The halls of the Hawaii State Capitol now house a new piece of history as the official state portrait of former Governor David Ige was unveiled yesterday at Capitol Modern: the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum. The portrait, a visual record of Ige's tenure, serves as a testament to his time in office—a period marked by significant events including the false missile alert in 2018, a devastating volcanic eruption, and the Maunakea telescope protests.
Handpicked to immortalize Ige's legacy was Native Hawaiian artist Kirk Kurokawa, recognized for his meticulous craftsmanship and attention to capturing the essence of his subjects. Known to painstakingly render everything just so, down to the most intricate details like the hands—which he admits "takes a lot of practice" to perfect—Kurokawa's portrait showcases Ige not just as a politician but as a family man with ties to his Okinawan heritage. Hawaii Public Radio noted the artist's ability to combine skill with a personal touch, saying, “He’s just a regular husband and dad like anybody else.”
In a statement obtained by Big Island Now, Ige expressed his sentiment on serving Hawaii, iterating that it was "a profound privilege" and emphasizing the resilient spirit of 'ohana—a central theme during challenging times like the coronavirus pandemic. Karen Ewald, director of the Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, highlighted the significance of such portraits by stating, “Governors’ portraits serve as visual public records of Hawaiʻi history and provide an emotional link between audiences and past administrations.”
The ceremony room, now graced with Kurokawa's work, will also soon need to accommodate the portrait of current Governor Josh Green, as only two more spots remain. This situation has prompted considerations about the sustainability of the tradition, with Kamakani Konia of the arts in public places program mentioning, "It’s a balancing act of curating history within the limits of finite space." According to Hawaii Public Radio, there's the possibility that the next governor might opt to entirely redecorate the room, potentially altering how history is displayed in the Capitol.
