MAYOR HANNEMANN DEDICATES KOREAN GIFT SCULPTURE

Mayor Mufi Hannemann today presided over a ceremony dedicating a new sculpture that the City of Incheon, South Korea presented to the City of Honolulu as a symbol of friendship and goodwill.

The sculpture, known as “Become a Star,” honors the Fifth Anniversary of Honolulu’s sister-city relationship with Incheon.  The piece was installed at Pawaa Neighborhood Park.

“We’re very proud that our relationship with Incheon is one of the strongest and most active in our sister-city program,” Mayor Hannemann said. “We’ve also worked very hard on other issues that are important to South Korea, such as the visa waivers that were recently approved for visitors.”

“Become a Star” was created by sculptor Lee Moon-Young to celebrate the friendship between the citizens of Incheon and Honolulu. The sculpture’s streamlined stainless steel columns depict the sea, a ship and drifting seaweed.  A stone element embodies the moon. The sculpture is crowned by a representation of stars over the two countries. The sculpture inspires images of the sea that touches our shores and the stars that guided the early immigrants to our islands.

            Mayor Hannemann visited Incheon in 2006 and in 2007, when he presented Incheon Mayor Sang-soo Ahn with a sculpture of a Hawaiian Monk Seal. The sculpture is now on display in the Incheon Immigration Memorial Museum.

            Mrs. So-Suk Ko of Honolulu is the liaison for the sister-city relationship and has played an important role in bringing the “Become a Star” sculpture to Honolulu.

            “I’m very appreciative of Mrs. Ko’s assistance in helping to strengthen this important relationship between Honolulu and Incheon,” Mayor Hannemann said. “We will continue to foster friendship and opportunities between our cities.”

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Contact:

Bill Brennan, 527-6928