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CARVED KAULANI STATE PRISON TIKI FIGURE WITH BIG TOES.

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 300.00 USD
CARVED KAULANI STATE PRISON TIKI FIGURE WITH BIG TOES.
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(1960s) Kaulani State Prison and Correctional Facility first opened on the Big Island in 1947 as an "Honor Camp", also known as a low security penal facility. Made for the placement of low risk and minor offense inmates, the system was centered more towards rehabilitation rather than retribution. A program in the late 1950s was initiated to both train inmates with a positive, native craft vocation, whilst providing income to the cash strapped state government. A deal was struck with the prison and a Southern California imports store, Akron to carry native novelty items supplied by the prison inmate training program. A woodshop was established and the inmates were encouraged to learn the trade of creating hand-carved Hawaiian native products. The house style is said to have originated with one of the instructors who was partial to featuring large human feet over a rounded or square plinth base for the carving. A large toe was prominent and grew into what is known as the Big Toe style for these prison Tikis. For a period of about 20 years, these carvings were shipped back to Los Angeles for retail sale in Akron stores. Most of the carver-inmates worked in this style and moved on to forming styles of their own. Out of this program came several notable carvers of the mid centuryTiki Era, such as Andres Bumatay and Jerry Freitas. The DUG MILLER Collection features a good number of prime-Kaulani State Prison Tikis, most of which were acquired on the Big Island of Kona. Solid wood. 16.25"x6". VG+ minimal wear with small mount holes on back of item.