The King is Home

King Kaumuali’i Statue Dedication Ceremony

Mahalo for enjoying the Virtual Dedication with us. We hope you will visit in person soon with friends & family. We appreciate any pohaku, flower, plant or song you may want to leave on the ahu at the entrance. Your makana will grow and build the foundation there with ours. We would also encourage you to post a picture of your visit on our FB page KauaiKingKaumualii so we may enjoy the company of the King together.

King Kaumuali’i Statue Piko Blessing and Groundbreaking Ceremony

Photo Gallery – Work on Site

Photo Gallery – Statue Update

KING KAUMUALIʻI RE-EMERGES

October 2020

Winter 2019: Funds Released & Permit Approval

Governor Ige released grant funds for the statue and construction of ahu and structure at Paʻulaʻula, Waimea Kaua‘i. He congratulated Dee Morikawa saying, “Mahalo for your work on behalf of the residents of your district to secure these funds. Projects such as these are critical components of the public infrastructure and contribute to building a better home for our kupuna, keiki, and all the residents of Hawai’i.”

Funds will be forthcoming as soon as DLNR codes and finalizes contract. Friends will go before BLNR on January 10th for SMA site approval within Historic & Coastal zone. Kaua’i County permits follow with an approximate 3 months process before foundation, pedestal and ahu may be constructed. Locals have committed to bringing hearts and hands to rebuilding this foundation for Kauaʻi’s beloved Mo’i Ali’i Kaumualiʻi.

Spring 2018: GIA Grant Awarded

Board and Friends gathered at Paʻulaʻula to express gratitude for the King and our good fortune in receiving a legislative Grant In Aid grant in the amount of $220,000 to erect the statue of King Kaumuali’i. Mahalo to Dee Morikawa, State Rep who persevered for two years on our behalf!

Spring 2017: King Tours The Island of Kauai

In Spring 2017, the bronze maquette of King Kaumualiʻi was honored at May Day at King Kaumualiʻi Elementary where classes performed hula, mele and oli in his honor, while paying special tribute to Auntie Aletha Kaohi, a descendant and Saim Caglayan, sculptor and creator of the maquette.

Former Board member andauthor, Lee Croft honored the King in book talks from his new biography, Kaumualiʻi and The Last of Hawaii’s God Kings, recently published and now available at Amazon. Interesting, new information translated from letters of Anton Shaeffer provide some interesting insight into his motive and intent for the year he spent on Kauaʻi. The full color painting by Brook Kapūkiniahi-Parker of Humehume reuniting with Kaumualiʻi at Papaʻenaʻena is profoundly touching and realistic. Look for other sightings around the island in the coming months; he is planning visits on the North Shore, with Mayor Carvalho, and will undoubtedly visit with Chiefess Kamakahelei.

Our grassroots efforts to erect the life-size bronze kicked off a successful Spring Solicitation Drive which provided funds in earnest toward this purpose. We we able to have the maquette digitally scanned, sized and the large molds made, and the artist has begun the sculpting work from the bottom up.
Additional fundraising events, including a Hoʻolaulea this October in Waimea, will help keep our momentum and progress as more Kauaʻi Friends support us to memorialize our last and great King Kaumualiʻi at Paʻulaʻula, where he welcomed the world to our shores. Watch our Facebook page to view the latest events and support our mission; the King re-emerging as a reminder to all of us of his legacy: Kauaʻi I Ka Maliē.

ʻA ʻohe hana nui ke aluʻia – No task is too big when done together by all

Spring 2017: Fundraising Helps King Kaumualiʻi Come to Life

A special mahalo nui e loa to all of Friends of King Kaumualiʻi who supported our 2017 spring fundraising campaign. To those that heard our kahea (our call) and saw our vision to help fund this statue memorializing Kauaʻiʻs last, great and peaceful AliʻI, we are grateful – over $9000 was raised!

