Saturday: Kaua‘i Museum hosting free event with author of new book on island statues, monuments

Kaua‘i is replete with monuments, memorials and statues honoring the Garden Isle’s immersive, varied past.

Many have seen the towering World Peace Kannon outside the Kaua‘i Soto Zen Temple in Hanapēpē, the semicircular bronze at the Old Sugar Mill of Kōloa and the statue of King Kaumuali’i and Queen Deborah Kapule – the last independent rulers of the island – gazing over Rice Street in Līhu‘e. They are evidently impressive, but who erected them, and why?

The Kaua‘i Museum on Saturday will host Honolulu-based author and city planner Cheryl Soon, whose new book, “Remembering History and Honoring Culture,” explores the stories of statues and monuments found throughout the Hawaiian Islands of Kaua‘i, Big Island, Maui and Moloka‘i – going beyond the words inscribed on nearby plaques.

“There are statues and monuments that many of us don’t know exist … You’ve got all these unknowns,” said Chucky Boy Chock, director of the museum. “I think that’s why this is going to be great.”

The Aug. 3 event running from noon to 3 p.m. is free to attend and will include complimentary food provided by South Shore restaurant Keoki’s Paradise. Soon will be accompanied by artist Karen Lucas, creator of the Chiefess Kamakahelei statue at the Līhu‘e middle school named in the ruler’s honor.

“She is an intriguing person,” Chock said of Kamakahelei. “She has all this mystique about her.”

The Rice Street statue of Kaumuali’i and Kapule, surrounded by a low fence often draped in lei, resides on the front lawn of the Kaua‘i Museum. According to Chock, the dual figures are unique: The legendary husband and wife are shown together nowhere else in Hawai‘i.

It’s quite possible the Rice Street king and queen represent the only example of statuary depicting any royal Hawaiian couple side-by-side, said Chock, who attributes this lack to a chauvinistic culture.

“You have the king by himself and you have queens and princesses by themselves. Rarely do you see them together,” he said. “I believe we’re the only ones because people comment about that: ‘Wow, you celebrate both of them.’ That comes up.”

The Kaua‘i Museum, in addition to Saturday’s event, has recently debuted a new permanent exhibit – one dedicated to kumu hula of Kaua‘i, or local teachers of that precious form of Hawaiian dance, hula.

The display located on the museum’s second floor includes instruments ranging from antique drums, some of the first ʻukulele introduced to Kaua‘i from Portugal and a 12-string guitar belonging to Roland Cazimero of the iconic Hawaiian musical group The Brothers Cazimero. The large double-necked guitar was fashioned by Kaua‘i luthier Mickey Sussman.

The new hula exhibit also touches upon topics including the nearly lost art of hula ki‘i, or hula incorporating puppets. It also features vibrant portraits of Kaua‘i kumu hula, some of whom now teach elsewhere in Hawai‘i or on the US mainland.

Chock is also busy raising the half a million dollars needed to construct “palace fencing” around the Kaua‘i Museum property.

The planned ornamental, six-foot barrier topped with points has been deemed necessary due to chronic unauthorized activity by unhoused individuals, according to the museum director.

“Times have changed … I don’t even want to mention what goes on at night here,” Chock said. “We’re constantly monitoring the place. We unfortunately had to put cameras everywhere.”

The last straw came when a $10,000 picture window was destroyed for the second time. The Kaua‘i Museum – a nonprofit organization – has since raised $150,000, but much more funding is needed.

The fence would be comparable to fences surrounding ʻIolani Palace in Honolulu and other historic sites. Local government officials and Rice Street business owners support the museum’s initiative, according to Chock, who said the fence would benefit the property’s aesthetics.

“It’s going to really make the museum look like a palace because it has this historical look,” he said. “It’s really going to enhance Līhu‘e town.”

For more information about Saturday’s free community event with author Cheryl Soon and other museum happenings, including weekly classes, visit Kauaimuseum.org.