A little less the a century ago, the good Hawaiians decided to erect a proper statue for the founder of the state. A famous sculptor in Italy was commissioned to do the job for the tidy sum of $ 10,000. After about a year, when it was finished, they put it on a ship in due order. The ship sailed out for Hawai'i, but it sank in a fierce storm at the Falkland Islands. Lloyd's of London compensated the good Hawaiians and they recommissioned the famous sculptor. About a year later, the statue was shipped out again and it arrived safely. It was erected in Honolulu, instead of Kapa'au, where it stands today. Some time had passed and one day a British captain spotted the original statue on the main square of a little town, in the Falklands. He didn't know about the replacement and he smelled good business. He persuaded the local folks to sell him the king for a mere $ 500, which they did. On the way to Hawai'i, the right arm broke off somehow. Upon arrival, the captain offered it for sale to the proper authorities, at a discount price, because of the broken arm. The captain found himself in a real bad bargaining position, after being informed of the other sculpture. They struck a deal, anyway and everybody was happy. The arm was repaired by local craftsman and the magnificent monument was finally erected here in Kapa'au, according to the original plans. You're looking at it.
CAT# 3/2