UH Hilo History Hui

If you are in the Hilo area this summer, feel free to come and join us for some lei-making this Sunday (June 18th) 1-5pm, Kīpuka lānai at UH-Hilo.

Join us this Sunday from 1PM-5PM at the Kīpuka Lānai on UH Hilo Campus for lei making in honor of this year's Lei Hali'a O Kalaupapa. We welcome everyone and encourage you to bring 'ohana or hoa to our event.

The lā'ī that is provided at the event will be limited so feel free to bring your own.

We will also be accepting any lei and cordage donations. Mahalo!

"REFLECTIONS on FAITH and THE KALAUPAPA COMMUNITY"
Join us this coming Thursday, Jan 27 @ 12noon for a presentation by Fred E. Woods.
No need to register;
zoom link: https://hawaii.zoom.us/j/94853245176
password: Kalaupapa

January is Kalaupapa Month! Many of us are drawn to the story of Kalaupapa. It often starts with a book or a visit, that leads to another and another…we find relevance, connection, and compassion within ourselves. It happened to Fred Woods, and he is willing to share his story, in the hopes your sparked interest in Kalaupapa will inspire you to want to learn more. Many patients and residents of Kalaupapa were active in a variety of churches. Their faith helped them rebuild their sense of community and family, to overcome the separation and hardships they faced. Today, the Catholic and Protestant churches continue to hold services for their active congregations, but the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints chapel was decommissioned recently after the passing of it’s last members.
If you can not make the presentation, perhaps read Reflections of Kalaupapa or Kalaupapa: The Mormon Experience in an Exiled Community, both by Fred Woods.

Kalaupapa is hiring a GS-11 Archeologist. Know anyone who might be interested? Go to Kalaupapa National Historical Park's page to find original posting.

If you've not seen this documentary before, or even if you have, here is a link to "The Soul of Kalaupapa" a 55 min journey into the history and community of Kalaupapa.

Soul of Kalaupapa: Voices in Exile Discover what life was like for the patients and residents of Kalaupapa, removed from their families because of the fear and stigma of leprosy (Hansen's disease).

Webinar series about Kalaupapa happening throughout month of June. Hereʻs the link to register: https://forms.gle/C7ZRta8YopRhs3kf9

As part of our virtual Lei Haliʻa O Kalaupapa plans this year, we are hosting a webinar series every Wednesday in June @ 4pm HST, featuring presentations, talk-story sessions, moʻolelo, mele, and more! We hope you will join us for one or all of these gatherings! Check out the flyer, and here is the link to register to attend: https://forms.gle/C7ZRta8YopRhs3kf9

Happening this week!
Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II

What: Virtual Book Launch
A conversation with author Daniel James Brown and Densho Executive Director Tom Ikeda

When: Tuesday, May 11, 2021 @ 2 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time)

Cost: Free, but pre-registration is required

Free Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/facing-the-mountain-book-launch-with-daniel-james-brown-tom-ikeda-registration-144560874467. All event information will be here.

this year's senior symposium is just one week away!

Aloha! This year's Lei Haliʻa O Kalaupapa has gone VIRTUAL! As such, we invite everyone to honor the patients of Kalaupapa -- by making a lei (literal or virtual); dedicating it to a former patient or group of patients with a connection to Kalaupapa; placing it in the ocean, in your yard, or somewhere meaningful to you; taking a picture or making a video (or using one from a previous trip to Kalaupapa); and posting your thoughts during our virtual event – on our "kudoboard" [an electronic bulletin board that allows anyone with an email account to participate].

here is the link: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/I1wTAFug

Note: if sharing images of former patients please be sure that the picture is appropriate to post (eg. they are your ʻohana or gave their permission when you took the photo)

all of our UH Hilo students who have had the privilege of visiting Kalaupapa as part of one of their history courses will appreciate this article (as will others :-)

This Hawaiian national park was once a desolate place of quarantine In Hawaii, a unique historical site sheds light on a story of prejudice, resilience—and aloha.

From March 8-21, 2020, students studying Hawaiian history at UH-Hilo attended a preservation workshop held at Kalaupapa National Historical Park. Along with learning techniques of preservation, students embraced lessons on history, community, and perseverance.
Here is a write-up on their visit, from the NCPTT.

NCPTT | HOPE comes to Kalaupapa HOPE comes to Kalaupapa Posted by Jason Church On April 8, 2020 · In Cemetery Conservation, News HOPE Crew cleaning graves at the Kalawao Cemetery. Kalaupapa peninsula has been called a “natural prison”, with rough and rocky ocean on three sides and 2000 feet vertical cliffs on the fourth side....