With the governor’s stay-at-home order now extended through May, many ohana are searching for additional resources to keep their keiki entertained and engaged. To provide parents and caregivers a few minutes of precious relief, Kona Historical Society launching a new weekly virtual story time on its Facebook page.
Read MoreKona Historical Society proudly announces Maile Melrose, one of Kona’s most dedicated advocates, is among the incredible lineup of honorees being recognized by the Historic Hawaii Foundation at its 46th Annual Historic Preservation Honor Awards.
Read MoreFrom 1900 to 1917, the largest business in Kailua-Kona was H. Hackfeld & Co. Ltd. The name changed to American Factors in 1917 and to AmFac in the 1960s
Read MoreThousands of Hawaii residents, including parents and students, are now required to stay at home to curb the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) throughout the island chain. To support these families in need of educational material for their children, or cultural entertainment while at home, Kona Historical Society is making more historical and cultural videos, articles, exhibits, and recordings accessible online through the Society’s website.
Read MoreThere is so much to be proud of in my first year as Executive Director. We have accomplished so much, but I’m especially proud of our growing team.
Read MoreEvery building carries history within its walls, ceilings, floors and foundations. The wood, plaster, metal, stone and other materials can contain useful knowledge and clues, which serve as a thread linking the past and future.
Read MoreLast December, Jackie Rey’s Ohana Grill owners Paul Streiter and Angela Rey held a special holiday pupu party Dec. 16 for Kona Historical Society employees at the Jackie Rey’s on Kuakini Highway and sponsored the entire function.
Read MoreKona Historical Society members and staff were treated Feb. 23 to an exclusive exploration of the breathtaking beauty of the ahupua‘a of Kealakekua with the February Jeep Trip to Papaloa, the Greenwell family’s ranch house.
Read MoreStorytelling at Kona Historical Society’s Kalukalu Headquarters is growing!
On the southside of the H.N. Greenwell Store Museum, the Society has been diligently reviving the Native Forest Exhibit with the hard work and generosity of the Ama OluKai Foundation, project contractors, community partners, and nearly 100 volunteers. Over the past several months, the once half-acre overgrown exhibit has transformed into an inviting, peaceful open space showcasing the beauty and diversity of Hawaii’s native forests. Yet, this is not a static exhibit. Instead, it’s a living place filled with experiential learning, civic engagement, and pure connection to nature and each other.
Read MoreDownload the digital issue of our member newsletter, Ha‘ilono: To Tell the News.
Read MoreMarch 3 marks the end of a month-long closure of H.N. Greenwell Store Museum for annual exhibit maintenance and preservation projects. Regular hours of operation – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays – will resume for this historic site, located at the Society’s Kalukalu Headquarters, 81-6551 Mamalahoa Highway in Kealakekua.
Read MoreHina Matsuri, better known as Girls’ Day or Doll Festival, is a Japanese holiday still observed in Hawaii, even among multi-ethnic families. Visitors to Kona Historical Society’s Kona Coffee Living History Farm in Captain Cook on Tuesday, March 3, will have the opportunity to participate first-hand in some of the beloved traditions.
Read MoreKona Historical Society is hosting its Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, March 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. at its Kalukalu Headquarters, located at 81-6551 Mamalahoa Highway in Kealakekua. The public is invited to join the festivities by becoming members of Kona Historical Society, which is a community-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and Smithsonian Museum affiliate that has spent the past four decades collecting, preserving and sharing the history of the Kona districts and their rich cultural heritage within Hawaii.
Read MoreThe Kona Coffee Living History Farm in Captain Cook is opening its doors for free to Hawaii residents Saturday, Feb. 29. This complimentary admission day is called Holoholo Saturday and it’s offered monthly by Kona Historical Society.
Read MoreKona Historical Society is proud to announce Ka‘ū actor, playwright and director Dick Hershberger will be the featured speaker for the February installment of the Hanohano ‘O Kona Lecture Series.
Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar Lives On: A Historical Performance and Lecture begins promptly at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, at the West Hawaii Civic Center, Council Chambers. The address of this venue is 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway in Kailua-Kona.
Read MoreKona Historical Society will make its famous Portuguese cinnamon bread to celebrate Shrove Tuesday. This special bake will happen in advance of this traditional feasting day on February 20 at Kona Historical Society’s stone oven, or forno, located in the pasture below the Society’s Kalukalu Headquarters and its historic general store museum in Kealakekua.
Read MoreStarting this Tuesday, Jan. 28, Kona Historical Society is temporarily closing its H.N. Greenwell Store Museum to accommodate for staff training, preservation projects and exhibit maintenance. This closure lasts through the entire month of February and the Society apologizes for any inconveniences.
Read MoreIn Hawaii, we love going holoholo. This Hawaiian term means to travel, to go for a walk, ride, or sail; to go out for pleasure. More than just adventuring for fun, it’s also a state of mind and a means to transform experiences into lasting memories.
Kona Historical Society is launching Holoholo Saturdays, with the hope that Hawaii residents will be encouraged to visit a historic place they’ve never explored, return to an old favorite, or simply pop by to get a quick hit of history and culture while on their weekend journey.
Read MoreKona Historical Society is launching its new Hanohano ‘O Kona: Wahi Pana Lecture Series with Daniel Ho, a Grammy award-winning Hawaiian music virtuoso, who made waves with his Hawaiian version of “Nothing Compares to You,” featured in the 2008 film Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
This lecture, Hawaiian Music and American Voices: A Performance and Discussion with Daniel Ho, will take place at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7. The kanikapila venue is the pasture below Kona Historical Society’s headquarters in Kealakekua, where the Society’s Portuguese Stone Oven Bread Baking Program occurs. Seating will be provided, but attendees may bring their own blanket and chair to sit on.
Read MoreInvasive plants and unwanted woody vegetation once covered a small endemic native forest exhibit at Kona Historical Society’s Kalukalu Headquarters. However, now something else is growing, thanks to a grant from the Ama OluKai Foundation and many helping hands.
Kona Historical Society received a $10,000 grant to support its Native Forest Exhibit Program. This funding is key to helping the nonprofit improve and sustain its care of the forest exhibit, established in 2004. Volunteers are now needed to assist with the removal of invasive plants, weeding, applying mulch, planting native species and clearing pathways.
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