Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 2, 1 February 1988 — Makaku [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Makaku

By Rocky Ka'iouliokahihikolo 'Ehu Jensen

Excuse Me?

In January, Will Hoover of the Honolulu Advertiser wrote about a Hungarian-born sculptor named Peter Toth. The story goes that "Wolf' Toth carved "whispering giants" from whoie trees in commemoration of the greatness of this "land of the free". A noble enterprise to say the least. He has chosen as his subject the "natives" of this land . . . natives from Alaska to Florida and now Hawai'i. Hoover noted that Toth has expressed a desire to carve a Polynesian statue. Toth, however, met with an obstacle in the guise of Sam Ka'ai and myself. The story goes on to say that Toth was STUNNED " to encounter a bureaucratic and cultural log-jam more monstrous than his own creation." Ka'ai explained to Toth that he admired his talent but that it would be a breach of artistic protocol if he eame into a native land and took it upon himself to re-create an ancestral, albeit ambiguous, ancestral image of ITS people . . . and then, because of the media blitzreceived from his highly visible endeavours it being placed in a prominent location . . . a further boost to his fame. Ka'ai further explained the unfortunate plight of native artists who are unable to create such monuments for placement in prominent places. Toth did not understand. Instead, he was STUNNED that this land of aloha could not accommodate him. He said that if a Polynesian representation would be TOO CONTROVERSIAL, he would carve an American Native, and plaee THAT in one of our prominent places. This time, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Chamber of Commerce and City and County of Honolulu, turned him down by saying that "we do not participate in such projects" and "the proposed statue would not be appropriate for any of our state parks." Toth's last word was "One way or the other, I WILL be there." Sad? For whom? This is a perfect example of a person not having the sensitivity of understanding the plight of another people. I have been trying for three years to create a monument for our people and donate it free of charge to Bishop Estate. So far red tape has prevented me from going any further on my project. I also have a long standing contract with the Army (eight years) in creating a monument for our fallen heroes for the entrance to their Army museum. The red tape in question boggles the mind. I am sure that others have had the same experience.

And there is also the knowledge that OUR "whispering giants" would probably not receive nahonal and international publicity. We certainly wouldn't be on national television or in the New York Times. We would be creating something from the heart, commemorating the greatness of our own people. It is most unfortunate that we have these types eome to Hawai'i and think they are doing US a favor by commemorating OUR people without really knowing us. When an explanation is given, they just don't understand what the problem could be. Until we have equality . . . artistic equality in our own land . . . we will eonhnue to be disgruntled and argue the point. No one has the right to carve a native anything without the express permission of that native group. It is in bad taste to go into a plaee and "make house" and then resent when you are delicately introduced to the problems that the occupants of that house are having. Toth should have understood and joined with artists of this land to make a stronger statement. Instead, he chose the path of the ha'ole and thought of himself, his project, his goal, his perception of unity, his ego. When I spoke to Hoover, I made him understand the reasons why the native artist feels the way he does. Of course, he did not know, having only interviewed Toth (by phone) and not Ka'ai or myself. Hoover closed his article by saying, "The last state in Amenea is going to have a 'whispering giant' as far as Toth is eoncerned." Where the statue will stand and in whieh native likeness, however, may be a matter the Gods must decide. It's in safe hands then . . . our Akua will not permit such a travesty. Remember that it isn't his intention but his insensitivity that is at question here. Mai ka po mai 'oia 'i'o.