objects housed within, while preserving its historic appearance.
“From the Rose Bowl Stadium in California to Lucy the Elephant in New Jersey, the Save America’s Treasures program seeks to preserve and rehabilitate some of the most significant and iconic American structures and collections. Together with our partners, these grants help enable museums, states, Tribes, local governments, and nonprofits to fulfill their preservation work for future generations to experience, learn from, and enjoy,” said NPS Deputy Director Shawn Benge.
From 1999 to 2019, Save America’s Treasures has provided over $339 million to more than 1,300 projects to provide preservation and conservation work on nationally significant collections, artifacts, structures and sites. Requiring a dollar-for-dollar private match, these grants have leveraged more than $479 million in private investment and contributed more than 16,000 jobs to local and state economies. These awards of $15.5 million will leverage more than $20 million in private and public investment.
About Iolani Palace
Iolani Palace is the only official residence of royalty in the United States. King Kalakaua was the first reigning monarch to travel around the world and built Iolani Palace in 1882 to enhance the prestige of Hawaii overseas and to mark Hawaii’s status as a modern nation. For more information, please call Iolani Palace at (808) 522-0822 or visit www.iolanipalace.org.
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