Hawaiʻi State Archives

Dozens of grants held by libraries, museums and archives have been terminated this year. That includes projects that collect and digitize photos and documents to preserve it for the future. HPR's Cassie Ordonio reports how the Hawaiʻi State Archives continues with its work preserving photos of Hawai‘i's past.

The Queen Liliʻuokalani Keiki Hula Competition was created in 1976 by the nonprofit Kalihi-Pālama Culture & Arts Society with a vision for children to participate in cultural dance while also learning about Queen Liliʻuokalani.

The Hawai‘i State Archives has acquired another thousand more glass plates in the James J. Williams Collection that will be digitally archived.

HPR talked to Hawaiʻi State Archivist Adam Jansen about what’s being done to protect valuable government documents and artifacts in the Hawaiʻi Capital Historic District.

The Hawaiʻi State Archives will be showcasing various vintage instruments and other historical music material at the International ʻUkulele Festival of Hawaiʻi this month.

The portrait of Hawaiʻi’s last reigning monarch, painted in the 1890s, was on view outside of Hawaiʻi for the first time. In Washington, D.C., it was a centerpiece of an exhibit entitled “1898: U.S. Imperial Visions and Revisions." The Conversation's Catherine Cruz has been following the portrait since it left ʻIolani Palace in 2022.

A Hawaiʻi delegation recently traveled to the National Portrait Gallery in our nation's capital to welcome the official portrait of Queen Liliʻuokalani. It's the first time the 130-year-old oil portrait is on view outside of Hawaiʻi.The Conversation's Catherine Cruz traveled to Washington, D.C., and spoke with the delegation about sharing the queen's story and getting the chance to see their ancestors listed in the Kūʻē Petitions.

HPR broke a story last year about the state's intent to block the sale of Queen Liliʻuokalani's personal flag, as well as historic records listed by an auction house in New York. Now, those items are in the hands of the Hawaiʻi State Archives. The Conversation's Catherine Cruz shares how the knowledge made its way back to Hawaiʻi.

A Royal Hawaiian Movers van pulled up to ‘Iolani Palace to receive very precious cargo on Monday. The official portrait of Hawaiʻi’s last reigning monarch, Queen Lili’uokalani, will be part of an exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington. The Conversation's Catherine Cruz has more.

Hawaiʻi's attorney general has put the British auction house Bonhams on notice. At issue are items dating back to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom that the state maintains belong to the government of Hawaiʻi. The Conversation's Catherine Cruz spoke with state archivist Adam Jansen about flagging the items and hopefully bringing them home.