There are more than 80 public monuments and sculptures available for adoption throughout O'ahu, said Mayor Mufi Hannemann.

"Public sculptures beautify and enhance our community," he said.

Participating organizations who adopt will assist the city with routine upkeep of public art for five years. Training in art preservation techniques will be provided by the staff of the Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts.

General maintenance of public sculptures takes place in one of the following cycles: monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually, biennially, or five years. The type of maintenance required depends on the type, condition and material composition of the sculpture.

"Becoming involved in the Adopt-a-Sculpture program is an opportunity for organizations to express their civic pride, be actively involved in the preservation of public art, and embrace the arts during National Arts and Humanities Month in Honolulu," Hannemann said.

Since 1993, National Arts and Humanities Month has encouraged millions of Americans to renew or begin a lifelong habit of active participation in the arts and humanities. The celebration grew out of National Arts Week, which was started in 1985 by the National Endowment for the Arts and Americans for the Arts.