Hawai'i Alliance for Arts Education

»	King Kamehameha I Statue Conservation Project

Project Description
Hula ki'i or "image dance" workshops and performances—presented by a team of traditional artists, including hula ki'i master John Lake—provided a foundation for the rural community of North Kohala, Hawai'i to resolve a restoration question regarding a revered sculpture of Kamehameha I, Hawai'i's first king. Hula ki'i events engaged community elders, youth, and adults in creative interaction and dialogue around the question of whether the sculpture should be restored to the originally intended gold and bronze finish or whether to continue a community tradition of painting it in lifelike colors. In the face of regional development, these restoration dialogues also provided a vehicle for exploring interrelated issues of protecting and maintaining the community's unique cultural landscape while providing access to economic opportunity for its residents. An exhibit was developed including photos, memorabilia, and artworks created by school children to tell the story of North Kohala from the perspective of elders, recently arrived residents, and young people. This project experimented with public decision-making through the linkage of heritage preservation with cultural, political, and economic issues.