Hours:

Admission free, Donations greatly appreciated.

Monday - Friday — 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Saturday — 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Sunday — Closed

Special arrangements for group visits can be made by e-mail or call 808 565-7177. Mahalo!

Holidays Observed

November 22, 2012 - Thanksgiving Day Closed
December 25, 2012 - Christmas Day Closed
January 1, 2013 - New Year's Day Closed

About Us

E Hoohanohano ana i ka wa ma mua,
a e Hoolako ana i ka mua aku!
(Honoring the Past, Enriching the Future!)

The Lanai Culture & Heritage Center (Lanai CHC) is a 501c3 non-profit charitable community organization organized through a Memorandum of Agreement-partnership between the Lanai Archaeological Committee, Hui Malama Pono o Lanai, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Department of Land & Natural Resources, members of Lanais' community, and Castle & Cooke Resorts, LLC. The Lanai CHC seeks to collect, document and share the history of Lanai with residents and visitors. The center includes artifacts of Hawaiian origin collected through archaeological investigations, and by plantation employees over the years found while working the fields with plow and hoe. Historical plantation era documents and family memorabilia have also been donated to the Lanai CHC. These combined collections represent the cultural diversity of the island and enable us to share of Lanai's history—remembering those people who have come before us, and upon whose successes we stand. 

Mission

The Lanai Culture & Heritage Center seeks to inspire people to be informed, thoughtful and active stewards of Lanai's heritage by preserving, interpreting and celebrating its natural history, Hawaiian traditions, diverse heritage and cultures, and ranching and plantation era histories.

Vision

Our vision includes, but is not limited to collect, preserve and display artifacts of traditional, cultural, historical and artistic value to the people and island of Lanai—representative of Lanais' Hawaiian culture, ranching era, diverse populations who built the pineapple plantation and community on the island, and natural history.

Our collections are housed, curated, and displayed in a community heritage center managed and operated by the Lanai CHC, in partnership with community and charitable organizations, Castle & Cooke Resorts LLC, and other museums in the State of Hawaii.

Our programs seek to educate and cultivate interest and knowledge in the history, folklore, culture, customs and practices of Lanai. Identify and recommend cultural and natural landscapes and archaeological sites of historical importance and interest to Lanai for preservation, and to determine levels of access and interpretation. Study and promote awareness of the unique environment and ecosystems of Lanai. Develop programs to ensure preservation of the island's endemic and indigenous life forms. Our goal is to provide long-time island families, youth, new residents, visitors, business interests and all interested parties with a sense of place and cultural attachment to the unique cultural and natural histories of Lanai. In so doing, together, we will foster an environment that will cherish the heritage of Lanai and its people.

Board of Directors & Officers

  • Pamela Mae Pili Alconcel
  • Jay Ballesteros
  • Sheila Black
  • Joan Dela Cruz
  • Colbert Matsumoto
  • Albert Halape Morita
  • John Schaumburg

We also wish to acknowledge outgoing board member, Martha Evans (whose perseverance over 20 years set the standard for our work) for her work and dedication in making the Lanai Culture & Heritage Center a success.

Executive Director

  • Kepa Maly

Staff

  • Mikala Enfield

Mikala Enfield

 Mikala Enfield has now input 3,673 names and statistics of the Lanai Plantation employees, dating from 1929 to 1932 — still working on a total of more than 6,000 Employee Identification "Bango" Cards, which were rescued from disposal years ago. The cards provide important family information such as — name, date/place of birth, marital status, pay scale, type of work when hired, and the all famous "bango" number.

Stewardship Program Participants

  • Ariel Badillo
  • Mathew Barsatan
  • Kaulana Kahoohalahala (Team Leader)
  • Ben Ostrander
  • Hy Hoe Silva
  • Keao Soriano
  • Hallett Hammatt Ph. D. and Cultural Surveys

Summer 2010 Student Interns

  • Megan Amby (Student Volunteer)
  • Shelly Preza (Student Volunteer)
  • Mathew Tan (State Dept. of Labor Summer Hire)
  • Leinani Zablan (State Dept. of Labor Summer Hire)

Summer 2011 Student Interns

  • Megan Amby (Student Volunteer)
  • Shelly Preza (Student Volunteer)

    Shelly Preza Volunteer

    Shelly Preza student volunteer working with Mikala Enfield in development of our collections finding aide.

    Operations Volunteers

  • Pamela Mae Pili Alconcel (Board of Directors)
  • Jay Ballesteros (Board of Directors)
  • Winnie Basques
  • Sheila Black (Board of Directors)
  • Justin Borders
  • Irene Cockett Perry
  • Joan Dela Cruz (Board of Directors)
  • Lorraine Dyer
  • Martha Haia Evans
  • Sally & Robin Kaye
  • Kawena Maly
  • Onaona Maly
  • Colbert Matsumoto (Board of Directors)
  • Genji & Toshiko Miyamoto
  • Stacy Miyamoto
  • Albert Halape Morita (Board of Directors)
  • Julie Morita
  • Warren Osako
  • Momi Perry Suzuki
  • Sam Koa Shin
  • John Schaumburg (Board of Directors)
  • Phillip "Philo" Sowers
  • Gary Suzuki

    And many others from Lanai and afar, who have come together to assist in resource stewardship projects on Lanai. Mahalo nui!

    I ka lokahi ko kakou ola ai
    (Our well-being is in our unity)