Air Force artist depicts C-17 in 'Waikiki Sunrise'

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chris Vadnais
  • Air Force News Agency
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFPN) --  When the "Spirit of Hawaii Ke Aloha" landed on the flightline here in February 2006, it symbolized a new era in airlift for the Pacific. That first jet has since been joined by seven others, comprising the first C-17 Globemaster III squadron based outside the continental United States.

Artist Keith Ferris celebrates that moment through his latest contribution to the Air Force Art Collection, "Waikiki Sunrise."

"Waikiki Sunrise," commissioned and donated to the Air Force by Boeing and Pratt and Whitney, portrays Hickam Air Base's first C-17 Globemaster III flying over southern Oahu, above Diamond Head crater and Waikiki beach.

"We're documenting history here," Mr. Ferris said. "That's the whole purpose of the Air Force Art program -- to have artists look at the mission from their point of view, and look at it with an artist's eye, and they will do things that when you've retired and you look back and you see this painting you'll say, 'Yeah, I was there. I remember that.'"

For many, the painting has multiple meanings. It also celebrates the success of the total force concept at Hickam, said Col. John Torres, the 15th Airlift Wing commander,

"We've done something that's never been done before," Colonel Torres said. "We've truly formed a total force partnership -- the active duty and the National Guard. This is the future, that's what this painting captures, and that's why we're excited."

According to the experts -- those who fly the jets -- the painting is incredibly accurate.

"This is exactly what we see up there, especially on our training missions," said Lt. Col. Scott Shapiro, the 535th Airlift Squadron commander.

"Sometimes we'll fly right by Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, right past downtown -- far enough away that we don't bother anybody, but close enough that we get to see it," Colonel Shapiro said.

"The weather's right, the orientation of the jet is right, even the way the pilots are sitting is exactly right," he said.

"Waikiki Sunrise" is Mr. Ferris's 59th contribution to the Air Force collection over the course of 46 years, and like each of the other 58, it has its own special meaning to him.

"What's different about this one, of course, is that it's combining Honolulu and Hawaii -- where I was born -- with the C-17," Mr. Ferris said. "It was a lot of fun to paint because it's a beautiful place and all the colors are unique to Hawaii, so it was fun to do that."

Most works in the Air Force Art Collection are centrally managed, and made available for loan as exhibition. However, "Waikiki Sunrise" will be kept on permanent display in the Pacific Air Force headquarters building.

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