Late Wednesday afternoon, a couple drove up to the center and said they had found the 100-pound statue.

“The staff was very excited,” said QLCC executive director Claire Asam. “We ran out to take a look and they had the statue in the back of their truck.”

The couple said they were driving along in Kalihi Valley and they saw something in the bushes off on the side of the road. They stopped, got out and took a look.

“The woman said you know, when I saw it, I knew it was yours,” Asam said.

Asam said the statue was found lying on its side in the brush, but it wasn’t damaged at all. Still, it will be cleaned before being replaced in the courtyard.

“We’re enhancing security in the courtyard and we’ll be permanently securing her to the pedestal where she was standing. Our goal is to do this all by September 2nd, her birthday, so we’re working real hard to get all of that done.”

Though the other stolen items remain unaccounted for, Asam said the statue of the Queen is a powerful symbol for the work of the organization, and the staff is so grateful for its safe return.

“For us at the Childrens’ Center, it’s a visual reminder of her legacy and her charge to us to take care of Hawaiian orphaned and destitute kids. And we’ve carried on even though the statue hasn’t been here, but it’s such a beautiful statue and it was just such a void when that pedestal is empty.”