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putting lei on a statue of the Queen

Honoring a Beloved Queen

Honoring a Beloved Queen

By: The Maui News | Article Link 

Lili’uokalani Trust’s Kipuka Maui co-lead Gail Murakami places lei into the waiting hands of a wooden Queen Lili’uokalani sculpture as artist Dale Zarrella looks on during Friday morning’s dedication and blessing ceremony at the Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel in Wailea. The event was presented by the Women At Accor Generation resort committee and Fairmont Hui ‘Ohana. Zarrella was commissioned by the Fairmont Kea Lani to create the image of Hawaii’s beloved monarch, with the piece to be to displayed prominently in the resort’s lobby. Zarrella said he made the piece from a Puunene monkeypod tree. “The statue is so beautiful,” Murakami said. “She represents so much. She represents love, but she was also so strong.”