Bronze bust of Bruddah Iz is finally here
By Will Hoover
Advertiser Leeward O'ahu Writer
Yesterday, the wife of Israel "Bruddah Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole became the first person on O'ahu to see the long-awaited bust of the late singer.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
The 200-pound bronze bust arrived from California via air cargo Tuesday en route to its final destination — the Wai'anae Coast — and weekend ceremonies expected to draw hundreds of people.
Councilman Mike Gabbard and Marlene Kamakawiwo'ole, widow of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, get a look at the plaque that was flown in from California along with the sculpture of the singer. The bust, still under wraps, will be unveiled Saturday.
Marlene Kamakawiwo'ole and Honolulu City Council member Mike Gabbard opened the crate shortly after noon yesterday at Big Rock Manufacturing in Mapunapuna, the company providing the pedestal for the bust.
"It was kind of chicken-skin," Gabbard said after opening the crate. He said he knew everything was OK as soon as Marlene Kamakawiwo'ole saw the bust and smiled.
The news media were not allowed to photograph the bust, which will remain draped until the official unveiling on Saturday.
Gabbard, who spearheaded the successful drive to raise $20,000 and get the bust to O'ahu from a foundry in Berkeley, Calif., said the sculpture appeared to be in excellent condition.
The same could not be said of the concrete base on which the pedestal and sculpture will be placed tomorrow at the Wai'anae Neighborhood Community Center.
The base was poured Monday by volunteers from the Iron Workers Union, Local 625.
What: Unveiling of the bronze bust of Bruddah Iz When: Event starts at 2 p.m. Saturday Where: Wai'anae Neighborhood Community Center, 85-670 Farrington Highway
Within 48 hours it had been vandalized.
At a glance
Gabbard and the bust's sculptor, Jan-Michelle Sawyer, who arrived in Honolulu on Tuesday, visited the unveiling site yesterday morning and were startled to see that the base had been marred by graffiti.
"I don't know who Tina and Buddah are, but 'Tina loves Buddah' has now been engraved in this concrete slab," said Gabbard in disbelief. "It's not just one little 'Tina loves Buddah'; it was about three or four in different sizes and shapes."
Gabbard said the graffiti would be removed from the base before the unveiling Saturday afternoon, and volunteers would remain with the sculpture and at the site around the clock until then.
The Iz bust project had been plagued by setbacks and financial obstacles since Sawyer began work on the sculpture in August 2001. A month later, in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, contributions came to a halt.
Since March, Gabbard has raised all the money needed to pay for the completion of the sculpture.
Meanwhile, contributions continue to come from Iz fans as far away as Alaska and the East Coast, and points in between. Money not used toward the cost of the bust or its installation will go toward a scholarship fund to be administered in Iz's name.
On Saturday, guests arriving at 2 p.m. will be greeted by the sounds of Iz's music playing over a loudspeaker system. The official program will begin a half-hour later with brief comments by Gabbard, Sawyer and Marlene Kamakawiwo'ole. The unveiling will take place at 3 p.m., followed by a traditional blessing, Gabbard said.
"I got tears in my eyes just hearing about the program," said Sawyer. She said she had been moved by the efforts of so many in making the unveiling a reality.
Gabbard said the bust will be installed on its pedestal at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
As for the Saturday ceremonies, "we've got a huge tent," he said. "We will have seating for 500. And I tell you, this is going to be big."
Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8038.
