Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 2006 — Preserving Lānaʻi's legacy [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Preserving Lānaʻi's legacy

īhe Lōna'i Culture and Heritage Center embarks on new programs to protect and share the island's unique history

By īhe Lana'i Archaealūgical Cūmmittee

Editor's note: Thefollowing artkie was submitted by Lāna 'i Cuiture and Heritage Center Director Noelani "Nani" Watanabe - who is also a member of OHA's Native Hawaiian Historic Preservation Council - on behalf of the Lāna 'i Archaeological Committ.ee. The Lāna'i Culture and Heritage Center, whieh has been temporarily situated in the old Dole Plantation Administration Oliiee for

the last several years, has recently been reorganized with new exhibits. We invite everyone to stop by, share their stories of Lāna'i and help us ensure that the things whieh make our island unique are remembered, protected and shared with future generations. In March, historic preservation expert Kepā Maly entered into an agreement to work on a variety of programs to assist the LCHC in its mission. For the last 30 years, Kepā, along with his wife, Onaona, have worked on historic preservation and community history programs across the state, including identifying resources of traditional and historical accounts about Lāna'i. "The goal of our work here," Kepā says, "is to bring into one accessible collection as many Hawaiian-language accounts, traditions and historical land records as possible. The research is meant to provide residents, visitors and researchers with access to detailed histories of Lāna'i. We hope that the people who eall Lāna'i 'home,'

whether they are descended from the original Hawaiian families who settled the island, or from those families who built and worked the plantation, will remember the history and places of Lāna'i, and pass this legacy on to future generations." As a part of the project, Kepā is working to establish a permanent museum/community history center to

house Native Hawaiian artifacts from Lāna'i, along with cultural and historieal materials donated by families who have made Lāna'i their home since the 1920s. The facility will also house photographic and oral history eolleetions (audio and video recordings), historical books, maps, plantation-era records and a wide range of other historical manuscripts.

The help of the community is needed to make this happen. The LCHC is hoping to receive photos, records and other items that it might house for exhibiting and research. Kepā is also seeking elder kama'āina residents who would be willing to share some of their history in interviews. For more information, please eall the LCHC at 808-565-3240.

NĀ MOKUPUNI • ISLAND FEATURE

i i Members of fhe Lāna'i High School class of 1 956 inspect the collections at the Lāna'i Culture and History Center. - Photo: Courtesy of LCHC