HONOLULU — The Honolulu Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts announced the completion of the $38,000 restoration of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Waikiki.

In 2023, the statue, at the corner of Kalakaua Avenue and Kapahulu Avenue, was damaged when it fell from its base. While the exact cause of the fall is unknown, officials said they suspected strong winds and/or vandalism.

Hawaii sculptor Kim Duffett led the restoration project, which took 11 months to complete. Duffett repaired the walking stick, eyeglasses and right arm, which had detached when the statue fell. He also fixed fracture cracks and upgraded the anchoring system with marine-grade stainless steel hardware, which can withstand winds up to 120 miles per hour. Lastly, he sandblasted the sculpture and accompanying plaque and treated them with a new patina. 

The Gandhi Memorial International Foundation and the Jhamandas Watumull Fund gifted the statue to the city and county of Honolulu in 1990. 

A blessing for the restored statue is planned for Oct. 2, 2024, in conjunction with Mahatma Gandhi’s annual birthday, which is organized by the Gandhi International Institute for Peace.