Personal Projects

The Story of the KohoLa Sculptures

Jon Larson applies another protective coat of oil to the Kohola whale sculpture.

The Kohola Sculptures Projecthonors the healing wisdom of the indigenous peoples of the world. Each sculpture created has a specific healing purpose. This Kohola Sculpture honors the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Islands and Ocean. The project was first inspired when Jon invited Kehaulani Kea to San Francisco in June of 1995 along with the Hawaiian Spiritual Delegation to the United Nations Charter Interfaith celebration whose visit Jon and Kehau co-sponsored.

Kohola is the Hawaiian name for Whale. We use it also as a spiritual idiom for "To Seek the Light." Early Hawaiians were inspired by the mother humpbacks pushing their keiki calves toward the surface (toward the light - Ko-Ho-La) for a first breath of air.

This "Pacific Islanders Sculpture" was carved in 1997 by a special team of individuals and non-profit organizations including the Pacific Islanders Cultural Association, a San Francisco based non-profit organization which seeks to preserve the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands culture in California as well as to extend a welcome hand to Hawaiians and all Pacific Islanders relocating to the Mainland.

The log came from a 1500 year old cedar log recovered by Jon and the PICA Pacific Islanders Cultural Association from Port Chicago, a U.S. Navy base in the San Francisco Bay area. It was brought by rail to San Francisco in the early 1920's from the Pacific Northwest to serve as underwater shipping caissons. These logs withstood the immense blast in 1944 caused by the explosion of two ammunition ships being loaded to transport munitions to the war in the Pacific. 350 men lost their lives in the explosion. This log was in San Francisco Bay for over 50 years. This history is important because it feeds the healing and "Restoration" theme of the current use of the Kohola Sculpture.

This Kohola Sculpture is one of a set of seven Sculptures which are completed, under construction, or planned. Three others honor Children of the World, Native American First Peoples, and the world Interfaith community. We dream of bringing the Kohola Sculpture home to Hawaii some day for viewing by all Pacific Island peoples, in memory of the Hawaiian Spiritual Delegation to the UN Interfaith gathering in San Francisco in June of 1995 when the United Religions Initiative vision was born, and to honor all peoples of Hawaii and the Pacific Islands on behalf of the Pacific Islands peoples and the indigenous peoples of northern California.

KohoLa - "Seek the Light"`

A mother Humpback whale gently pushes her newborn keiki calf toward the surface (towards the light) for its first breath of fresh air off the Na Pali Coast of Kauai.

The Kohola Project
" Honoring the healing wisdom
of the indigenous Peoples of Mother Earth "

The Vision:

Four ancient naturally fallen old growth California redwood and Pacific Coast cedar trees have been restored to new life as spiritual symbols. These "sculptures" will recognize, honor, and encourage study of the ecological and healing wisdom and traditions of the indigenous "First Peoples" of the Earth, commencing with California and the Pacific Islands and growing to encompass all the continents and islands of the Earth. We honor the indigenous first peoples through two other living symbols (life forms) of the indigenous plants and animals of the world, the great whale (Kohola) and the great original old growth giant trees (the redwoods and cedars) of the Pacific Northwest.

Why:

We will create a model for spiritual healing that can be emulated elsewhere to honor indigenous peoples, plants and animal life worldwide.

The whale (Kohola) and the old growth redwood and cedar trees, ancient animal and plant species which have co-existed for over 40 million years on this planet, are threatened with extinction as are the history and collective wisdom of the indigenous "First Peoples" of the Earth.

Kohola, the Hawaiian word for whale, is a spiritual idiom we believe means "to seek the light (truth)" as it applies to the histories of our "First Peoples". The stories of the great whale, the great California redwood and Pacific Coast cedar trees, and the great indigenous peoples of Mother Earth will be told in a respectful and reverent manner which heals ancient wounds and restores new life, respect and hope to the living and future descendants of the indigenous peoples, plants and animals of the world.

The initial phase of the Kohola Project is completed. We have completed the first four sculptures and have gifted stewardship of them to the descendants of the First Peoples of the Bay Area, the Muwekma Ohlone, to the First Children of the World, to the world's Interfaith community, and to the Island and Ocean peoples of the Pacific and the world.

