Kelly died Sept. 9, 1962, at the age of 84. At the time of his death, the Star-Bulletin wrote, "Hawaii yesterday lost the artist who probably did more than any other man to bring to the world the Islands' Polynesian and Oriental faces, moods and characters." He was best known for his etchings and color engravings.
His son, John M. Kelly Jr., didn't immediately have information but said his daughter, Kathleen, has been going through "hundreds and hundreds" of her grandfather's prints for several years. The idea is to "donate all the basic prints to the Academy of Arts and the University of Hawaii, his son, now 77, said. The family will retain access for reproductions.
"When it comes time, we will sell them and the entire income will be donated to the Hawaiian people for further study of their culture and heritage," Kelly said. "It will bring back to full circle the beauty and inspiration that Hawaiians gave to my parents."
Most of John Kelly Sr.'s main prints have already been donated to the Academy of Arts.
Kelly's parents came to Hawaii in 1923, "just for one year," but fell in love with the islands and stayed. His mother, Kate Kelly, was a sculptress and well regarded in her own right, while Kelly Jr. is well known as an environmental activist, most notably as a founder of Save Our Surf.
You may write him at 4117 Black Point Road, Honolulu 96816.
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