Kilauea School unveiled a sculpture this week that celebrates two of Hawai‘i’s endangered species, the Hawaiian monk seal and the green sea turtle. The 1,500-pound marble cube with monk seals swimming across the top and honu floating on all four
Kilauea School unveiled a sculpture this week that celebrates two of Hawai‘i’s endangered species, the Hawaiian monk seal and the green sea turtle. The 1,500-pound marble cube with monk seals swimming across the top and honu floating on all four sides was carved by California artist Warren Arnold. Arnold’s impetus for donating the piece was one founded in ecological awareness.
In an e-mail read at the blessing Monday, Arnold wrote, “The larger message that came through with this project is that positive human intervention on behalf of an endangered species can help restore the population.”
This is not the artist’s first project to raise awareness around an endangered species. The Whale Project founded by Arnold nearly 20 years ago brought art and nature together as a way to honor the migrating California gray whales. Arnold carved seven marble “totems” of the whale from Italian marble. Each one was erected in a public place along the coast of Northern California. The project was made possible by donations and took 15 years to complete.
The North Shore Council, sponsored Arnold for Kauai’s own public art piece.
“When he finished the whale project he didn’t want to stop there,” said Charlie Bass, art collector and chair of the North Shore Council. “We chose Kilauea School because Hanalei School already had a nice piece of art and Kilauea didn’t.”
Lady Ipo presided over the blessing.
“Bless the children. Let them be inspired and be reminded by this art piece to care for everything around us,” she said.
Two students wrote essays celebrating the sea mammals.
Fifth grader Micah Arii-Keidser wrote: “(Honu) is a symbol of strength because of its shell. What ilio holo kai means to me is power from its fins n it moves quick through the water and its body is so smooth.”
Kahiwahiwa Davis, also in fifth grade, wrote: “(Monk seals and sea turtles) are strong because they always seem to swim around with pride in themselves.”
Although the sculptor was not able to attend he sent a blessing via an e-mail read by Bass.
Arnold wrote, “… the Whale Project wanted to honor your positive efforts that have led to the restoration of the population of the once endangered monk seal and Hawaiian green sea turtle. We have created a sculpture to depict the two animals in a state of peace and harmony as they should be.”
• Pam Woolway, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681, ext. 257 or pwoolway@kauaipubco.com
