After nearly a decade of silence, the bells at Hawaii Preparatory Academy (HPA) are ringing once more. Suspended in a tower of wood and steel above Waimea on the Island of Hawaii, the four bells are central to the Vladimir Ossipoff-designed Davies Chapel—a landmark of mid-century Hawaiian modernism. Their restoration was a multi-year effort initiated by Partner Greg Warner in collaboration with HPA, contractor Reed Fitz-Gerald, and Spearhead.
For Greg, the project is deeply personal. He attended HPA from third grade through high school graduation, spending his formative years immersed in the campus that shaped his early understanding of architecture. As a student, he drew inspiration from Ossipoff’s work—and even rang these same bells. Those experiences left a lasting imprint, setting the foundation for his life and career in design.
Over the years, however, the tower’s exposed structure—originally built from large ohia trunks—had deteriorated to the point of becoming unsafe, and it was removed in 2016. Recognizing the cultural and architectural significance of Ossipoff’s design, Greg helped spur the effort to return the tower to its rightful place as part of a broader campus revitalization.
“Helping to ‘raise the bells’ again was the least I could do, given what HPA has meant to me—both as a student and as an alumnus. Without question, the chapel and its bells will always inspire me.”
He describes the restoration as “the perfect manifestation of kuleana”—the reciprocal relationship between a person and what they choose to care for and protect, and the shared benefit that comes from that commitment. Donors, collaborators, and alumni from around the world contributed their time, expertise, and resources to bring the project to life.
The bells, cracked and weathered, were shipped to their original Ohio foundry for repair. Spearhead fabricated a new 12-by-12-foot steel frame, which was then wrapped in ohia—an intentional nod to Ossipoff’s sensitivity to site and material. The primary structure was completed in time for the Class of 2025’s graduation, with final details finished in the fall. Now, at 8:15 every Monday morning, the school week begins with the ringing of the bells.
