Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee, Colette
Machado (Islands of Molokai and Lanai), sponsored a grant
for the Lanai Culture & Heritage Center (Lanai CHC). On June
5th, 2008 the Trustees voted unanimously to
provide $750,000.00 to development of the new museum. The
vision is to honor the past, and share Lanai’s rich history
with present and future generations. Through this action of
the Trustees, the land, people and history of Lanai have
been offered a generous gift by the Office of Hawaiian
Affairs — Mahalo a nui!
On June 18th, some 100 members of
Lanai’s Hawaiian community met with Trustees of the Office
of Hawaiian Affairs on Lanai, and shared their appreciation
with the Trustees and staff for the kind support of our
efforts to document and pass on Lanai's history.
Representatives of Lanai’s families, ranging in age from 10
to 91 years old, spoke, sang and chanted in appreciation to
the Trustees, and in support of the Lanai CHC programs.
Click play arrow to view "E Mau
Ana Ka Haaheo" presentation, June 18th, 2008.
The goal of the program is to ensure that the living culture
of Lanai remains an integral part of our community. The
vision of the center is to develop both fixed exhibits (more
typical of museum settings for valued items), and living
history collections, where Lanai’s residents and visitors
can experience the heritage of Lanai. We are also planning
for a controlled archival collection storage and
conservation area, and community heritage library, which
will house historical documents, photos, maps, textiles and
other items of importance to Lanai’s people and past.
To do this we are eliciting the help of a
broad cross-section of the community and organizations to
acquire an existing historical structure that will be
suitable to fulfill the vision and mission laid out by the
community through agreements made in 1987. We are also
seeking the help of the community, in order to make the
Lanai CHC programs sustainable.
If we are to protect and pass on Lanai’s
history, we need families to donate cherished items
reflective of the diverse cultural heritage of Lanai. If we
are to be good stewards of the artifacts and historical
collections, and ensure that the rich history of Lanai is
passed on through generations of Lanai’s people, and shared
with those who visit the island, we need the facility and
financial support to offer the programs.
The heritage and cultural diversity of Lanai
are among its most distinguishing and endearing resources.
Since opening as a non-profit community organization on
October 1, 2007, the Lanai Culture & Heritage Center (Lanai CHC)
has hosted more than 4,600 residents and visitors in
programs at the center and in field outings. Generous
donations from Lanai’s residents, visitors, Hawaiian
organizations and Castle & Cooke have resulted in our
raising funds to help us ensure that the artifacts, family
collections and historical documents will be saved and
available for present and future generations.
