Spear tip to be reattached to vandalized King Kamehameha statue
STAR-ADVERTISER / SEPT. 7
A spear tip vandalized in September will be re-installed on the King Kamehameha statue in Hilo.
HILO >> The vandalized statue of King Kamehameha in Hilo is getting its spear tip back.
A Hawaii Fire Department ladder truck will help with the installation of the 6-foot section of spear. A Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association official says a local artist who wishes to remain anonymous performed the repair work, and that thousands of dollars have been raised toward other improvements, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported.
Investigators found the spear, which had been forcibly detached, in overgrowth behind the statue on Sept. 8.
“A lot of alumni have told me they’re relieved the spear has been found and happy it’s going to be reinstalled,” said the association’s treasurer, Robert W. “Bobby” Yamada II.
William Roy Carroll pleaded not guilty to property damage and theft charges in the vandalism. His trial is set for Jan. 25.
The association is continuing to raise funds toward its $50,000 goal for improvements on the 5-ton statue installed in 1997.
“We’re looking to install more lights,” Yamada said. “We’re looking to fix the rock wall so (rocks) don’t pop out, and we need to fix the statue itself.”
Association members hope repairs will be completed before the statue is draped in lei to celebrate Kamehameha Day on June 11.
9 responses to “Spear tip to be reattached to vandalized King Kamehameha statue”
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Gorilla Glue from Home Depot does the job?
I like the statue better the way it is now, where Kamehameha appears to be holding a baton to be passed to the next runner (generation) in a relay. Isn’t that better than portraying him as a savage threatening us with a gut-ripping spear? Or maybe having the spear is better after all. What we will see is a perfect icon for the Hawaiian tribe OHA is trying to invent — a beggar with his hand outstretched to receive welfare goodies from the government, and a weapon threatening us that there will be trouble if we don’t give him what he wants.
Sad even for you ken. Today hawaiians are using your own laws to win . they proved that with mauna kea
I note that a Hawaiian man stole the spear. Silence from the protestors after that was determined. They are as phony as a 3 dollar bill. Almost amusing really.
they had a bigger issue to deal with and they did. they did it the right way and wons.
I don’t know. I was not been there, allie.
I suggest purchasing an alarm, surveillance camera and motion detectors.
Now that’s a non-political comment but a pratical helpful suggestion!
Could have been an overweight bird that just ate the free samples at Costco, and wasn’t anticipating a weak place to roost.