On April 23, our two Paramacharyas flew from Kauai to Hilo on the Big Island, some 320 miles. That’s Hilo with the red and white dot, on the Eastern shore of Hawaii.

Their mission was to review the progress of the Gurudeva bronze statue. Here he is, standing in Holly Young’s new studio (Gurudeva is the first major piece sculpted in this space.)

In the finished bronze, the Rudrakshas will be in metal, they are here just to show the overall effect. The hair and beard are not finished, just roughed in.

He is standing in traditional sandals.

Holly is a masterful artist, and her love of Gurudeva is reflected in the amazing likeness. One feels as if standing in the physical presence.

In the final work, the temple architect will be standing in front of Gurudeva, who is sharing his vision of Lord Siva and his plan to build a Siva temple on Kauai.

Holly is working on the satguru’s khadi robes, capturing their folds. She has a plan to take a tiny rake (about one inch side with 15-20 teeth) and go vertical and then horizontal over the entire murthi, creating the look of weaving in the bronze!

Paramacharya Sivanathaswami performed a puja, invoking Gurudeva’s presence. It worked. As soon as the puja ended, the two glass doors slammed shut.

Long-time devotee Hitesvara was kind enough to be the chauffeur for our traveling swamis, to and from the airport. We had not asked him to bring it, but he intuited the need for a puja kit and brought it along with flowers from his Summa Iru Garden in Hilo.

For two hours Holly and the swamis went over every detail of the sculpture, refining, suggesting, correcting–to make it perfect.

Here Paramacharya Sadasivanatha holds a photo up to check details on the face and head.

Holly will spend months finishing the work, a little longer due to the visit! She hosted the swamis for lunch on a porch overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with a near 180-degree view of the sea, 1,500 feet below. Quite spectacular.

Thank you, Holly. Thank you, Hitesvara. Thank you, Gurudeva.

Work is in progress cleaning up and clearing the south west area of the Aadheenam in preparation for more improvements to the entrance area of the Aadheenam.

Pradeep is working with Yoginathaswami to move this giant concrete entry way that once was a ramp to a storage container that