KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM Artist Kazu Fukuda draped a lei on his controversial sculpture, "Malama Ia Ka'ahupahau," yesterday at Campbell High School, moments after its unveiling. "I had to be true to the Hawaiians of the past," Fukuda said.

Bare-breasted sculpture
dedicated at Campbell

Some parents and the school's
principal opposed the statue

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By Lisa Asato
lasato@starbulletin.com

A bronze sculpture of a partially nude woman was dedicated yesterday at Campbell High School, overcoming objections by the principal and some parents, which delayed the unveiling by a year.

"There was some censorship, and I think the (important thing) is, the censorship did not prevail in this situation," artist Kazu Fukuda said after the dedication ceremony.

He said yesterday's ceremony was a victory for art as the 1,500-pound cast-bronze sculpture was unveiled as intended, bare breasted.

"I had to be true to the Hawaiians of the past," said Fukuda, who was commissioned to create an art piece for the school as part of the state's artists-in-schools program.

The piece was inspired by the Hawaiian legend of a mother whose daughter, Kaahupahau, transformed into a shark and became the protector of the people of Ewa.

The dedication was delayed a year after the planned artwork drew criticism from Principal Gail Awakuni and a group of parents who felt the nudity was inappropriate for a public school and wanted the design changed.

Early last year, an advisory committee made up of teachers, students, school and state officials decided in favor of allowing the sculpture on campus.

Awakuni declined comment and referred questions to Vice Principal Ilalo Parayno.

Parayno said the sculpture is accepted by most of the school community, but there is a small, vocal group of students and teachers who still do not approve.

Among them is Campbell substitute teacher Mona McRae, who held signs in protest yesterday and quietly repeated: "No nudity in public schools. No nudity."

McRae said Campbell High will begin requiring students to wear uniforms for the first time next year, and the school should follow its own rules of covering up.

Student Melody Bajesta, a junior, said she did not have a problem with the bare-breasted artwork because "that is Hawaii, that's how the natives (dressed).

"It's nice. It's art. I like it," she added.

Parayno said the participation of two community leaders -- Aunty Arline Eaton and Uncle Glenn Oamila -- in yesterday's ceremony is testament to community support and sends a message to others to embrace the artwork.

Parayno, who was also the chairman of the project advisory committee, said having the $60,000 sculpture at Campbell shows that the school and community deserve a major piece of artwork as much as any other place.

"It's here, and it's part of our campus and it's part of our community," he said.

Speaking to the crowd of about 75 to 100 people, Fukuda, a teacher for 20 years, said the sculpture was about the "caring and nurturing that's behind what teachers do every day.

"I hope when people come to school in the morning and look (at it) ... (they'll) be reminded that that's what this school is about."