Heritage


Kamehameha The Great
The famous statue of King Kamehameha The Great who unified the Hawaiian Islands in 1785 located in front of the Federal Building in Honolulu. Each June 11, Kamehameha Day, thousands of Hawaiian citizens parade in front of the statue and adorn the King's likeness with flower leis, the traditional Hawaiian form of greeting.



The Naha Stone
The Naha Stone, the larger of the two located in front of the Hawai'i Public Library in Hilo, Hawai'i, is the "big stone" in Hawai'i's historic past. Its weight is estimated to be three and one-half tons. It served to test any claims that the royal blood of the Naha family flowed in the veins of newborn males. The validating process included placing the newborn infant upon the venerable stone. If he remained silent, he was a Naha; if he cried, he was not.






The Naha Stone

About the year 1780 a young Kamehameha was invited to join the royal household of the king of Kohala on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Many prophecies were made by the high priests and priestesses about the great future of the young man. However, one great task was to be asked of him; the "overthrowing of a mountain". Then, before chiefs, priests and assembled people of Hilo, Kamehameha lifted the Naha Stone, even though he was not a member of the Naha family.

In later years, Kamehameha embarked on a long series of conquests that made him king of the entire group of islands and made his name revered for justice, equity and high statesmanship.


The Logo
The Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame logo exemplifies the spirit of Hawaiian sportsmanship, as encompassed in the statue of the paddler surrounded by a lei of maile leaves. The canoe paddler symbolizes: the origin of the islands, the means in which the first people got to Hawai'i, the livelihood of those people (fishing) and what eventually evolved into competitive sports from ancient Hawaiian canoe racing. The paddler denotes the strength, courage, skill commitment, determination, stamina and dedication that are integral parts of the successful athlete.


The logo was created and donated to the Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame by internationally renowned Hawai'i artist and illustrator Oliver C. Kinney.

Kinney graduated from the Kamehameha Schools and studied at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. He then went to work for some of New York's best art studios before returning to practice in Honolulu.



Owner of Oliver Kinney Graphic Design, he is currently able to give his attention to what he enjoys most: advertising illustration and design, and creating art with specific parameters in mind.



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