Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 7, 1 July 2016 — 0HA's library of the future to open [ARTICLE]

0HA's library of the future to open

By Meredith Desha Enos Hale Noelo, OHA's "library of the future," will open its doors July 5. Noelo means "to delve or seek," and the center focuses on providing document digitization, the ability to record oral histories and access to resources related to genealogy, including online, subscription-only services, such as Ancestry.com. In conjunction with external resources, Hale Noelo utilizes OHA's Papakilo Database and other sites, including the Klpuka Database and the Native Hawaiian Data Book, to create an unparalleled "institutional repository of Native Hawaiian knowledge," said Kale Hannahs, Hale Noelo's coordinator. At Hale Noelo, people ean both access resources and also contribute to the overall body of knowledge. One service Hale Noelo provides is consultation and research assistance for landowners who are seeking a tax exemption for their kuleana land grants. Passed in the City and County of Honolulu in 2007 and other counties shortly thereafter, the tax exemption is given to current-day landowners who ean prove they are directly descended from the person who originally received title to the land. In addition to consultation, OHA also provides verifying documents the landowner ean submit to county tax offices. In addition, Hale Noelo has a partnership with Storycorps, a national, non-profit organization that helps people record, share and store their oral histories. These oral histories ean be submitted to the Library of Congress. One project on the horizon is recording manaleo Hawaiian speakers, talking about their lives and interacting with a new generation of 'ōlelo Hawai'i speakers. They are also looking forward to an educational component to their efforts. "We ean educate the community on how to preserve their personal eollections," such as genealogies, photographs and significant documents, says Hannahs. Coming to Hale Noelo also gives rise to the "opportunities for discussion, if they want to submit their personal collections to us, or at least give enough education and knowledge of the benefits of this resource." Hale Noelo is currently staffed by Hannahs and Luei Meyer, genealogy research specialist, and is open by appointment only. To make an appointment, visit the website: www.oha.org/ halenoelo. "This is a pretty unique resource that is going to be able to help the community meet a multitude of needs," says Hannahs. ■