The council for native hawaiian advancement in honolulu, hawai'i in collaboration with the moʻopono - hawaiian ancestry project will expand access to over 9,000 pages of handwritten hawaiian…

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement $150,000 under the Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services program (CFDA 45.311) on October 1, 2025, for a one-year project completion date of September 30, 2026. In collaboration with the MooPono – Hawaiian Ancestry Project, the award supports the transcription, archival indexing, and online dissemination of over 9,000 pages of handwritten Hawaiian genealogical records housed at the Hawaii State Archives. This project will engage university students and community members to transcribe and verify records while ensuring cultural accuracy and integrity.

The grant will deliver an interactive digital database and searchable online repository providing broad access to these genealogical materials for Native Hawaiians, researchers, and the general public. Additionally, the project will produce comprehensive educational resources including workshop materials, presentation tools, and digital toolkits, complemented by community outreach initiatives and feedback mechanisms. By removing access barriers to mookuauhau (ancestry) records, this initiative enables Hawaii's communities and diaspora to reconnect with their heritage while fostering intergenerational knowledge-sharing and cultural preservation.

The council for native hawaiian advancement in honolulu, hawai'i in collaboration with the moʻopono - hawaiian ancestry project will expand access to over 9,000 pages of handwritten hawaiian genealogical records housed at the hawai'i state archives. Through transcription, archival indexing, and online dissemination, the project will create a searchable repository, making these invaluable records widely accessible to native hawaiians and researchers worldwide. Through this project, university students and community members will transcribe and verify the records, ensuring accuracy and cultural integrity. The project will engage the public through workshops, educational materials, and outreach initiatives. The intended results and products of this project include: an interactive database and digital repository; educational resources including workshop materials, presentation tools, and digital toolkits; and community-driven feedback mechanisms. By removing access barriers, this initiative empowers communities and families in hawaiʻi to reconnect with their moʻokūauhau (ancestry) and fosters intergenerational knowledge-sharing across hawaiʻi's diaspora.