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Jailhouse Blues.....For several years we had actively prayed that our Old Hana Jailhouse wouldn't fall over. It was leaning mauka so if it did fall it probably wouldn't have slid into the Hana Bay. Maui County generously provided a seed grant of $7,500 to help us raise the necessary $27,500 to restore this historic landmark. The Old Jail is on the National Register of Historic Places so there were many considerations that had to be addressed as we began restoration and repairs. We were able to secure a bank loan to proceed with the restoration and now we need your help to repay this $20,000 loan.

As an example of the challenges involved in performing a restoration in our very remote location, our contractor Bart Hrast Construction ordered the lumber from a mill in Oregon. The specifications were for rough cut, kiln dried wood to the original sizes of the 1936 rebuild. The wood we received was rough cut, but not kiln dried so the wood began to warp almost immediately. Bart Hrast had to reorder the wood causing quite a delay, but it all worked out. The Hana Art Barn was very grateful for the generous donation of shelving provided through the error of the lumber mill. They were very kind in making good the original order.

All of the iron bars, hinges, lock hasps and general hardware was removed, sandblasted and treated with a powerful rust inhibitor. One of the original hasps was missing and Coila found an iron worker who created a new one matching the others. It was done as a donation to project.

As we replaced the rotted timbers, salvagable wall pieces from inside the jail were set aside to create small plaques from the old wood. We are offering them as mementos to donors of the restoration project. They are ready for hanging and measure 5" x 7" in size. They are made from the inside wood of the jail, ("if these walls could talk,") and are hand printed with a special image of the Jail created by local Hana Artists Jozef Smit and Faith O'Toole. Included on the plaque is a rare square nail from the original Hana Courthouse which was restored in 1989. Your donation of $100 will bring you one of these old wood plaques. Because the old square nail is in limited supply we will be offering plaques made without a antique square nail for a $50 donation.

We are also offering note cards and T-shirts printed with the actual blue print of the jail used in the restoration and repair efforts. Each box of note cards contains 9 cards in three different views from the blue prints and are available for a donation of $10 per box. The T-shirts are available for a $15 donation with all three designs laid out with one design on the front "pocket" area and the remaining two on the back. They are light blue with dark blue ink to beautifully enhance the blue print designs. Please specify the sizes that you would like to receive.

To own an authentic piece of Hana history for your wall or as a hansome gift for a friend of Hana, or any of these Old Hana Lock-up restoration premiums, please complete the Commemorative Jail Restoration Premiums below.

Of course, if you simply want to make a donation to the restoration fund, we would be most grateful for that also. Thank you for your continued support!