Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 3, 1 March 1997 — Nā Mea Makamae: exhibit of Hawaiian and Polynesian treasures [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Nā Mea Makamae: exhibit of Hawaiian and Polynesian treasures

Bishop Museum's world-renowned collection of cultural objects and natural science specimens comes to life in Nā Mea Makamae: Treasures of Hawai'i, an engaging, interactive exhibition of many of the most rare and rarely seen artifacts, objects and specimens preserved over the past five centuries. Nā Mea Makamae: Treasures of Hawai'i presents the best of Bishop Museum. It offers a once-in-a-hfetime opportunity to see, hear and touch what's found nowhere else on Earth. It shares the story of what our world was like and what our future may be. The exhibit offers over 50 hands-on activities. Visitors will encounter Hawai'i's natural science specimens, participate in activities, listen to storytellers and go on an exhibit-wide treasure hunt. Keiki will have fun playing Hawaiian music instruments, sewing feather leis,

Iearning why tne noneycreeper s beak cnanged over time, coloring in a tree snail and Iistening to its mele. They will also enjov a Hawaiian treasure hunt. Rare objects such as Queen Lili'uokalani's secret diaries, King Kalākaua's personal scrapbook containing his ideas, designs and inventions and I Kamehameha the Great's famed solid yellow mamo feather eloak allow visitors to k relive history. And most of all a treasured 500 yearold feather malo of the Iegendarv Chief Līloa, passed down through the generations and hidden under Lili'uokaIani's bed until Bishop Museum opened in 1889. Eaeh treasure in this exhibit tells a story and traces Hawai'i's

roots throughout Polynesia. On exhibit are rare

artitacts trom Hawaiian and Pacific cultures

such as ceremonial and domestic objects, poi pounders, adzes, makaloa mats and lapita potterv.

Unique scientific features of Hawai'i are on display as well. For example, there is a rock from the newest voIcanic island Lō'ihi, and the smallest fish in the world. The museum also has a new daily schedule of cultural programs. The programs include historic film clips from the museum's archives, a tour of the Polynesian voyaging eanoe Hawai'iloa and tours of the Museum's Hawaiian Hall. Visitors ean also explore voyaging techniques of early Polynesian navigators at the "Journey by Starlight" PIanetarium show. Craft demonstrations of Hawaiian quilt making, feather and flower lei making, lauhala weaving and stone and bone carving are presented Monday through Saturday. The Nā Mea Makamae exhibit runs through May 4. Museum admission is $14.95 for adults and $11.95 for

seniors and youths 6-17 years-old. Loeal residents and mihtary admission is $7.95 for adults and $6.95 for seniors and youths 6-17 years-old. Children under 6 and museum members are free. For more information and a schedule of daily demonstrations eall (808) 847-3511.

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Artist Louis Choris created this treasured watercolor portrait ot King Kamehameha I, in 1817. It's one of two portraits ever known.

Bishop Museum has more than 650 poi pounders in its collections, attesting to the importance of kalo and poi in Hawaiian culture. There are poi pounders from every Hawaiian island. Most eommon is the pounder with a knob at the top. .

A stone image from Necker island, 450 miles west of Kaua'i. Fewer than 20 of these mysterious male images have been recovered. This image was discovered in 1894. Necker images represent an early phase of Hawaiian culture rooted deeply in Southeast PoIynesia.