As the 100th anniversary celebration of the Kauai Historical Society nears on May 10, KHS Vice President Reg Gage took time to field some questions from The Garden Island. TGI: Why is history important to the residents of Kauai?
As the 100th anniversary celebration of the Kauai Historical Society nears on May 10, KHS Vice President Reg Gage took time to field some questions from The Garden Island.
TGI: Why is history important to the residents of Kauai?
REG GAGE: History unknown is history lost.
TGI: What is the role of the Kauai Historical Society?
GAGE: The Kauai Historical Society collects and preserves materials illustrating the history of Kauai and Niihau. These materials include, but are not limited to books, manuscripts, periodicals, clippings, photographs, videos and other graphic materials such as microfilms, maps, plans, recordings, oral histories, genealogical and biographic records and Kauai ephemera such as stamps, tokens, menus and posters.
Kauai has just one history archive. Nearly everyone else throws records away, the KHS preserves history.
TGI: How was history passed down over the years on Kauai?
GAGE: The history of Kauai began with the myths and legends told by the ancient Hawaiians. The written history did not begin until after the arrival of Captain James Cook. It was not until students from Maui’s Lahainaluna School began to collect the oral traditions, legends, genealogies and memories of older generations that anyone began to assemble the history of Kauai. The Society not only holds the oral traditions, legends, and genealogies of Kauai but also the recent history and disappearing history of the sugar, pineapple, and cattle producers of Kauai. Kauai still has history to be saved. The Society holds the records of Kilauea Sugar, Lihue Plantation and Kekaha Sugar Companies and desires to close the apparent gaps with closed company records. Finding aids will then be developed for each company and the records preserved. The Society encourages the holders of these and similar corporate records to make these records available to the Society. Many Kauai residents do not know their history. Employment and land records are primary source materials to trace the assimilation of people on Kauai. The KHS is a depository of many individual work histories.
TGI: What is the most urgent need of the KHS?
GAGE: The paramount need is a permanent home. KHS needs housing for their library and archival collections. It needs a single location (its archival is now housed in two locations). It needs an archival dirty room at its location, photo and map rooms, a sales area, display areas, a board room and an auditorium to accommodate pubic programs. The Kauai Historical Society needs a permanent home and/or funding to purchase, build and/or renovate such a facility.
TGI: What are history’s greatest rewards?
GAGE: The joy of discovery is rewarding. Great rewards come when the Society unites individuals with their ancestors and to their family history.
TGI: What is the size of the KHS staff?
GAGE: The KHS has one full-time employee, the executive director. Other staff is added as needs occur. We have a great community of volunteers.
TGI: How are the Society’s operations funded?
GAGE: The KHS receives funding through dues, donations and special purpose grants.
TGI: Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the KHS?
GAGE: Our expectation is that there will always be history.
TGI: What will it take to get more people involved in preserving Kauai’s history?
GAGE: The KHS is a member-based organization. We need to get the public involved.
TGI: Is there a way to share Kauai’s history with students?
GAGE: Start student history clubs, become a member, record family history.
TGI: If there is one thing that could be said about the Kauai Historical Society that people don’t know, what would it be?
GAGE: The Kauai Historical Society may be the oldest nonprofit organization on Kauai.
TGI: Any final words?
GAGE: It was a good time talking story with you about the 100th anniversary of the KHS. Please remember that we actually are celebrating two anniversaries. First is opening of the Historic County Building on May 10, 1914, and the second is the founding of the Kauai Historical Society on May 14, 1914. Both anniversaries will be celebrated on May 10 on the lawn fronting the historic Kauai County Building.
TGI: What else do we have happening?
GAGE: The remaining centennial events are Wednesday, May 7 at the Lihue United Church Parish Hall. David Scott will stage his original play on the first KHS meeting and I think that this will be highlighted in the reading of the Rev. J. M. Lydgate paper The Wreck of the Saginaw, which was the first paper and program of the KHS.
TGI: What would you say to encourage people to attend the celebration?
GAGE: It’s party time! Come celebrate the cultures of Kauai under the big tent. Hawaiian, Japanese, Filipino, Portuguese ethnic foods are available in plantation camp tents neighboring the big tent. There are historic tours of the Historic County Building led by Council Chair Jay Furfaro, music and ethnic performances by Hawaiians, Filipinos, Japanese and Okinawans and Tongans, dancing under the stars. Attendance is free.
Aloha kaua.
