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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 1:15 p.m., Tuesday, July 17, 2007

New kid-created dragon protecting Chinatown corner

Advertiser Staff

A new protective dragon is watching over the corner of Nu'uanu Avenue and North Kukui Street — created by children in Chinatown and scheduled to be blessed tomorrow.

The 30-foot dragon was created by 40 Chinatown children working with artists Karen Lucas, Maile Yawata, and Quala-Lynn Young over the past three weeks.

A blessing ceremony to open the dragon's eyes, symbolizing the dragon coming to life, will be held at noon tomorrow.

The skin of the dragon was painted by participants of First Friday in the Park, a hands-on free workshop held the First Friday of each month at Smith-Beretania Park.

Residents and artists chose that corner as the dragon's home as part of their ongoing effort to reclaim the neighborhood. On that corner there was a fatal shooting a year ago and last month four boys were hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle in an accident.

Dragons are often seen as the symbol of divine protection that are able to ward off wandering evil spirits, protect the innocent and bestow safety.

The dragon project was organized by The ARTS at Marks Garage, a project of the Hawai'i Arts Alliance in conjunction with EAH Housing and the Weed and Seed program, with support from the State Foundation for Culture and the Arts.