#Jay H. Shidler
Sculpture once gifted to Maui’s greatest patron of the arts, donated to UH Mānoa
The sculpture “RISE” was created in 1979 by Kauaʻi-born artist Bumpei Akaji as a gift for the late Masaru “Pundy” Yokouchi, founding chairperson of Hawaiʻi’s State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Yokouchi was also the inspiration and driving force behind the fundraising, planning, design, and construction of the world-class Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului. Dods and Shidler purchased the sculpture from Yokouchi’s estate on Maui. Dods named it “RISE” with permission from Yokouchi’s family.
