HONOLULU (KHON2) — In recent years, the Hawaiʻi State Archives initiated a comprehensive digitization project aimed at making its vast physical collections accessible online to the public.
This effort, led by Dr. Adam Jansen and his team, allows anyone to explore historical records, photographs and documents from the comfort of their own home.
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The collection includes thousands of images capturing Hawaiʻi’s rich history. From portraits of individuals and scenes of parades to photographs of historic buildings and boats, the state archives is the most extensive repository of Hawaiʻi’s history.
Amongst the standout features are rare images of wāhine (women) in Hawaiʻi taken before the 1900s that offer a unique glimpse into the past.
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Hawaiian women washing clothes before the 1900s. (Courtesy: Hawaii State Archives)
Hawaiian women washing clothes before the 1900s. (Courtesy: Hawaii State Archives)
Hawaiian women bathing before the 1900s. (Courtesy: Hawaii State Archives)
Hawaiian women working in a taro patch in Kealia, on the island of Kauai, before the 1900s. (Courtesy: Hawaii State Archives)
Hawaiian women before the 1900s. (Courtesy: Hawaii State Archives)
Hawaiian women before the 1900s. (Courtesy: Hawaii State Archives)
Hawaiian women before the 1900s. (Courtesy: Hawaii State Archives)
Hawaiian women before the 1900s. (Courtesy: Hawaii State Archives)
Hawaiian women before the 1900s. (Courtesy: Hawaii State Archives)
Hawaiian girl with fish net near Coconut Isle in Hilo before the 1900s. (Courtesy: Hawaii State Archives)
Currently, the State Archives is managing several major projects simultaneously to better serve the community and preserve Hawaiian heritage. One particularly significant acquisition is one of the largest collections of Hawaiian music ever assembled.
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The archive now houses more than 20,000 pieces of Hawaiian music, stored across numerous boxes. Once cataloged and organized, this collection will be available for public access to offer an unparalleled resource for researchers, musicians and cultural practitioners interested in Hawaiʻi’s musical history.
Another major project was the digitization of more than 22,000 glass plate negatives. These fragile photographic materials contain invaluable historical imagery that have become part of the growing digital archive.
Through these efforts, the Hawaiʻi State Archives continues to ensure that the islands’ cultural and historical treasures are preserved, protected and made available to future generations.
You can click here to learn more about the archives.
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Their work provides an essential connection to the past while expanding public access to Hawaiʻi’s unique and diverse heritage.
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