[Articles taken from the Leeward People Current, January 3, 2007 Volume 19 Number 1 & Midweek Islander, January 3, 2007]
On December 15th, a ceremony was held at Pearl Ridge Elementary School to welcome a new addition to the school - "He Pua Momi", or the Pearl Child.
Sculpted by University of Hawaii lecturer and artist, Nicholas Bleecker, "He Pua Momi" represents a happy child in celebration. According to Bleecker, "the metaphor contained within the artwork is that the mind of a child is like a precious object that develops in a nurturing enviornment to ultimately become a jewel of great value."
Bleecker was commissioned for the project be the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts' Art in Public Places Artists in Residence Project. In attendance of the event were local area legislators, state officials, and school administrators. Emceeing the event was sixth-grader, Matthew Ige, the current student body president.