Like other plantation communities, Kōloa’s sugar production and plantation camps have no faded into memory, but the diverse cultures they brought together still remain. Annually, longtime and newer Kōloa and Poʻipū residents honored their rich heritage with the Kōloa Plantation Days celebration that was postponed to 2022 because of COVID.

This podcast features oral history recordings of:

Iki Mor

Katie Bukowski Viveiros

Vicente Bargayo

Marvin Brennecke

Robert Kunimura

This podcast was done in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities and Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

As educators, women have played a leading role in shaping the minds of the youth of our nation. For some, teaching has led to even larger leadership roles in government, including elected office. We celebrate and reflect on the impact of some of the earliest elected and influential women in Hawaii's political and educational arenas. What inspired these women to emerge as community leaders in pursuit of their policy goals? How did education serve as a tool for women to empower and engage our communities?

Narrators:

Virginia McBride

Marion Lee Loy

Hatsuko Kawahara

Helene Hale

Pat Saiki

This series is produced in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM) Center for Oral History, the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities, and Hawaiʻi Public Radio. These oral history recordings are stored in the Hawaiian Collection at Hamilton Library, UHM.

As plantations began to phase out in Hawaiʻi, these oral histories were collected to document the way of life in our plantation and rural communities and offer insight into the daily life of Native Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, and Peurto Rican communities of Waialua in the early 20th century--gathering ʻopihi, cutting and loading cane at the Waialua Sugar Mill, playing volleyball.

Narrators:

Lorna Burger

Patrick Wong

Alfredo Santiago

David Mahoe

Emigdio Cabico

This series is produced in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM) Center for Oral History, the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities, and Hawaiʻi Public Radio. These oral history recordings are stored in the Hawaiian Collection at Hamilton Library, UHM.

On October 22, 1990, President George H.W. Bush ordered the Secretary of" Defense to stop bombing Kaho'olawe. In this event, first-generation oral histories will weave together with rising generation perspectives. Together we reflect on the Aloha ʻĀina movement that mobilized thousands across the islands to stop the bombing of Kanaloa Kaho'olawe, sparked a renaissance of Hawaiian culture, language, arts and sciences, and continues to protect sacred Hawaiian lands.

Using oral histories from the Center for Oral History archive, we revisit the era of economic change from plantations to tourism, and political change with the return of AJAs [Americans of Japanese Ancestry] and rise of the Democratic Party in the 1950s. In those times of tumult, new political leaders brought forth a strong and different vision for the future of Hawai‘i, sparking huge transformation. Join us for a conversation that weaves together past, present, and future to make political change together.

“This opportunity changed lives for young people.” A place for kids to go. Meals and hot showers. Community services. From its beginnings, Pālama Settlement has been a critical place of healing and recovery, for many communities in transition. What are the kinds of things that really make a difference and help us transform our lives?

Inspirational personal stories, in their own voices, from the Center for Oral History archive, about lei sellers from the boat days down at the pier through the grass shacks and now lei stands at the airport.

Inspirational personal stories, in their own voices, from the Center for Oral History archive, about Pāʻia and Puʻunēnē, Maui, plantation store owners from the 30s-40s and the success of Sidney Kosasa who founded ABC stores.

Inspirational personal stories, in their own voices, from the Center for Oral History archive, about life in Waipiʻo Valley through the early 70s. Insights on the cultural significance of Waipiʻo Valley and Bishop Museum's role as the primary landowner.

Inspirational personal stories, in their own voices, from the Center for Oral History archive, about the lives of women who worked in Hawaiʻi's pineapple industry in the 30's through the 60's. Insights on why women went to work and their experience with striking.