Three more are in various stages of production, one is completed and awaiting consecration at its final viewing site, one is under construction, and one is in the planning stage.

The above series of photos shows the process of converting salvaged old growth logs into completed sculptures. These pictures were all taken at the special Kohola carving site in the San Francisco Presidio.

Four of the Kohola Sculptures are on display in the San Francisco Presidio, one at the Lombard St. main exit to the Presidio and the other three within a special area of the Presidio Native Plants Nursery which supplies native plants to the entire 36,000 acre Golden Gate national Recreation Area. Visitors to the Nursery can view the sculptures, learn about their background and their purpose, and be further inspired to do good works in their own lives and communities.

Eco-sculpturist Shane Eagleton, artistic Director of the Kohola sculptures project.

"WhaleForest" by Shane Eagleton

A Brief History of the Kohola Project:

The project genesis was at the United Nations 50^th Anniversary Interfaith activities in San Francisco in June of 1995. At the invitation of the United Nations, San Francisco and Grace Cathedral were asked to host an Interfaith celebration honoring the 50^th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations in San Francisco in June of 1945. Religious leaders representing 44 of the world's faith traditions, UN leaders representing all member nations of the United Nations, Nobel Peace Prize winners, heads of State, children from international children's choirs, and young men and women from the Rediscovering Justice Conference representing all faith traditions, met at Grace Cathedral and heard a call for a new United Religions Initiative (modeled after the political UN) which seeks to promote respect, peace, understanding and healing between the world's main common era faith traditions.

During the Interfaith activities, the Hawaiian Spiritual Delegation hosted by Hawaii born San Franciscan Jon Larson and led by Rev. (Kahu) William Kaina and Kehaulani Kea of Honolulu met with many world peace representatives including Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the University of San Francisco ReDiscovering Justice Conference, native Americans at the University of California, and Rev. Paul Chaffee of The Interfaith Center at the Presidio. They first viewed the great life-size whale being carved by Shane Eagleton from a 2,000 year old fallen Redwood tree trunk. They named the sculpture Kohola (the Hawaiian word for the humpback whales of Hawaii). Early Hawaiians observed the mother whales gently pushing their newborn keikis (calves) towards the surface (the light) for their first breath. Kohola literally translates to "Seek the Light" and is used by the Kohola Project as a spiritual idiom for to "Seek the Truth." And so the Kohola Project received its name.

UN50th celebrant and participant Jon Larson, Hovey Lambert, President of the northern California based Pacific Islanders Cultural Association (PICA), and world renown eco-sculpturist Shane Eagleton worked together to build on the vision and dream generated from the synergies surrounding the coming together of the indigenous spiritual forces of the Hawaiian Spiritual Delegation and the descendents of the indigenous peoples of North America during the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations. Together, with partners, the Kohola Project was formed.

Kohola Sculptures Project participants include:

National Park Service

The Cultural Conservancy

Pacific Islanders' Cultural Association

One Earth One People Peace Vision

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

The Muwekma Ohlone Indian Tribe of San Francisco

Shane Eagleton, Eco-sculpturist

PAL - Protect all Lifeforms

California Indian Museum & Cultural Center

The Interfaith Center at the Presidio

The families of Jon and Karen Larson

Follow-on update: summer 2001

Since the first four Kohola Sculptures were created in the 1997/1998 timeframe,

one more was completed in 2000,
one is currently under construction,
one is in the planning stage for 2002 completion.

1) Recently completed.

The One Voice Healing Pole was carved by twenty young men and women of the Monterey Bay area under the supervision of Shane Eagleton in a special government funded project sponsored by the Private Industry Council of Monterey. This special program which is authorized by the federal and state administered Workforce Investment Act of 1998, trains disadvantaged youth in work and life skills. The program trains youth how to gain specific job skills that will motivate and enable them towards gainful employment as young adults. The final stage of the project envisions gifting the One Voice Healing Pole in the memory of all those lives lost through the 9-11 tragedies, transporting it cross country from Monterey, California and erecting it vertically on the ground within the New York City Zoo and Botanical Gardens where it can be viewed by the general public.

