I've had several Internet Radio Hawai`i listeners ask me about Waikiki's Duke Kahanamoku statue over the past couple of weeks. Joanne Hayes from Canada asked me why Duke faces away from the water and I did not have a good answer. Last night after watching Edgy Lee's magnificent documentary on Waikiki, I got to thinking.

What if Duke's statue was taken down temporarily and remounted on a revolving platform. Something heavy duty like a base with a heavy industrial ball bearing.

With such a minor adaptation Duke's statue could indeed face the ocean, face Diamond Head, look Ewa. Perhaps in the redesign of the base we add a motor and a small microprocessor that could be programmed to allow Duke's view to follow the Sun both day and night automatically, or perhaps we leave that option off most of the time and let folks who want pictures with Duke move him in the direction that suits them best.

Silly? No!

Think about it.
(And remember that Duke, the man, was a people person.)

It's 2 o'clock in the afternoon. A flock of visitors from Japan is eagerly lining up and snapping pictures of themselves with Duke but the sun is high and behind, leaving everyone in the shadows and the Duke's statue dark and his noble face featureless in their pictures. Alas, these will end up being poor photos which will never lure another visitor and will surely disappoint those who took them.

But!

If Duke's statue could rotate, our same flock of visitors could take advantage of the sun and line up on either side of Duke as he scans the ocean. Now this picture is more likely to be a winner! Everyone is seen, Duke's majestic features are distinct and well lit and his image is inspiring. Our visitors are happy with their pictures. They show their friends at home and perhaps soon we see their friends flocking around the Duke snapping away happily.

We've also solved the continuing emotional and controversial issue of which way Duke's statue should face and we've honored the man Duke Kahanamoku by bestowing upon his image the freedom of vision and we've allowed Duke to resume being more interactive with his admirers.

We may also have created a fabulous low cost marketing tool, one which simply by virtue of it's uniqueness garners even more free media coverage around the world.

Mr. Mayor, Members of the City Council, Waikiki Neighborhood Board members, fellow citizens, whomever is in charge of our statues...


I respectfully propose we Spin the Duke!

Aloha,


Rabbett

8/30/01 - Honolulu Advertiser printed my editorial here