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Royal Patrons Chapel: Wahi Kapu
In 2002 the Royal Patrons Chapel was created in the Cathedral. Popularly known as the Wahi Kapu (sacred space), it is dedicated to the memory of King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma and is a place in which one can reflect on their “spiritual generosity and magnanimous accomplishments.”
By 2015, the chapel included an icon surrounded by kāhili lima paʻa (small kāhili that can be hand-held.) The space was set up for contemplation with movie theater stanchions that set off its boundaries. The overall effect was rather dowdy. In April of 2015, Bishop Fitzpatrick and Chapter approved a plan to renovate the Wahi Kapu. Committee Members included Leimalama Lee Loy, John Condrey, and Ann Hansen. Dr. Haʻaheo Guanson became Chair of the Wahi Kapu Renovation Committee in 2016. The committee engaged Dalani Tanahy, a traditional cultural practitioner of kapa making, to create a design for the floor. Her design combines wana (sea urchin), a female motif, juxtaposed with a shark tooth (male) motif for the floor of the Wahi Kapu chapel. On election night 2016, David Morowit, Pacific Decorative Concrete, stripped the top layers off the floor of the chapel. Later in the night, he printed the kapa stencil onto the floor. The Wahi Kapu glowed with beauty (see top photo)!
The last phase of the renovation was to have a wall hanging designed to hang behind the icon. In 2018, Nohona Hawaiʻi commissioned Hawaiian cultural practitioner, Marques Marzan, to create a contemporary artwork of aluminum wire with sisal. Our icon had, over the years, collected some dirt, an it was decided to have it professionally cleaned. Workers from Warehouse, Distribution and Installation took down our icon, transporting it to Pacific Gallery and Frames on January 4, 2019.
While this phase of the project was under way, Fr. Chun unexpectedly passed away. Bishop Fitzpatrick asked Fr. Chun’s brother Nathan if he would be willing to donate the icon to the Diocese, and he graciously did so.
The last phase of the renovation was to have a wall hanging designed to hang behind the icon. In 2018, Nohona Hawaiʻi commissioned Hawaiian cultural practitioner, Marques Marzan, to create a contemporary artwork of aluminum wire with sisal. Our icon had, over the years, collected some dirt, an it was decided to have it professionally cleaned. Workers from Warehouse, Distribution and Installation took down our icon, transporting it to Pacific Gallery and Frames on January 4, 2019.
While this phase of the project was under way, Fr. Chun unexpectedly passed away. Bishop Fitzpatrick asked Fr. Chun’s brother Nathan if he would be willing to donate the icon to the Diocese, and he graciously did so.
The icon without the frame is considerably smaller (28.5” x 33.5”) than the one that had been on the chapel wall. Further, as Sean Kimizuka of Pacific Gallery and Frames pointed out, there was some mildew on the picture and chips in the masonite. Art Preservationist, Larry Pace has restored the icon. Shuzo Uemoto, a Honolulu Museum of Art Photographer, documented the unframed icon in case Nohona Hawaiʻi wishes to create postcards or other memorabilia. Additionally, in case of natural or manmade disaster, the icon can be reproduced. Fortunately, we have the koa from the large replica icon that we can use to frame the original icon, as koa is hard to obtain and exceptionally expensive.
The icon has now has been re-framed by Pacific Gallery and Frames, and Marquez Marzan’s wall hanging resized, and both works of art was hung and blessed by Bishop Fitzpatrick at the Feast of Our Holy Sovereigns on Sunday, November 24, 2019. (Written by Ann Dugdale Hansen, Coordinator, Wahi Kapu Renovation Committee)
To read an article about the renovation and blessing with slideshow in the Diocese's Hawaiian Church Chronicle (November 24, 2019), click HERE.
The icon has now has been re-framed by Pacific Gallery and Frames, and Marquez Marzan’s wall hanging resized, and both works of art was hung and blessed by Bishop Fitzpatrick at the Feast of Our Holy Sovereigns on Sunday, November 24, 2019. (Written by Ann Dugdale Hansen, Coordinator, Wahi Kapu Renovation Committee)
To read an article about the renovation and blessing with slideshow in the Diocese's Hawaiian Church Chronicle (November 24, 2019), click HERE.