One Voice Healing Pole

Sculpture at PAL in Half Moon Bay showing vertical mounting

2) Under construction:

The Marine Life Healing Bench will contain representative symbols of the marine life that lives within the triangle of San Francisco Bay, the Farallone Islands and Monterey Bay. 200 representational marine mammals, fish, reptiles, invertebrates, birds, and tidal marsh and dune plants are being carved into the surface of the bench. It is planned as a gift to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area for placement at an appropriate location within the GGNRA national park system, perhaps even the Crissy Field Visitor Center where visitors can sit and rest along the pathway while exploring the bird and plant life in the restored area.

Marine Life Healing Bench

Three new sculptures are currently planned:

1) The Interfaith Healing Pole for the Interfaith Center at the Presidio.

One of the original 10 Kohola logs has been reserved for carving by a yet to be assembled Interfaith design and carving team. It will contain appropriate symbols of the faith traditions of the world. It will be raised vertically on the ICP grounds in the San Francisco Presidio where it can be viewed and appreciated by all who visit the ICP. It will be dedicated in part to the memory of Mary Ellen who has been so instrumental in supporting the growth and success of the ICP over the start up years. Her memory and spirit will live on with us through this beautiful tribute to her and to ALL of those who have worked together over the years towards the success of the Interfaith Center at the Presidio.

2) Thousand Cranes Sculpture

The "Thousand Cranes Sculpture” will be a gift to the youth of Japan and the world from the youth of Hawaii and California (including 9-11 representatives if possible). It will be in memory of Japanese schoolgirl Sadako Sasaki and her bravery and steadfastness while facing unexpected diversity in her own life. She died of leukemia several years after being exposed to atomic radiation. Perhaps you have read the story of “Sadako and the Thousand Cranes”. When Sadako became sick, she decided to fold from paper a thousand cranes (a Japanese symbol of good luck and long life) in the hopes that they would bring her health back. When she died, Sadako's classmates decided to build a statue in her memory. When the current vision is consummated, the "Thousand Cranes Childrens Sculpture” will join the "Tower of a Thousand Cranes" children's peace monument within the Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park in Hiroshima, Japan.

3) Hawaii Endangered Species Sculpture

This sculpture will contain carvings of the endangered plants and animal and fish species of Hawaii (there are over 300 of them listed in federal documentation). It will be carved by Hawaii youth under the supervision of Shane Eagleton . It will be on public display at various places on Oahu as Waikiki, Bishop Museum, University of Hawaii, etc., and eventually placed at a permanent place yet to be determined.

4) Restoration Park at the Presidio: (an early Vision of a possibility)

A design Vision for "Restoration Park at the Presidio"

The Kohola Restoration Park Project envisions creating a "Restoration Park in the Presidio,"

The Park would feature a permanent family of 16 immense fallen old growth sculptures erected in a special area of the Presidio.

The Park will be an integral part of the "swords to plowshares" conversion of the Presidio from a former U.S. Army base to a national park managed by the new Presidio Trust.

The Park's four entrances will embrace the "six directions:" north through the United Nations entrance, south through the United Religions entrance, east through the Rising Sun entrance, and west through the Golden Gate Bridge entrance to the Pacific Ocean and Islands of the world, downward to Mother Earth, and up to the Father Sky.

The Healing Park will embrace the four elements, earth, water, fire and air.

The 16 individual sculptures which together comprise Restoration Park will represent the Continents, Islands and Oceans, all First Peoples, Men, Women, Children, the United Nations and the world's Faith Traditions.

The carving of the Sculptures will be done by the same Kohola Carving Team that created the first four Kohola Sculptures. The poles themselves will come from previously fallen redwood and cedar trees from special areas throughout Northern California obtained through the assistance and approvals of the ancestors of the indigenous peoples of California.

The carving will be done at the Kohola Carving Site at the Presidio, the same site shared with the San Francisco Recycling Center at the Presidio.

At the center of the Park will be a Healing Fire Pit with continuous flames erupting in a concentric circular patterns through sands and soil collected from sacred areas of all First Peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands. The Sacred Fire Pit will itself be constructed from special rocks gathered from ceremonial indigenous area healing pits from throughout the Americas.

Amphitheater seating around the Sacred Fire Pit will accommodate outdoor meetings and gatherings. Special lighting will illuminate the Sculptures at night.

The Kohola Sculptures project partners include: