Post #779931 by creativenative on Fri, Sep 22, 2017 4:16 AM

Now that I read the whole thread, I agree with Phillip that this ki'i (Hawaiian word for tiki, which simply means an image like a painting, statue, or photograph) is an image of a menehune or a Hawaiian version of a leprechaun.  The hat, the mischievous grind and hand positioning and the revelation that it originally wore a loin cloth all points to a menehune image.  I posit that the shark God name was something the Hotel (unofficially) made up for the tourist.  They obviously didn't know what the statue was and they didn't think it as a real Hawaiian God ki'i or they would of respected it and saved it. I agree with their assessment because it doesn't have a Hawaiian god like likeness. Thus the Hotel management considered it an "eyesore".  Nevertheless it was historical and meaningful and should of been saved. I'll double check this week with my friend at the Bishop museum on my theory.

[ Edited by: creativenative 2017-09-22 04:18 ]