A new sculpture was installed at the University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu this week.
The artwork, created by Jessica Kay Bodner, consists of six sculptures standing up to 15 feet tall. Each piece is made of woven stainless steel, painted a reddish color to resemble the volcanic dirt of the Kapolei region.
The artwork is called Nā Kiaʻi O Kapolei, which means the guardians and Kapolei.
Bodner, an artist of 30 years, hopes the artworks inspire the community and motivate students.
“These Kia’i are a landmark for the campus community,” Bodner said in a Tuesday news release.
“They may be interactive or stand as guardians and even serve as a staging area for performing arts and music.”
The installed artwork is part of a State Foundation on Culture and the Arts program that places art in public places statewide, including schools, hospitals, airports and state office buildings.
