PEM in an Hour
13. Kū
At the top of the landing on Level 2, you’ll see a large wooden figure commanding the space to the right. This is Kū, a Hawaiian deity. Kū is one of only three images of this kind remaining in the world today, created by a masterful carver in the early 19th century. Kū embodies male generative forces: family, prosperity, strategy, governance and warfare. He inspires continuity, agency and a return to time-honored ways for many contemporary (KA-naka MOW-lee) Kanaka Maoli – or Native Hawaiians. Many consider Kū to be a living entity and he is treated as such by many visiting Native Hawaiians. They bring greetings from home and have left him offerings. We co-steward Kū with Native Hawaiian partners. His story is ongoing. The museum finds ways to honor the many objects in the collection that embody spiritual, functional and celebratory traditions, linking past generations to the present and future.
Now continue through the glass doors and quickly turn left into the Asian Export gallery.