Sculpture

Bumpei Akaji (1921-2002) was an American sculptor born in Lawai on the island of Kauai. His passion for art remained unwavering throughout his life, even during his service in World War II. He was drafted into the 100th Infantry Battalion in 1943, and deployed to Italy, where he would make time to study paintings and sculptures despite the challenges of war. Initially a painter, Akaji became one of the first students to graduate with a Master of Fine Arts in painting from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. By the 1960s, however, he shifted focus to sculpture, using scrap metal to create his pieces. Akaji was also a member of the Metcalf Chateau, a collective of seven Asian-American artists with ties to Honolulu.