Built on the former village of Kalia, the Hilton Hawaiian Village has been a popular hotel in Waikiki since 1957. It is the largest hotel in the Hilton chain and 17th largest hotel in the world. In 1999 the resort commissioned Kim Duffett, an Alexander & Associates represented artist, to create Kaha Ka `Io Me Na Makani, “The Hawk Soars with the Winds” a larger-than-life trinity sculpture that depicts two females and one male performing the awe-inspiring movements of hula kahiko.

Duffett’s stunning sculpture welcomes visitors at the newly designed entrance to Hilton Hawaiian Village and stands as a new landmark in Waikiki. The statues were unveiled in a Hawaiian ceremony that marked the opening of the new Kalia Tower in September of 2001.

 

“Kaha ka ‘Io me na Makani”(The Hawk soars with the Winds)“Ku Makani”(Rising Wind)“Kaha ka ‘Io”(The Hawk Soars)“Ka Leo o Haukani”(The Voice of the Wind)17’x 21’x 9’ in bronze and stoneGracefully striding the edge of a waterfall, these three, twice life size figures in bronze are dancing hula kahiko, the ancient style of Hawaiian dance. The two female dancers, the spirits of the wind, represent the dance and chant of Hawaiian hula. Together they are the winds that uplift the mighty ‘Io , the Hawaiian Hawk, the central male dancer, who represents the spirit of Hawai’i poised to take flight.These images pay tribute to the importance of dance, chant and song in the rebirth and growth of Hawaiian culture. Together they celebrate the power of the hula connecting us with the spirit of the land, the Aina that is Hawaii.Commissioned by Hilton Hawaiian VillageCompleted May, 2001
Hilton Hawaiian Village, twice life size bronze sculpture
Hilton Hawaiian Village, twice life size bronze sculpture