Double-sided cast bronze on granite base
18″ x 22″ high
Edition of two cast 1999
$8,000
The title indicates this is a symbolic depiction of Hawaiian alii (royalty). The royal palaoa (whale-ivory ornament) and royal ahuula (feather cape or cloak) are combined with traditional Hawaiian kepakepa (zigzag) repairs arranged to represent an image mounted on a pole symbolizing an aumakua, or family god. The patterning on the cape itself represents water-marked kapa cloth with which all religious objects were wrapped.