Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 5, 1 May 2017 — Which Kamehameha III statue belongs in Thomas Square? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Which Kamehameha III statue belongs in Thomas Square?

Final selection to be made May 11 ByTreenaShapiro

The city and state both have extensive puhlie art collections but very few statues of ali'i between them, says Misty Kela'i, executive director of the Mayor's Office on Culture and the Arts. "We have King Kamehameha 'Ekahi on King Street. But where is King Kamehameha II?" she asks. "We're working on King Kamehameha III to be unveiled at Lā Ho'iho'i Ea. That's one of the mayor's priorities to honor Thomas Square." Six artists have submitted proposals and there's still time to suggest improvements and adjustments to how the king should be depicted, Kela'i emphasizes. Should Kauikeaouli be a young king or a seasoned monarch? How should he carry himself? What should he wear, or hold in his hands? MOCA really wants to know what you think before the Commission on Culture and the Arts makes a hnal determination at its puhlie meeting on May 1 1 . "Kauikeaouli was the longest ruling ali'i. He started the Royal Hawaiian Band, whieh also belongs to our city. We're trying to tie that all in to make the park culturally pono again," says Kela'i. The statue will be unveiled on July 3 1, 2018, the 175th anniversary of Lā Ho'iho'i Ea - Restoration Day - whieh commemorates the restoration of Hawaiian sovereignty after five months of British occupation. On June 3 1, 1843, the British flag was lowered and the Hawaiian flag raised in its plaee at Kulaokahu'a, as the Thomas Square area was called then. At the ceremony, Kauikeaouli proclaimed "Ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono" (The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness), whieh heeame the state motto. The Hawaiian flag

will fly near the new statue of Kamehameha III. Mock-ups of the proposed statues are on display for the puhlie at MOCA's headquarters in the Mission Memorial Building on King Street. Maquettes, digital renderings and the artists' written descriptions are available to help inform your opinion on the artists and their iniīial submissions. "Maybe they like this part and not that part. The artist is more than flexible to listen," Kela'i says. "It's not like pa'a, you know what I mean? We ean adjust." Testimony could address whether certain elements are „ - culturally appropri-

ate. The six proposHawai'i, Montana, and Oregon. The hnal

als eome from k California

ists were selected from ^ a pool of 88 artists based on their qualifications, then

they presented their proposals at a puhlie Commission meeting in March. The artists are Lynn Liverton, Kim Duffett and Dale Zarella of Hawai'i; Gareth Curtiss of Montana; J. Miehael Wilson of California; and Jay Warren of Oregon.

Laeh proposal tocuses on a ditterent aspect of Keaukeaouli's life. Curtiss's maquette shows an older king in regalia, whieh would be roughly double life-sized and displayed on a pedestal. His arms are crossed, whieh leads Kela'i to point out that, "In the Hawaiian culture, this is not good. His arms could be open," she suggests. "These are all why we're trying to get people interested and weleome their testimony."

Liverton proposes a young king in court garb on horseback, as he ^ arrived at the original Lā Ho'iho'i Ea flanked by his household troops. Rear Admiral Richard Thomas of the

British Royal Navy rode in Kamehameha III's carriage. Wilson also depicts a young Kauikeaouli, including iconography such as the Constitution, books for literacy and a eape in the background, says MOCA Registrar E. Tory Laiīila, who provided an overview of eaeh proposal. "That iconography ean change." In that maquette, Kauikeaouli is wearing King Kamehameha I's eloak. "His eloak is draping on the ground and you would never had that," says Kela'i, whose kumu made that comment. "Again, these artists would be more than happy to adjust." Warren's proposal shows Kamehameha III in court dress again, with a hand raised toward a wall; he would be gesturing toward the flag if selected. Duffet puts a young Kamehameha in casual dress - holding the Consti-

tution and a quill while wearing a shirt and waistcoat. Linally, Zarella proposes a larger than life image of the monarch with some written interpretation.

Written testimony must be received by May 1 1 at 4 p.m. Testimony may be emailed to moca-info@honolulu.gov or mailed to Mayor's Office of Culture & the Arts, Commission on Culture & the Arts, i 550 South King St., Honoi lulu, HI 96813. Verbal testimony will A be taken during the Comv mission meeting on May 1 1 at 4 p.m. in the Mission Memorial Hearinas Room.

The decision will be made at that meeting. Lor more information, eall 768-6622 oremailmoca-info@honolulu.gov. ■

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The puhlie is encouraged to comment on e the six proposals, whieh ean be seen L in the Mission Memohal Building. - ,fI Photos: īreena Skpiro