Posted on: Thursday, December 6, 2001

MADD, Ehime Maru memorials approved

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Two memorials for Kaka'ako Waterfront Park were approved yesterday by the Hawai'i Community Development Authority — one to honor victims of drunken driving and the other for victims of the Ehime Maru tragedy.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving will construct a Victim Memorial to honor victims and survivors of drunken driving and other violent crime at the 'ewa end of the Kaka'ako Waterfront Park promenade.

Local artist John Koga designed the memorial, which will depict three figures with hollowed hearts expressing the feeling of loss. MADD Hawai'i has launched a $50,000 fund-raising campaign to build the 13 foot-high memorial and yesterday announced the first major gift, a $10,000 donation from Island Insurance Co.

"The memorial will serve as a reminder that too many real people with real families are killed or injured by the violent crime or impaired driving," said Yvonne Nelson, MADD Hawai'i chairwoman. "MADD's hope is that the memorial will reinforce the life-saving messages the organization works hard to get out each and every day here in Hawai'i."

Construction is expected to take about a year.

The authority yesterday also approved a memorial for the victims of the Ehime Maru. Nine men and boys were killed Feb. 9 when the USS Greeneville submarine slammed into the Japanese training vessel nine miles south of Diamond Head.

The memorial is designed by a graduate of Uwajima Fisheries High School, where the boys were students. The memorial will consist of nine sloping black-granite blocks, an anchor from the ship, the Uwajima Fisheries High School emblem, the location of the sinking and recovery operations, the names of those who lost their lives, the ship's final resting place, and the Aloha Tower.

The memorial is being paid for by the Japanese government. Officials hope to hold a dedication ceremony on the one-year anniversary of the accident.