A New Landmark is Unveiled at the Gateway to Waikiki and Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa.

Business Editors & Travel Writers

HONOLULU--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2001

Hilton Hawaiian Village(R) Beach Resort & Spa graces its new Kalia Tower(R) with art that honors ancient Hawaii.

The resort commissioned Hawaii artist Kim Duffett to create Kaha Ka `Io Me Na Makani, "The Hawk Soars with the Winds."

"With the hula kahiko statues, this dramatic piece of artwork certainly creates a new landmark at the gateway to Waikiki and the Village," said Peter Schall, senior vice president-Hawaii region for Hilton Hotels Corp., and managing director of Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Duffett's stunning, larger-than-life trinity sculpture welcomes visitors at the newly designed entrance to Hilton Hawaiian Village and will stand as a new landmark in Waikiki. The bronze sculptures include two females and one male performing the awe-inspiring movements of hula kahiko.

The statues were unveiled in a Hawaiian ceremony that marked the soft opening of the new Kalia Tower on May 16. A grand opening celebration is planned for September 2001.

Although the artwork is cast in bronze, the sculpture conveys movement and flow from every angle. With maile lei, pa`u drapery and haku lauahe (fern ankle and wrist adornments) aloft, the trio's "wind dance" was chosen by the artist because wind is "invisible energy," felt but unseen.

According to Duffett, the two female dancers capture the essence of the wind, which can be both soothing and gentle, or powerful. Together, they are the winds that lift the mighty `Io, the Hawaiian hawk and the male dancer represents the spirit of Hawaii, which is poised to take flight.

Duffett said Kaha Ka `Io Me Na Makani represents a re-emergence of Hawaiian culture and pays tribute to the importance of dance, chant and song of Hawaii -- giving it "wind and lift."

Kaha Ka `Io Me Na Makani has been a monumental undertaking. After consulting with University of Hawaii's Hawaiian Studies department, Duffett began designing the sculpture. He began work in August 1999, and for several months had to relocate to Ashland, Ore., and San Francisco Bay area because his Hawaii studio could not accommodate the project.

In addition to measuring 15 feet from tip to toe, the male dancer alone weighs 2,400 pounds, and the entire sculpture has been designed to withstand hurricane-force winds. The haku lauahe (fern ankle and wrist adornments) required more than 400 "ferns" cast in wax that were threaded (as lei) with each leaf hand turned as if blown by the wind, and then bronzed.

Duffett has other artwork on permanent display at Hilton Hawaiian Village including a bronze sculpture of `Iolani Luahine, the renowned kumu hula kahiko (ancient hula teacher) who performed at the Village.

In the 1950s and '60s, when hapa haole songs and hula `auwana (modern hula dancing) were at the height of their popularity, Luahine remained a steadfast teacher and performer of the ancient kahiko style. She died in the late 1970s but was instrumental in keeping this traditional art form alive.

Duffett also created the Alfred Apaka bronze statue at the resort. Apaka is known as the golden voice of Hawaii and performed at the Village until 1960.

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