Kauaʻi Planning department seeking artists for Battle of Hanapēpē monument

More than 100 years ago, a deadly Labor Day clash between striking Filipino plantation workers and local police officers occurred in the Kauaʻi town of Hanapēpē, becoming one of the most tragic events in Hawaiʻi history with the deaths of 20 people.

To honor those who died at the Battle of Hanapēpē, also referred to as the Hanapēpē Massacre, the Kauaʻi County Planning Department is seeking artists, designers and architects from the Hawaiian chain and other regions to create a public art monument.

“This is long overdue,” said Eric Agena, district engineer with Kauaʻi’s Department of Accounting and General Services.

Agena, who maintains the Hanapēpē cemetery and is managing the memorial, said that in 2006 a plaque was placed next to the Hanapēpē U.S. Post Office that commemorates the 1924 Hanapēpē Battle. But it is not in the proximity of the cemetery, nor does it memorialize the victims.

The Hanapēpē art contest launched in July and is part of a $300,000 project that is set to be completed and installed by September 2026.

This initiative marks the initial phase of a two-part selection process to commission a design team or an individual artist to create a lasting tribute to the victims

The installation is set to be installed at the County-owned parcel at the intersection of Moi Road and Kaumuali’i Highway.

It will include an interpretive display to educate the public and residents about the 1924 Battle of Hanapēpē and other historically significant information.

“We are so excited because it’s important that we get an artist that not only represents the victims but all those who stood up for their rights,” Agena said.

The Hanapepe Massacre was a tragic turning point in Hawaii’s statewide strike by Filipino sugar plantation workers who were demanding a wage increase from $1 a day to $2 a day and a work day of 8 hours instead of 10.

The events began on Sept. 8, 1924, when two Ilocano men from Makaweli Plantation biked into Hanapēpē to buy shoes, according to information on the Kauaʻi County website.

The men were captured by labor strikers and held overnight at the strike headquarters located at the Japanese Language School, according to story maps.

The sheriffs, along with armed “Special Police,” arrived at the strike headquarters the next day with two warrants to “arrest” the captured men. A violent confrontation quickly ensued between the strikers and the sheriffs along the government road and on the bluff overlooking a banana patch.

When it was over, 16 Filipino plantation strikers and four sheriffs were dead, and many more were injured.

After the tragic event, the National Guard was sent to Kaua‘i to restore order. More than 100 strikers were arrested. Seventy-six Filipinos were indicted for rioting, and 58 pled guilty and received four years in prison.

Last September, the Planning Department held a special ceremony commemorating the centennial anniversary. It was attended by nearly 150 people, including government officials and dignitaries, community members, volunteers and descendants of those involved 100 years ago

On May 16, 2024, the Open Space Commission unanimously voted to acquire both Hanapēpē parcels, and a month later the Kaua‘i County Council approved two bills to expend up to nearly $1.5 million from the Public Access, Open Space, Natural Resources Preservation Fund for the acquisition. This year, the county purchased those parcels.

The monument is expected to help bring the community together to evoke peace and lessons learned.

“It’s important to remember all of our history,” said Jodi Sayejusa, a member of the Kauaʻi County Planning Committee. “Really, this is an effort brought forth by the community. We want to take this opportunity to feature a culturally important part of our Hanapēpē history.”

The selected monument should properly commemorate the individuals who lost their lives and reflect themes of peacemaking, understanding, cooperation and respect for life, according to a county news release. It also should be suited for outdoor weather.

“The realization is, this was such a significant event that occurred here,” Agena said. “We hope this monument spurs the imagination; we hope it has a deep personal connection that also acknowledges the right side of history.”

Agena also hopes an updated plaque with names can be placed closer to the cemetery.

Sayejusa said only one entry has been submitted. She encourages all artists to submit before the Sept. 1 deadline.

The Planning Department will send a copy of all submissions to community members, stakeholders and government officials.

The selection committee will review all entries based on specific criteria and recommend up to three qualified finalists, who will receive a stipend of $5,000 to develop a full design proposal.

“We encourage everyone to submit as soon as possible, said Sayejusa. “If something comes in after Sept. 1, that’s also great. We want to make sure everyone who’s interested is involved.”

Finalists must be available for an in-person presentation and interview with the selection committee regarding the model.

The artwork is set to be installed by Labor Day 2026.

Submissions can be sent via mail to the County of Kauaʻi Planning Department, 4444 Rice St., Suite A473, in Līhuʻe, or by email at planningdepartment@kauai.gov.

To learn more about the 1924 Battle of Hanapēpē, click here.