Renovations to the St. Margaret Mary Chapel at Sacred Hearts Academy are expected to be completed by the end of the year, according to school officials. The project began three years ago and focuses on restoring aging features while preserving the historic character of one of the campus’ most significant spaces.
Despite the ongoing construction, the chapel has remained in use for school liturgies, prayer services, Alumnae Forum and choir performances. Administrators say the renovations aim to maintain the chapel’s role as a central gathering place for the Academy community, and school leaders hope the work will be completed in time for major liturgies and graduation ceremonies in May.
“The goal is to make the St. Margaret Mary Chapel into a beautiful, sacred space where we can praise, worship and pray,” Academy President Brandy Ann Sato said.
Much of the work involves repairing and restoring the chapel’s stained-glass windows, which require specialized craftsmanship. According to Sato, finding workers with the necessary expertise has been one of the project’s biggest challenges.
“There is only one stained-glass specialist in Hawaii who can do this work,” Sato said, noting that the same artist designed the stained-glass windows at the Sacred Hearts Church located on the campus of Punahou School.
Because of the limited number of specialists and the care required to preserve historic features, the renovation process has taken longer than initially expected. School leaders say the slower pace helps ensure the chapel’s architectural details are restored properly.
“We want to make sure we take our time to protect and restore these pieces,” Sato said.
Students have also observed the renovation process over the past several years. Scaffolding has lined the chapel walls, and some pews have been temporarily removed to allow workers access to certain areas.
Senior Cassandra Morete said she has noticed the construction throughout her time at the Academy.
“At the very start of my freshman year, I’ve been watching them work on these projects, and I would wonder how long it would take until we saw the finished project,” Morete said.
Construction noise has occasionally been noticeable in nearby classrooms.
“I remember last year when we were in Mr. Barthel’s classroom, it was very loud, and it disturbed a lot of students who were trying to learn,” Morete said.
The renovation project is being supported through donations and fundraising efforts as part of a broader effort to maintain and preserve historic spaces on campus. The total cost of the restoration project has not been disclosed by the school.
Sato said the school community has played an important role in supporting the project financially, with contributions from donors and supporters helping make the restoration possible.
Plans for the renovation began after Sato became president a few years ago and conducted a walk-through of the campus with school leaders, including Sister Katherine Francis and Chief Operating Officer Randy Iwashita. During the walk-through, administrators identified several areas that needed attention, including the chapel.
“We dreamed very big about forthcoming renovations,” Sato said.
School leaders say the completed project will help preserve the chapel for future generations while continuing to support the spiritual life of the Academy community.
