The Kaua‘i Planning Department is inviting artists, architects, and designers to submit proposals for a public art monument at the site of the 1924 Battle of Hanapēpē, also known as the Hanapēpē Massacre. The project will commemorate the labor clash that left 20 people dead. Proposals are due by September 1 and must include a resume, samples of past work, a written design statement, and conceptual sketches. Submissions can be sent in person to the County of Kauai Planning Department or by email to [email protected].
The Battle of Hanapēpē on September 9, 1924, was one of the deadliest labor confrontations in Hawai‘i, when a clash between Filipino sugar plantation workers and law enforcement left 16 strikers and four sheriffs dead. A proposed monument at the County-owned land at Moi Road and Kaumuali‘i Highway intersection aims to honor those lost with themes of peacemaking and respect for life, according to the County of Kauai.
A request for ideas is open to local, state, and international applicants for a memorial project. Finalists will receive a $5,000 stipend to develop their concepts, and the winner will be awarded a commission of up to $200,000. The installation must be completed by September 1, 2026, for the event’s 102nd anniversary. Applicants are responsible for construction, transport, and installation. Accessibility support, including interpreters and alternate formats, is available through the County Planning Division upon request, as reported by the County of Kauai.
