Why did you decide to become a Member? 

I have been a member of Bishop Museum for so many years that I cannot recall why I decided to become a member. Bishop Museum is just part of my life. 

What has been a favorite or memorable exhibit, program, or event for you? 

I make a point of strolling through Hawaiian Hall, even if it is for only a few minutes, every time I visit the Museum. There are so many interesting artifacts and displays there, I seem to always find something I have never noticed before. And I always like to pop into the Kāhili Room for a minute as well.  

What’s a favorite membership benefit? 

I like attending the Member openings and lectures and special presentations when I am in town. I am looking forward to the time when these can resume. 

Bishop Museum’s mission is to inspire our community and visitors through the exploration, celebration, and perpetuation of the extraordinary history, culture, and natural environment of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. How does our mission resonate with you as a resident of Hawaiʻi? 

I have spent a lot of my life in Hāna, Maui, a place that continues to be an important center of Hawaiian culture, as it was historically. My father was an amateur scholar of the Pacific’s history and cultures, and my parents traveled widely in the Pacific in the early 1950s. I grew up listening to stories of their adventures and surrounded by Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, so I guess I came to my interest in the Pacific naturally. We were also a family of avid gardeners and plant-lovers, and I am involved with a couple of botanically focused organizations. I have loved the ocean from a young age, and I still enjoy surfing and scuba diving as often as I can. So, you can see, I have many interests that align with the mission of Bishop Museum! For the past few years, I have been an enthusiastic student of the Hawaiian language, which has deepened my appreciation of Bishop Museum’s incredible resources. I am involved with land preservation efforts in my hometown of Hāna, Maui, and the Bishop Museum Archives have been invaluable in my research for historical information to help with these efforts. The things we see on display at Bishop Museum are just the tip of the vast iceberg of the archives’ irreplaceable collections, and I look forward to resuming my regular visits to Oʻahu, so I can see what new treasures have been revealed. 

What are you looking forward to on your next visit? 

Some of the new outdoor experiences that the Museum has created during the COVID-19 crisis are intriguing to me and I plan to check them out next time I am on Oʻahu. In particular, Backyard Stars and the Botany presentation sound fun and educational.