Native Hawaiian Fellowships for Scholars
BY Christine Hitt
February 1, 2010
The Kohala Center invites native Hawaiian scholars to apply for the Mellon-Hawaii Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowship 2010-11 Program, which provides selected scholars the opportunity to complete their dissertations or to publish original research.
Applications for the 2009-2010 fellowship program are being accepted through February 15. Visit kohalacenter.org for more information.
Links to Look At
BY Christine Hitt
February 1, 2010
Some links of interest:
Hawaii’s Most Endangered Places, including the 33 historic structures to be affected by the Honolulu rail transit project.
Contenders to the Throne. Honolulu Magazine takes a look at the different groups who are operating their own Hawaiian groups.
Unseen Treasures. A photo essay of hidden artifacts from Honolulu’s major museums.
Queen’s Beach
BY Christine Hitt
January 28, 2010
As an employee of HONOLULU Magazine, I have the ease of perusing its extensive archives, which dates back to 1888, under its old title, Paradise of the Pacific. Occasionally, I will flip through the pages and find some interesting articles, or pictures. And, now I can share such finds with you.
Queen's Beach
Everyone’s heard of Queen’s Beach in Waikiki. Above is a photo from the October, 1917 issue of Paradise of the Pacific, now HONOLULU Magazine as it originally looked, and below explains how it was used:
“This is a scene of a fair retreat on the beach at Waikiki, a few miles from the business sector of Honolulu. The spot shown is cut off from the world, on the land side, by a high board fence… The great gathering places of bathers lie some distance beyond the private pier to the left, while the Queen’s Place, as it is called, is reserved for such as Liliuokalani, like any private owner, chooses to permit.
There is seldom a crowd. When the queen tires of the less breezy city precinct, she sojourns at her beach resort. When she is not there, her friends and friends’ friends and acquaintances enjoy the priveleges of the beach retreat… When this picture was taken a bunch of youngsters were holding possession…”
I must note that Liliuokalani passed away in the latter part of the year that this was printed. She was living at Washington Place at the time.
Iolani Palace and the British Country House
Stuart Ching being introduced.
BY Christine Hitt
January 26, 2010
Last week, I attended Experts at the Palace 2010 Lecture Series at the Old Archives building on the Iolani Palace Grounds. Every Thursday at noon, experts discuss various topics during the years of the Kalakaua Monarchy.
“Iolani Palace and the British Country House” was the topic of last week’s discussion with Stuart Ching, an Iolani Palace curator. Here are my notes:
-There are more similarities to the British Country House than differences, in regards to changes of ownership, architecture, furnishings, preservation and authenticity.
-The first palace was built in 1846 and kept the same form/shape as the original shacks that were the first palaces on the grounds.
-The current palace that you see today was completed in 1882. The service quarters were in the basement, principal or reception rooms were on the first floor, family quarters on the second floor and storage space in the higher spaces.
-Many British houses had a family chapel on its grounds but Iolani palace did not. However, during the reign of Liliuokalani, chapel services were held in the basement.
-Like British country houses, furnishings changed with fashion. It was custom to accumulate furnishings from different periods.
-Portraits were displayed around the home to reflect the family’s genealogy, showing strength and power.
-There is a common preservation mantra: Keep things as they are found. Preserve rather than restore. And, adaptation is always done… just as an air conditioning is added into a palace, or security system.
-Many British country homes had gardens. Iolani Palace was once surrounded by gardens, which are not there now.
Another important note that Stuart Ching mentioned is about how both British country houses and Iolani Palace must think of ways to raise money for the restoration and preservation of the building. British homes have done much more in this respect. They’ve been turned into bed and breakfasts, hotels, restaurants, multiple apartments and rented out for films.
Here are the upcoming lectures:
January 28 – Yongthanit Pimosathean – A compromise of East and West: King Rama V and the design of Chakkri Throne Hall in the Grand Palace, Bangkok
February 4 – Neil Dukas – The military forces of King Kalakaua’s Reign
February 11 – Niklaus Schweizer – Kalakaua’s Foreign Policy
February 18 – Nanette Napolean – The Royal Mausoleum
The Case of Hattie Kuoha Akee
Interview Testimony
BY: Christine Hitt
Researching genealogy can be a long quiet process. It involves spending hours or days in libraries or among the many bookcases at the county courthouses. And, most times,the research is being done on ancestors who you and your parents have never met, and on ancestors that your grandparents only have vague recollections of what their own parents may have passed on to them. So, most times, what you know of your ancestors are what is left of their existence–federal and state records.
In 1911, the Certificate of Hawaiian Birth program was established to register all births that had occurred in Hawaii who were one years of age at that time, or older. People were born at home, so there was no documentation. The Territory of Hawaii asked that each person testify and produce witnesses to their birth in Hawaii and the testimony was transcribed into an interview format. As a genealogist, what I love about these records is that it brings life to the people you are researching and I have gotten every single one of them for my family that I can find. I even get copies of people that are related but not a direct ancestor, because there is still always a possibility that your ancestor was their witness or that they are mentioned in the testimony in some way.
They are a charming read while introducing you to some interesting facts. They also verify everything you have done in your own research and these interviews can be used as proof in verification of your Hawaiian blood quantum, which is more important today with Kamehameha Schools, DHHL and OHA.
More importantly, these interviews bring you back to your roots. Here are some excerpts of my great grandmother’s testimony, in “The Case of Hattie Kuoha Akee”:
Testimony of Applicant, conducted in English.
Your correct name?
Mrs. Hattie Haliaka Kuoha Akee
Where were you born?
Peahi, Maui
When?
June 17, 1900
Your father and mother were Maui people?
Mother from Waikapu and father from Kahakuloa
Was he pure Hawaiian?
Yes.
And, testimony from her witness, Rachel Kiakona.
Where were you born?
Waipio, Huelo, Maui
When were you born?
September 10, 1889
How long have you actually known Mrs. Akee?
I knew the mother very well before Hattie was born, and I taught the whole family at Halehaku School.
Do you remember the name of Hattie’s father?
Sam Kuoha
Hawaiian?
Yes. I think he attended Lahainaluna.
About Hawaiian Roots
I started Hawaiian Roots in 2001 after I noticed that there were not many resources online for researching a person’s Hawaiian genealogy. The site received a great response from the public when it first launched and now, I’ve made it a goal to make this site as helpful as possible for those trying to piece together their own family history.
Many people start researching family histories because it is necessary to have documentation for things like scholarships and DHHL, but I’ve always found genealogy to be a fun hobby and it also gives a sense of personal pride.
Like many multi-cultural families in Hawaii, my own roots are Hawaiian, but also include Chinese and Portuguese ancestors. Hawaiian-Roots.com is meant to help people with all races that make up Hawaii’s melting pot of people.
Christine Hitt
Founder
Genealogy Services
Genealogy services will begin again in March 2010. Details coming soon.
