Featured Project: Stained Glass Restoration for the Pearl Harbor Window

The Pearl Harbor Memorial Window belongs to the Moanalua Community Church in Honolulu, Hawaii and is a stunning tribute to those who have devoted their lives to service. When the window began to suffer deterioration, our team was asked to perform a stained glass restoration. Our San Antonio experts worked with skill and devotion to repair the damaged memorial and restore it to its former glory.

Stained Glass Restoration: The Historic Pearl Harbor Window

The attack on Pearl Harbor is considerable one of the most significant events in U.S. history. On December 7, 1941, Japanese forces initiated a surprise attack that resulted in the deaths of 2,403 U.S. personnel, including 68 civilians. To honor the heroic servicemen who gave their lives on this fateful day, a beautiful memorial was made out of stained glass.

The stained glass is housed in the Moanalua Community Church and is an exquisite work of art. The design features an array of symbols relating to both the U.S. and religions from around the world. It is a lovely representation of unity and a tribute to those who have selfless sacrificed their lives through acts of service.

Unfortunately, in recent years, the stained glass had started to crack and deteriorate. It seaside location had caused it to be exposed to continual harsh weather conditions, salt, and strong winds. Over time, cracks had formed in the glass and the metal had begun to buckle. The woodwork on the exterior was also rotting and in need of replacement.

How We Approached the Repairs

Typically, we perform repairs in our studio. We drive out to the location, remove the stained glass, then drive back with it to our studio. However, because this window was located overseas, we decided the best approach was to ship it. Instead of removing every single panel, we decided to focus on the 30% that were in the worst condition. This was the most cost-conservation option for the church.

We created custom wood crates, which we used to pack up and transport the panels. The crates were shipped by ocean freight. We then completed the repairs in house and sent them back. Then, our team flew back to Hawaii, unpacked the crates, and re-installed the stained glass.

Now, the stained glass looks better than it has in years. The restored panels will last another 100 years and the ones we didn’t repair still have a good amount of time left before they need to be fixed. The church was satisfied with this outcome and so we were! History will live on in the stained glass!

Learn More

If you’re interested in learning more about this project or our services for stained glass restoration in San Antonio, please contact our office directly.