The William K. Kikuchi Collection
Archeology, Fish Ponds, Sacred Sites and Archives
I recently had the opportunity to visit the Kikuchi Collection at the Learning Resources Center at Kauai Community College. I am always interested in archival collections as well as libraries and try to visit them in person when I can. (See Mary in front of Libraries on my website).
I emailed the Kikuchi Collection archivist, Jason Ford, before my trip and he graciously agreed to meet with me to show me the archives. I practice what I preach about always starting with the archivist. I did do quite a bit of research on the website so I could be thoughtful in my questions, but I also just really enjoy finding out what is available in general and online. Jason has done an incredible job of starting with a room full of boxes and turning it into an archives with an online presence and digital materials.
“The Kikuchi Center holds Dr. Kikuchi’s primary source materials on archaeology, historic sites, audio visual materials, a collection of artifacts, and more. Dr. Kikuchi spent decades of his career aware of the ongoing curation crisis in Hawaiian archaeology. This crisis is largely triggered by the ongoing presence of salvage archaeology projects generating large quantities of excavated materials from cultural heritage sites and the reality that Hawaii offers no state legislated curation facilities to properly curate these materials. The result of this is that boxes full of materials remain un-curated and inaccessible to the public. Recognizing the need to preserve Kauai based cultural heritage materials to enrich the people of Kauai and the world, Dr. Kikuchi was a lifelong advocate for the development of an archaeology archival center on Kauai.”
I love that Dr. “Pila” Kikuchi’s vision has started to come to fruition creating a safe space to preserve materials and provide access to them. Why save stuff if it is not available for folks to use? From what a I have learned so far, Dr. Kikuchi not only had a passion for preservation and documentation of native Hawaiian history but inspired scholars, artists many students with his work.
My trip also coincided with a special presentation by artist Carol Araki Wyban about her research regarding Hawaiian fishponds that connected her with Dr. Kikuchi and the beautiful paintings that were inspired by that research. I learned so much at her presentation and bought her book so I could learn more.
While visiting an archives is fun on its own, I am working on ideas for another book in my series about a traveling archivist. I am drawn to stories about people fighting for their own history and persevere in the face of erasure. Those are the stories I feel compelled to uplift.
I hope you will check out the materials online and dive deeper into the history of native Hawaiians. As always, there are a variety of links to get you started.
Browse the collections (including research and photos of fish ponds, petroglyphs, cemeteries and vintage postcards)
View online exhibits including Dr. Kikuchi’s work on early Samoan History
Cemeteries of Kauai - Recognizing the importance burials to Hawaiians and other cultural groups living on Kauai, as well as the impending threats of development, it represents Dr. Kikuchi’s efforts to inventory and document cemeteries, graveyards, and family plots post 1800's for their preservation and protection. (over 200 pages of information to dig into)
Tide and Current: Fishponds of Hawai’i - Carol Araki Wyban
Carol Araki Wyban is an author, artist, and management consultant whose career as an aquaculturist began as a fish farmer at Lokoea, an ancient Hawaiian fishpond on the north shore of O‘ahu. As an independent consultant, she has worked with the State of Hawai‘i and the National Park Service toward restoration of other fishponds on O‘ahu, Moloka‘i, and Hawai‘i Island.
And just because I believe in the work do so much - Kua’ Aina Ulu Auamo
KUA is advancing community-based natural resources management in Hawai’i, working together with government agencies and communities towards restoring Hawaiʻi communities’ traditional role as caretakers of their lands and waters.
Imperfect but read aloud for your pleasure.
What a resource. Hope this post brings it more r recognition and active use.