‘Ano Lani, ‘Ano Honua ( A Heavenly Nature, Earthly Nature) (1993)

Frank Sheriff's "Protected by the Wings of an Owl" sculpture stands at the harbor entrance to Kewalo Basin and combines elements of the traditional legend with the contemporary activities of the Kewalo Basin area.  The sculpture refers to a Hawaiian legend about an owl from the Kewalo area.  According to the legend, a poor man named Kapoi spared a cluster of owl eggs he found in the nesting ground of the Kewalo marsh. In gratitude, the owl rewarded him by becoming his 'aumakua (protector). The owl later saved Kapoi's life in the famous owl war that took place in Waikiki.

The sculpture features a swooping pueo (owl), the protector, which lies at the top of the pillar of eight diamond forms representing the major Hawaiian Islands. The connecting diamonds form a tapa pattern and are a three-dimensional expression of the Kewalo Basin Park promenade pattern. The sculpture's four vertical sides represent tall canoe shapes, symbolic of sea travel and the ocean-related activities of Kewalo Basin today.  Sheriff's artwork is one of two outdoor sculptures commissioned by the HCDA and accepted by The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts' (SFCA's) Art in Public Places collection, to ensure proper maintenance and conservation are provided in the future. The other commissioned artwork (Lahui) is located in Kaka' ako Waterfront Park.

Commemorative Plaque in Honor of Mr. Florentino Das (2006)

Guided only by the stars to navigate him, Florentino Das left Kewalo Basin in his handmade boat in May 1955 on a planned 90-day solo voyage to the Philippines.  After encountering six storms and several repair layovers, Das arrived in the Philippines in April 1956 where the president of the Philippines declared him a national hero.  The commemorative plaque honors Florentino Das as part of the "Sacada" celebration honoring 100 years of contributions by Filipinos in Hawaii who have influenced the community with their feats and accomplishments.  The Filipino Centennial Commission and Committee chose Mr. Das as one of the individuals to honor in order to remind and inspire others with the story of his courage and tenacity.  The plaque is affixed to one of the columns facing the ocean in Kewalo Basin Park pavilion.

Lahui  To gather together - (1992)

Sean Browne's "Lahui" statue is a commissioned work of art displayed in public places under the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA's) Art in Public Places collection.  The statue consist a group of bronze sculptures that represent the shank and point of the Hawaiian composite fishhook.  According to Mr. Browne, the artwork piece can be envisioned as a variety of images including a family group, fishhooks, sailing masts, canoe prows and waves. The artist's imagery was meant to become a "gathering place" for the people who frequent the park and adjacent harbor.  The sculpture stands in front of the central pavilion at Kaka'ako Waterfront Park.

Ehime Maru Memorial (2002)

On February 9, 2001, nine members of the Ehime Maru, three crew members, two teachers and four high school students were killed when their educational fishing vessel, the Ehime Maru, was accidentally sunk by the surfacing USS Greeneville submarine in Hawaiian waters nine miles south of Diamond Head.

A year later, the monument was erected by the Japanese government as a tribute to remember the nine individuals who lost their lives due to the tragic accident.  The memorial features nine black granite blocks which support the one-ton anchor retrieved from the sunken Ehime Maru, with nine links of its chain still attached.  Engravings on the marble base includes the Uwajima Fisheries High School emblem, the names, titles and ages of the nine victims, and a map showing the accident site, the site of the Navy's recovery effort, the ship's final resting place and the Aloha Tower.  The memorial lies adjacent to the observatory promontory in the Kaka 'ako Waterfront Park.

MADD Memorial (2003)

The MADD Victim Memorial offers a permanent tranquil place to reflect and honor those individuals whose lives have been lost and those injured in drunk driving crashes.  The sculpture consists of three bronze figures: a man, woman and child, each with a hole in its heart, depicting the feelings of loss shared by families and friends who have lost loved ones from impaired driving and other violent crime.  The monument was designed by Hawaii artist, Mr. John Koga.  It is located on the Ewa promenade at Kaka'ako Waterfront Park.

Amphitheater

Located on the Ewa/Makai corner of Kaka'ako Waterfront Park, the amphitheater has a capacity of approximately 2,380 persons. The seated area can accommodate 405 individuals with another 1,975 individuals seated in the grassy area. The amphitheater is available for reservation for group and special permits.

Observation Lookout

The lookout is situated at the highest point at Kaka'ako Waterfront Park.  Discover something spiritual and mystical happen while speaking and standing on top the center of the compass.  Although not intentionally designed for an amplified effect, listen to the acoustic sound it produces.

Mother Marianne Cope Statue

In 1883, Mother Marianne Cope and six sisters arrived in Hawaii at the request of the Kingdom of Hawaii to care for Hansen’s disease patients at the Branch Hospital located on what was then the oceanfront in Kakaako.  Subsequently, she opened Kapiolani Home for healthy, young females of leprosy patients on the same grounds.  With permission from the Board of Health, Mother Marianne went to Kalaupapa to care for people who were sent there, restoring hope and dignity to their lives. She remained at Kalaupapa until her death in 1918.

The Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities commissioned a commemorative statue in honor of Mother Marianne Cope and her work on behalf of leprosy patients. Located on the Diamond Head side of Kewalo Basin Park, the bronze, larger than life-sized statue has Mother Marianne looking across the ocean toward Molokai, posing with one hand extended to convey help and service to others while the other hand is toward her heart to show empathy, compassion and care.  A blessing ceremony was held on 1/23/2010.