From our smaller maquette, we were able to have computer scans made and sized up for life size molds, which for obvious reasons needed to be made in six sections. The artist, Saim Caglayan, has begun work at the feet of the King.

2017: Friends of King Kaumualiʻi Seek Grant to Erect Statue

Earlier this year, Friends of King Kaumualiʻi submitted a grant to state officials to help fund a bronze, life-size statue to honor Kauai’s last Aliʻi Nui. On March 17, 2017 Aletha Kaohi, President and founder of Friends of King Kaumualiʻi, presents the request to officials in the hope that a grant will help pay for a portion of the statue, which will be placed at Paʻulaʻula in Waimea (Russian Fort). The Friends of King Kaumualiʻi grant writing team has worked hard at writing the grant request and are grateful for the opportunity to present it at Friday’s hearing. With gratitude, they thank our State Representatives and State Senator President.

2016: 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Status & A County Grant Award

Friends of King Kaumuali`i received 501c3 federal non-profit status with a cultural/historical/educational designation. A county grant has been awarded to expand Na Mele O Kaumualiʻi event into He Inoa No Kaumualiʻi Hoʻolauleʻa – Na Makana Poinaʻole which will include a Kaumualiʻi themed student art contest and Kupuna directed traditional crafts to be made by participants.

2015: The 3ft. bronze maquette was completed

The 3ft. bronze maquette was completed and unveiled at a royal paʻina and luʻau at Smith’s Tropical Paradise in Wailua near where our Aliʻi was born at the sacred birthstones of Holoholoku. The maquette was created to travel the island and inspire residents to envision the full-scale model.

2014: Master Painter & Sculptor, Saim Caglayan

February, a stage play presented at Pa`ula`ula depicted historical moments in the King’s life. (See the article of For Kauai) It was repeated in 2015. The Friends were ably supported in these activities by the West Kaua`i Business and Professional Association.

World-renowned artist-sculptor, Saim Caglayan began work on a statue, using Keʻao NeSmith, Kauaʻi native and UH Hawaiian Language Professor as his model. When the nonprofit organization Friends of King Kaumuali`i was established in 2004 to fundraise for a statue of Kauai’s last king, the task was short lived due to their not finding a suitable picture of the king. It wasn’t until 2013 that a picture was revealed and accepted to be used to create first a 3-foot maquette and, later, an 8-foot statue.

• Read the cover story in the September issue of For Kauai.

• Click here to read the PDF Version on page 3.

2013: Statue of King Kaumualiʻi

Fundraising began in 2013 with a cover feature of King Kaumualiʻi on the September issue of the community monthly magazine, For Kauaʻi. The statue is to commemorate Kaumualiʻi’s life and his role in the history of Kauaʻi. Kaumualiʻi’s decision to cede Kauaʻi to Kamehameha I in 1810, prevented a slaughter of Kauaʻi peoples at the hands of insurmountable forces under Kamehameha’s command. That decision alone merits a statue as an everlasting honor. The goal for the statue is $80,000 to be erected at Paʻulaʻula (Russian Fort) in Waimea. Kaua`i Mayor proclaimed 2013-2014 the “Year of the King”, in honor of King Kaumuali`i (read more).

2013: a Proclamation of the “Year of King Kaumualiʻi”

Mayor Bernard Carvalho, by resolution, declared 2012-2013 (2013-2014 ?) as “The Year of the King.” A painting of the King by Brooke Kapukuniahi Parker was printed by the Hindu Monastery. Kauai District Superintendent Bill Arakaki assisted in distribution of these posters with an historical timeline for the King to every classroom on Kauai. At a local festival, Na Mele O Kaumualiʻi, original musical compositions about the life, times, and places in the King’s life were shared.

SUPPORT US

We still have a long way to go and Friends of King Kaumualiʻi needs your help. Your participation and support will fund the next section of the statue – the King’s torso.

Please join us in our mission by donating. Visit our Facebook Page or contact us for volunteering or crafter opportunities.