Hawaii art gallery fights to keep outdoor chop sui they inherited at new location

HONOLULU (AP) - The owners of an art gallery like the outdoor sign they inherited at their new location, even if it does advertise McCully Chop Sui. But the city says the sign has to go. Mauna Kea Galleries, owned by Carolyn and Mark Blackburn, is taking over the space occupied for decades by the Chinese restaurant that closed last year.

They are willing to pay more than $5,000 for a specialist to refurbish the 57-year-old red and green neon sign.

The Department of Planning and Permitting told the Blackburns the sign has to be taken down because it violates city regulations.

Art Challacombe, the department's chief of customer service, said the sign of a former business cannot remain since the use of the space has changed.

"It's no longer McCully Chop Sui," Challacombe said.

In addition, the sign isn't up to code because it projects more than 15 inches from the wall of the building at McCully and King streets and exceeds 20 feet in height.

Challacombe said the gallery can seek a variance to keep the sign up, and Blackburn said she's pursuing every avenue she can.

"I think we owe it to the people of Hawaii and to all the people that had memories of the place to keep it," she said. "It's not just me, it's everyone that you talk to."

The 13-year-old gallery that is moving from the Big Island has an eclectic assortment of items, including art pieces, vintage aloha shirts, surfboards and a wooden sign collection from some of Hawaii's longtime businesses.

That is part of the reason preserving the McCully Chop Sui sign is so important to her, Blackburn said.

The gallery has the support of The Outdoor Circle, which is dedicated to preserving, protecting and enhancing Hawaii's scenic environment.

"The Outdoor Circle believes that the law exists for a good reason, but we also believe there should be allowances for community landmarks such as that sign," said Mary Steiner, the group's chief executive.

© The Canadian Press, 2007