Kamehameha statue in Kapa'au restored
Advertiser Staff
The King Kamehameha statue in Kapa'au on the Big Island will be rededicated June 10 following major restoration work based on a public vote to retain its lifelike colors.
Sculpture conservator Glenn Wharton worked with residents for 18 months to research the statue's importance to the community and to incorporate their concerns into its new design. At the same time, the Hawai'i Alliance for Arts Education engaged the North Kohala community in a series of activities, such as hula ki'i (image dance), art projects and a student debate, to explore ways to preserve their cultural heritage.
The Kapa'au statue is the original bronze commissioned by the Hawaiian Legislature in 1878. When the statue was lost in a shipwreck in transit from Europe to Hawai'i, a second one was commissioned and installed in Honolulu. When the original statue was recovered, it was taken to Kapa'au, birthplace of the king. A third, identical statue stands in Hilo.
In December, North Kohala residents voted to keep the tradition of painting the statue rather than returning it to the original bronze and gold-leaf appearance intended by the artist, Thomas Ridgeway Gould.
The actual conservation work included removing all of the paint, fixing structural defects, inhibiting future corrosion, cleaning and repainting. Mark Bowden, a professional painter from Kona, applied the epoxy primer and top coat, while the painting was handled by Wharton; Michael Jones, a sculpture maintenance technician based on O'ahu; and Nalani Cabrera of Kohala.
The process began in late February and took approximately five weeks.
The restorers used poly-urethane paint, designed primarily for use on automobiles because of its ability to withstand rain, wind and ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Wharton met with a team of community leaders to select the colors, and took the decision to local kupuna for further input.
The final colors for the 8 1/2-foot-tall statue were brown for the skin, sandals and spear, yellow for the 'i'iwi feathers, red for 'o'o feathers, tan for the cloak's interior, white for the whites of his eyes, and black for the hair and pupils.
A video has been developed to train residents on the routine maintenance and care of the sculpture, under the supervision of a conservator. Students in the Hawaiian studies class at Kohala High and Intermediate School will be involved in the maintenance.
The June 10 rededication will begin at 10:30 a.m. and includes a blessing of the restored statue and hula ki'i presentation based on the life of Kamehameha the Great. A public celebration will follow June 11 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring lei draping, food, music, hula and educational exhibits. A pa'u princess parade will begin at 9 a.m. from Hawi to the statue and on to Kamehameha Park.
