This project will document, preserve, and expand access to oral histories that capture the lived experience, cultural knowledge, and community contributions connected to waimea valley

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded $150,000 to HII Paka LLC on October 1, 2026, under the Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services program (CFDA 45.311) to document, preserve, and expand access to oral histories connected to Waimea Valley in Haleiwa, Hawaii.

The project will collect video oral histories from long-time staff, cultural practitioners, and community members who have worked to protect, restore, and sustain the valley. HII Paka LLC will lead coordination efforts and develop internal organizational capacity to manage and use oral history resources. The Center for Oral History at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa will provide technical guidance and project support as a partner.

Deliverables include recorded oral histories, preserved archival materials, and resources to support future educational programming, public interpretation, and publication. The project targets increased representation of community voices in historical records, strengthened organizational capacity to steward and share oral history collections, and expanded access to culturally significant resources. Primary beneficiaries include the Waimea Valley community, cultural practitioners, educators, researchers, and the public.

The performance period runs from October 1, 2026, through March 31, 2028, with all work performed in Haleiwa, Hawaii. HII Paka LLC is a Native Hawaiian nonprofit organization that manages Waimea Valley as a center for preserving Hawaiian heritage, environmental conservation, and cultural education.

Funding will support the development of an oral history initiative that addresses the long-time staff, cultural practitioners, and community members who have worked to protect, restore, and sustain the valley. Project activities include staff-led coordination, collection of video oral histories, development of internal capacity to manage and use oral history resources, and partnership with the center for oral history at the university of hawai'i at manoa for technical guidance and project support. Deliverables include recorded oral histories, preserved archival materials, and resources to support future educational programming, public interpretation, and publication. Expected outcomes include increased representation of community voices in historical records, strengthened organizational capacity to steward and share oral history collections, and expanded access to culturally significant resources. Primary beneficiaries include the waimea valley community, cultural practitioners, educators, researchers, and the public.