To the Forum: Recently I had occasion to visit Kaua’i Museum with a close friend who is of Hawaiian heritage. After making our way through all the exhibits we exited the museum silently. We paused on the steps of the
To the Forum:
Recently I had
occasion to visit Kaua’i Museum with a close friend who is of Hawaiian
heritage. After making our way through all the exhibits we exited the museum
silently.
We paused on the steps of the museum and my friend asked me what
I thought about the exhibits. I told my friend that I was saddened. With the
exception of some calabashes, poi pounders and mats, the displays were all
post-contact oriented.
Most displays were of western acquisitions of
“haoles” in the form of china service, furniture and dress. There
was a disparagingly small amount of information on pre-contact Hawaiian culture
and history.
The entire second floor of the museum, with the exception of
one corner of paintings for sale by modern artists, contains oriental
artifacts. Granted, these things are part of the modern history of the island
of Kaua’i, but where is the true history and culture of Kaua’i’s people?
Has foreign contact so obscured Kaua’i’s history that there isn’t enough to
display in the museum or has the museum’s board decided that post-contact
history and development are more important to display to the public?
This
is a very sad commentary and an insult to Native Hawaiians and, specifically,
Kauaians.
Sherry C. Davis
Kekaha
