A kiʻi is an image, statue, or likeness that serves as symbolic representations of the akua, or the multitude of Hawaiian gods, deities, and venerated ancestors. While images most commonly took the form of wooden carvings, they were also formed out of pōhaku (stone), carved into pūnohunohu (sea urchin spines), or as ornate feathered images.
The kiʻi at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park attract visitors from all over the world. While the images seen today are not the original kiʻi, they are carved using the skills and traditions of the Hōnaunau area. During the Hale o Keawe restoration project in the 1960s, the park engaged scholars, artists, and craftsmen who were knowledgeable of cultural traditions to guide and carry out kiʻi reconstruction. Many of the carvers were maintenance workers in the park who brought their skills based on family knowledge to the park.
Every May during Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and throughout the year, ...