(Kapa'a Japanese Stone Lantern), (sculpture).

(Kapa'a Japanese Stone Lantern), (sculpture).

Teraoka, Nisuke, sculptor. (possibly by)

(Kapa'a Japanese Stone Lantern), (sculpture).

Sculpture: concrete, painted green, red, blue and black; Base: concrete.

Sculpture: approx. H. 180 in. x Diam. 46 in.; Base: approx. 70 x 178 x 139 in.

(At top of sculpture:) JI-MA-CR (Japanese lettering appears at the bottom of the sculpture) unsigned

Traditional-style Japanese lantern, hexagonal in shape, on a hexagonal concrete base.

Object -- Other -- Lantern

Ethnic -- Japanese

Outdoor Sculpture -- Hawaii -- Kapa'a

Administered by Kapa'a Stone Lantern Project, 6971 Kawaihau Road, Kapa'a, Hawaii 96746

Located Kapa'a Ball Park, 1464 Kuhio Highway, Kapa'a, Hawaii

Original accounts note that the lantern was erected by the Kaua'i Japanese community to honor Japanese soldiers who died in the Russo-Japanese War of 1905. However, characters on the lantern only indicate that the lantern honors Emperor Taisho's 1912 ascension to the throne. In April 1943, Japanese-Americans buried the lantern to protect it from possible vandalism arising from anti-Japanese sentiments that developed during World War II. It was unearthed in 1972, after a piece of the lantern was found protruding from the ground, causing safety concerns. It was reburied shortly afterwards due to lack of interest. In 1987, it was unearthed again and the Kapa'a Stone Lantern Project was formed to raise funds for its restoration. Steel supports were welded onto the lantern to keep it from breaking and a new 85,000 lbs. concrete base was constructed. The restoration committee plans to relocate the sculpture to a new footing adjacent to its current position and remove the steel brace following conservation treatment. IAS files include related articles from The Garden Island (Hawaii), Apr. 12, 1972, June 5, 1972, Sept. 18, 1991 and June 3, 1992 and the Hawaii Herald, June 5, 1992. IAS files also contain the translation of the Japanese characters found on the lantern. Kapa'a Ball Park also known as Kapa'a Beach Park and Kapa'a Town Park.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Hawaii survey, 1993.

SOS Assessment Award, 1998.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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