The bronze memorial to Father Damien of Moloka'i

The Father Damien Statue, positioned at the entrance of the Hawai'i State Capitol and the Hawai'i State Legislature, is more than just a monument. It is a testament to a man who dedicated his life to the lepers. A Belgian priest born in Tremelo, Saint Damien of Moloka'i was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 11, 2009. He is considered one of the preeminent heroes of Hawai'i and is the spiritual patron of the outcast and those afflicted with AIDS and HIV.

Marisol Escobar, a New York City sculptor, won the commission to create the statue. Sixty-six artists bid for the project, with only seven being selected to create models, of which Escobar's was chosen. Her statue depicts Father Damien in his later years, after he was diagnosed with the disease of those he attended. Escobar used a photograph she saw of him near the end of his life, which is why he is wearing glasses and has his arm in a sling.

The statue was initially modeled in wood and then in plaster, with two plaster models being lost during shipment to the foundry in Viareggio, Italy. The final casting was done in bronze. Coincidentally, the Kamehameha Statue, another famous statue in Hawai'i, was also lost during travel but later recovered.

The statue was first unveiled at the United States Capitol, along with a reproduction of the Kamehameha Statue, on Father Damien Day, April 15, 1969. On that day, the statue in Honolulu is ceremoniously draped in leis followed by solemn song and prayer.

Today, the Father Damien Statue stands as a beloved and revered symbol of Hawai'i, a testament to the life and legacy of a man who dedicated his life to the least of these.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons