In 2016, Pacific Worlds director RDK Herman (senior geographer at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian), along with Katrina Lashley from the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum and Mary Hagedorn from the National Zoological Park, were awarded a $33,500 Smithsonian Scholarly Studies grant to conduct research on He‘eia, O‘ahu. This will result in, among other things, a new Pacific Worlds website exploring the traditions, history, and great work being done in this ahupua‘a (land division).

The work is being done in coordination with the Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, Kako‘o ‘Ōiwi, Papahana Kuaola, and Paepae o He‘eia. Interviews with thirty people (elders, educators, non-profit workers, and others) are being edited and compiled along with over 1600 photographs. The project is slated for completion by December, 2018, and will follow the new template exemplified by the new Hā‘ena website.

Copyright 2016, Pacific Worlds & Associates