On June 15, 2018, a vehicle crashed into the exterior wall of the Old Lahaina Prison, damaging a buttress before leaving the scene. The damage scattered the coral blocks that were originally part of the fort at Lahaina Harbor.

LAHAINA – Restoration of one of the buttresses on the exterior wall of the Old Lahaina Prison will be completed before the end of the year, Lahaina Restoration Foundation reported.

The foundation has acquired all necessary permits and received a laboratory analysis to accurately recreate the 1852 lime mortar.

On June 15, 2018, a vehicle crashed into the exterior wall, damaging a buttress before leaving the scene.

The damage scattered the coral blocks that were originally part of the fort at Lahaina Harbor.

Thanks to generous donors, LRF was able to raise $10,000 for an authentic restoration of the damaged buttress.

A significant amount of time has been dedicated to securing permits to start the restoration, as well as a proper analysis of the mortar composition used in the original wall construction.

LRF has obtained a Special Area Management Permit and a Historic District Permit. The foundation learned the project is exempt from a Building Permit.

LRF has also received lab results allowing for a formulation of lime mortar as close as possible to the 1852 original.

The last step is to coordinate the restoration with a mason skilled in historically accurate construction.

Masons skilled with using lime mortar instead of modern concrete are a rarity in today’s construction world.

The project is nearing the end of preparations, and restoration will be underway soon.

LRF Executive Director Theo Morrison said, “I have great confidence that the wall repairs will be complete by the end of 2019.”

Contact Lahaina Restoration Foundation at (808) 661-3262, e-mail info@lahainarestoration.org or visit www.lahainarestoration.org for information on historic sites and upcoming events.