From the Collection shares the heart of Kona Historical Society

Kona Historical Society is excited to announce the launch of From the Collection, a new monthly virtual program series highlighting the Society’s archives, its historic sites, and people, places and things in our community. The last Wednesday of every month, discover unseen objects from the Society’s collections, learn how to care for family heirlooms, get behind-the-scenes sneak peeks of historic sites, and hear Kona stories.
 
“Our collections have always been at the center of our mission at the Kona Historical Society. They are where our stories are kept, and there are thousands of them to tell. Our collections come directly from our community, collected thoughtfully over time by Kona Historical Society. Within our walls, we get the honor of caring for and sharing these stories that are found nowhere else,” said Public Programs Manager Audrey Blair. “During our closure to the public, we have found more time to complete collections-based projects and wanted to find a way to share our work virtually. This is how the From the Collection series was born.”

The first installment, “Bread, Baking, and ‘Kneading’ a Community,” begins at 1 p.m. Sept. 30 and will be live streamed on Kona Historical Society’s Facebook Page and on Zoom. During this approximately 30-minute-long program, viewers will be introduced to Hawaiʻi Island bakeries and bakers, both past and present, and hear their memories, inspiration and reasons to bake. Some of these bakers have survived through generations by changing with the neighborhoods or staying true to their recipes and always maintaining a strong connection to the community. Throughout the program, viewers are welcome to ask questions and leave comments.

“Normally, we bake traditional sweet bread each Thursday to share the story of the Portuguese in Kona. The first From the Collection program will be quite different from that experience. While we will discuss the Portuguese and some of their experiences, we are taking a broader look at bread and baking in Kona and including a much wider range of stories,” Blair said. “When designing the From the Collection series, our staff found renewed energy and inspiration from hearing the stories found in our archives and collections. We hope the same for folks who will tune in for this virtual program. They are the ones who gave their stories to be shared and kept safe at Kona Historical Society, and now these stories can help us become grounded in our community's resilience and beautiful history.”

Registration is required to participate on Zoom. To register and watch, go to the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tGoZYLZNT0aG5ab79mOKpQ

While the From the Collection series is free to view, Kona Historical Society welcomes donations of any size in support of this new program series and our nonprofit. 

“We know these are uncertain times and any support you can provide is greatly appreciated. You do so much when you make a gift to Kona Historical Society,” said Community Engagement Manager Carolyn Lucas-Zenk. “You help preserve our stories, our past and the present through engaging programs like From the Collection. You fuel research and careful stewardship of our unique collections, which are the heart of our organization. You foster learning for people of all ages, including through Virtual Field Trips that are free for Hawaiʻi schools, other educational programming, award-winning exhibits, and community events at our sites. You help sustain efforts dedicated to the preservation, care and access of our special historic places that give concrete meaning and connection to our history and our lives and that no spoken or written word alone can do. Your generosity, as well as ongoing support and participation, make our mission possible. Mahalo for being part of our story and for being part of everything we do.”

Kona Historical Society is a community-based, nonprofit organization and a long-standing Smithsonian Affiliate that has spent the past four decades collecting, preserving and sharing the history of the Kona districts and their rich cultural heritage within Hawaiʻi. Donations can be made online at https://konahistorical.org/donation.

Another way to support Kona Historical Society and programs like From the Collection is to become a member of the Kona Historical Society. New and returning members can join online at https://konahistorical.org/membership. Annual membership fees are $35 for individuals and $55 for families. For an additional $20, Kona Historical Society members can add on a Smithsonian Affiliate membership, which includes subscription to the Smithsonian Magazine and access to all Smithsonian Affiliate Museums.

For more information, call Kona Historical Society at 808-323-3222 or visit www.konahistorical.org. To watch the From the Collections series, as well as get the latest updates regarding the Society’s programs, historic sites and special events, “LIKE” and “FOLLOW” Kona Historical Society on Facebook.
  If you would like more information about this topic, photos, or to schedule an interview, please email Community Engagement Manager Carolyn Lucas-Zenk (carolyn@konahistorical.org) or Program Director Kuʻulani Auld (kuulani@konahistorical.org). For general information about our organization, visit www.konahistorical.org.