The Temple looks great, but something's missing. I wonder what it is?
Wayne Miyata, artist and instructor at Kauai Community College created the sections out of clay. Before they were fired in the kiln, the base and ball were massive. If the shape and perfect scale isn't amazing enough, the glaze is a perfect match to the copper box that has been weathering on the temple roof. Because of the unique environment at Lawai, the copper changed into a wonderful brown instead of the green we sometimes see.
Now, how do we attach a sacred clay ball to the top of a temple? It's not like you can bolt it on. Every so often we do have Hurricanes.
Yep, that's me taking my eye off the ball. Author's have really short attention spans. Check out the color of the copper box.
With the roof complete, the sacred ball connects the structure to heaven. Beneath the Temple is the turtle's chest, which connects the temple to the earth. This 13th century building is designed to last a thousand years. I would say, "that's impossible," but the oldest wooden buildings in the world are in Japan. You really have to come and see the Lawai International Center. No hurry though, you have hundreds, if not thousands of years.