A Year of Ossipoff Cabin Updates
In the last year, we have settled into routines at Ossipoff Cabin while continuing to consider how to expand upon the recent restoration and keep Ossipoff Cabin and Goodsill Cottage in a proper hosting state. Here, perched on the edge of a mountain, where mist and wind regularly visit and humidity is constant, the elements are a real consideration. The cabin’s unique location also means it is off-grid when it comes to water, so we are dependent on onsite water collection and storage. The things that make it so special – the historic nature, the unique location, the forest setting – also give us plenty to do. Below are the main projects we completed in the last year.
Mark Chai testing out his work in progress
The lamp in action!
The dining table lamp. We had a lovely light fixture over our dining table made by Mark Chai that graced the space for the last few years, but there is no rest for when it comes to matching the archives. This year, Mark returned with a hand-crafted lamp even closer to the original that once hung in the same space.
The bamboo sconce fixture at Goodsill Cottage
The new bamboo pendant lamp above the lanai
A bamboo pendant lamp. Similar to the intact bamboo sconce fixture on the Goodsill Cottage, Graham Hart created a bamboo pendant lamp for the Ossipoff Cabin on the lanai. Similar to the existing reference, the pendant lamp was made with bamboo sourced from the grove nearby. We like how it disappears into the other weathered materials of the cabin and blends in.
The bench abides
Securing the original Ossipoff Cabin bench. Out on the lanai is a spruce log bench that has lasted the test of time – we’ve found it in archival photos from Ossipoff’s time at the cabin. Brian Lam and Shan Liljestrand donated time to do some fixes around the cabins, including pinning the bench to its base with brass rods. This makes it super sturdy to sit on, and we hope will help it last for the next couple of generations of visitors to Pālehua.
Updating the shoji screens. Skilled carpenter Mark Enomoto came up to help fix some of the sliding doors at the cabin and took the set of shoji from the genkan area back to his shop to rebuild. They are now back in place and working great again.
Cleaning the water catchment tank! We recently disconnected our water catchment tank from the gutters and gave our water catchment tank a deep clean. (Thanks Jasmine!) This is the start of a bigger project we will be sharing more about in the future.
We also added an akari lamp donated by our collaborator Andrew Mau, swapped out the chair in the living room to a safari chair, and replaced the dining chairs with director chairs. Small things, but the magic is in the details.
Mahalo to everyone who has joined a workshop, group or private tour over the last year. It has enabled us to keep going and growing while considering the cabin’s long-term wellbeing. If you are interested in helping fund bigger restoration and maintenance projects, please reach out to us at maukacabins@palehua.org, we have plenty to discuss! More to come in 2026.