Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Thursday, November 21, 2024 78° Today's Paper


Top News

Senate committee calls for Obama statue in islands

ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Barack Obama greets people on the tarmac before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Jan. 14, 2014.

A state Senate committee called for a statue of former President Barack Obama to be erected in Hawaii.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously for a resolution requesting that the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts commission the statue.

Obama was born in Honolulu in 1961 and graduated from Punahou School.

The resolution will be referred to the Hawaii Senate’s Ways and Means committee for consideration.

The resolution called for an art advisory committee to be formed that would select a location for the statue, review design proposals and select an artist.

It did not specify how the statue would be funded.

The resolution said the U.S. thrived under Obama’s presidency, noting that the national deficit shrank by two-thirds and 16 million Americans were able to obtain health care through the Affordable Care Act adopted during his administration.

It noted Obama was only the third African-American to hold a U.S. Senate seat since Reconstruction after he was elected from Illinois.

Statues of several prominent Hawaii historical figures populate the area around the Hawaii State Capitol.

A statue of King Kamehameha the Great, who unified the Hawaiian Islands under his rule in the early 1800s, stands in front of the Hawaii Supreme Court.

Statues of Queen Liliuokalani, Hawaii’s last monarch, and Saint Damien, a Catholic priest who cared for leprosy patients, stand outside the State Capitol building.

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. Having trouble with comments? Learn more here.