Iconic bridge in Hilo park to be rebuilt

One of the most recognizable structures in Lili‘uokalani Gardens, the vermilion wooden bridge pavilion, will undergo a complete rebuild because of extensive termite damage.

Preparation for the bridge removal began Wednesday in the Hilo park, and following a blessing ceremony, the removal of the bridge structure is scheduled to take place this morning.

A new bridge with a design matching the old one will be rebuilt in its place, according to a press from the mayor’s office.

The work coincides with the regular maintenance schedule for the park, which will be closed today.

The bridge rebuild is being led by the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation and the Friends of Lili‘uokalani Gardens, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the garden.

“Every garden, especially those of a certain age, needs fostering that goes beyond just maintenance,” said K.T. Cannon-Eger, president of the Friends of Lili‘uokalani Gardens. “To foster Lili‘uokalani Gardens, to carry it forward to the future while maintaining the feeling of the last 108 years, means every now and then something needs to be replaced.

“This bridge will be rebuilt close to the original design and will continue to be a special place for many years to come.”

The bridge being removed is not the original.

The original and its successor were destroyed by tsunamis in 1946 and 1960, respectively. The bridge that is being replaced was built following the 1960 tsunami.

The stone base of the bridge is not being removed.

The bridge pavilion will be rebuilt by Parks and Recreation carpenters, who already have reconstructed other pavilions within Lili‘uokalani Gardens.

The wooden bridge has been several colors in its lifetime: green, brown, tan, red, and now vermilion, a red-orange color recommended by a garden designer from Kyoto. When the bridge is rebuilt it will continue to be vermilion, or “shuiro” in Japanese, a color that holds special significance in Japanese culture.

“This bridge is an important feature of Lili‘uokalani Gardens, and we know there are a lot of memories attached to it,” said Mayor Mitch Roth in the press release “By rebuilding, we can ensure the longevity and integrity of this unique structure and its continued connection to the community.”

The press release did not state how much it will cost to replace the bridge.

Lili‘uokalani Gardens is a 25-acre park originally established in 1917 by the Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii and dedicated to the memory of Queen Lili‘uokalani. The majority of the park is designed as a Japanese-style garden.

For more information about the park, visit Friends of Lili‘uokalani Gardens webiste at www.liliuokalanigardens.org.