He Aupuni Palapala
Cover Image: Detail of front page of the January 1, 1862 issue of Ka Nupepa Kuokoa. Photo by David Franzen, ©2009 Bishop Museum Archives. QM 204791.
He Aupuni Palapala: Preserving and Digitizing the Hawaiian Language Newspapers is an ambitious, multi-year collaboration between Bishop Museum and Awaiaulu, supported by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority and with contributions from Kamehameha Schools. Its goals are to catalog the existing nūpepa (Hawaiian language newspapers) in public repositories in Hawaiʻi, recording the condition of each page. It will also redigitize and partner with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Papakilo Database to make word searchable the clearest pages available and to upload them online for free public access.
The Hawaiian language newspapers total more than 100,000 pages of text, encompassing practically all aspects of Hawaiian life, culture, literature, environment, and history—told in the words of Hawaiians of the day.
Aole o’u makemake e paio aku, he makemake ko’u e pololei ka moolelo o ko’u one hanau, aole na ka malihini e ao mai ia’u i ka mooolelo o ko’u lahui, na’u e ao aku i ka moolelo i ka malihini.
[I have no desire to argue, I want the history of my homeland to be accurate; it is not for the foreigner to teach me the history of my people, it is for me to teach it to the foreigner.]
—S. M. Kamakau, “Hooheihei ka Nukahalale…” Ke Au Okoa, 10/16/1865, p. 1
Aole o’u makemake e paio aku, he makemake ko’u e pololei ka moolelo o ko’u one hanau, aole na ka malihini e ao mai ia’u i ka mooolelo o ko’u lahui, na’u e ao aku i ka moolelo i ka malihini.
[I have no desire to argue, I want the history of my homeland to be accurate; it is not for the foreigner to teach me the history of my people, it is for me to teach it to the foreigner.]
—S. M. Kamakau, “Hooheihei ka Nukahalale…” Ke Au Okoa, 10/16/1865, p. 1
Detail of front page of the January 1, 1862 issue of Ka Nupepa Kuokoa. Photo by David Franzen, ©2009 Bishop Museum Archives. QM 204791.
Library Week (April 19–25)
In celebration of Library Week, a story on Hoʻokena getting a reading room, and T. K. Robert Amalu’s clever words used to encourage donations.
Law Restricting Hula Performances, 1859.
Newspapers were used to inform the people of what the legislature discussed while in session, and which bills become law. One of the bills considered in 1859 was one requiring a license issued by the Minister of the Interior in order to put on a hula show.
The “gold mines” of Kahului, 1899.
J. P. Iwa reports on a new source of salt on Maui.
Prince Kūhiō’s Birthday to be Added to the Holidays Celebrated in Hawaiʻi, 1923.
In the House of Representatives Session of 1923, a legislative bill was introduced so that Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole’s birthday, March 26th, would be assigned a holiday and added to the holidays celebrated in Hawaiʻi.
Bits of News from Lāʻie, Those Passed On and Kūlolo Peddled from Kauaʻi.
In many of the Hawaiian language newspapers, there was a column of short, random news items sent in by local correspondents: descriptions of neighborhood parties, extreme weather, fundraiser announcements, and so forth.
Sad tidings from faraway Washington Territory, 139 years ago.
People were not only subscribing to the Hawaiian newspapers here in Hawaiʻi nei, but from across the Pacific and beyond as well. The newspaper could spread information quickly, and it was the most efficient means to announce marriages, births, and deaths. Here, word of the passing of Mr. Keawehaku, a native of Waiākea Hilo and the only old-timer left in Keomolewa (Columbia River), reaches all over Hawaiʻi only a month later.
An unfamiliar feast. 1916
Today we step back 110 years with a light-hearted description of an encounter by a group of tourists with Hawaiian food.
Rev. C. M. Hyde’s call for epithets, 1886.
Rev. C. M. Hyde urges readers to send in epithets to be published in the newspaper.
Library Week (April 19–25)
In celebration of Library Week, a story on Hoʻokena getting a reading room, and T. K. Robert Amalu’s clever words used to encourage donations.
Law Restricting Hula Performances, 1859.
Newspapers were used to inform the people of what the legislature discussed while in session, and which bills become law. One of the bills considered in 1859 was one requiring a license issued by the Minister of the Interior in order to put on a hula show.
The “gold mines” of Kahului, 1899.
J. P. Iwa reports on a new source of salt on Maui.
Prince Kūhiō’s Birthday to be Added to the Holidays Celebrated in Hawaiʻi, 1923.
In the House of Representatives Session of 1923, a legislative bill was introduced so that Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole’s birthday, March 26th, would be assigned a holiday and added to the holidays celebrated in Hawaiʻi.
Bits of News from Lāʻie, Those Passed On and Kūlolo Peddled from Kauaʻi.
In many of the Hawaiian language newspapers, there was a column of short, random news items sent in by local correspondents: descriptions of neighborhood parties, extreme weather, fundraiser announcements, and so forth.
Sad tidings from faraway Washington Territory, 139 years ago.
People were not only subscribing to the Hawaiian newspapers here in Hawaiʻi nei, but from across the Pacific and beyond as well. The newspaper could spread information quickly, and it was the most efficient means to announce marriages, births, and deaths. Here, word of the passing of Mr. Keawehaku, a native of Waiākea Hilo and the only old-timer left in Keomolewa (Columbia River), reaches all over Hawaiʻi only a month later.
An unfamiliar feast. 1916
Today we step back 110 years with a light-hearted description of an encounter by a group of tourists with Hawaiian food.
Rev. C. M. Hyde’s call for epithets, 1886.
Rev. C. M. Hyde urges readers to send in epithets to be published in the newspaper.
