Retired electrician’s garden is guarded by statues

Stanley Morita spent years pursuing his career as an electrician. But during his evenings and weekends off, he found a way to channel his inner artist by creating an eclectic statue garden at his Kalihi home.

He’s lost count of the number of figures that grace his yard, but each item was thoughtfully placed. There are a pair of giraffes, a dolphin fountain and a variety of critters, from tortoises, frogs and butterflies to swans and hummingbirds, all intermingled with toadstools, pagodas and birdhouses.

A concrete Buddha holding a pink-and-white lotus blossom poses blissfully near his front door, which is guarded by a row of “Star Wars” stormtroopers.

“I don’t know why I do this,” said Morita, 77.

Over the decades, his yard has been taken over by outdoor tchotchkes and statues, big and small, collected from garden shops and discount marts. Morita said he patiently looks for pieces that catch his eye.

“I fell in love with statues,” he said.

Before retiring from his job 20 years ago, Morita said, he was able to do only a little bit of garden work at a time. Now, when he’s not traveling, Morita spends a couple of hours every morning pruning and watering the plants and maintaining the sculptures.

“I love yardwork. It keeps me healthy and I feel at ease,” he said. “I’m happy when I see things growing nicely.”

Some of the sculptures in his garden weigh more than 300 pounds. “We struggled to get them in,” Morita said. “A few friends helped me.”

He said his favorite piece is a pastoral sculpture of two young children, set near the steps to his front door and protected by two fierce-looking Chinese warriors and a pair of German shepherds.

Some of the potted plants and sculptures are displayed on shelving; many of them are mounted in concrete in permanent locations throughout the yard; others are secured by chains to thwart thieves.

Anthuriums, tillandsia (air plants), ferns and succulents can be found among the sculptures. Morita said he learned by trial and error what grows best in his garden. Double white hibiscus are plentiful in the front yard, and miniature plumeria trees line the fence. He placed solar lights throughout the space to illuminate the garden at night.

Morita said he doesn’t know the names of all the plants and chooses them because they fit aesthetically into his landscape. He regularly takes stock of his garden to see if anything’s missing.

“When I feel like it needs something, I just add to it.”