Hawaiian Historical Society

Hawaiian Historical Society Organized in January 1892, HHS preserves historical materials in its library and publishes scholarly research in the peer-reviewed Hawaiian Journal of History.

On this day in 1872: Henry Berger arrives from Germany to conduct the Royal Hawaiian Band. He holds this post for 43 yea...
06/04/2026

On this day in 1872: Henry Berger arrives from Germany to conduct the Royal Hawaiian Band. He holds this post for 43 years.

Want to learn more? We have an HJH for that! “Bandmaster Henry Berger and the Royal Hawaiian Band,” By David Bandy, Hawaiian Journal of History, vol. 24, 1990. pp. 69-90
http://hdl.handle.net/10524/486

Images: Berger Centennial Concert, Kapiʻolani Park, Honolulu, Oʻahu, August 4, 1944. Hawaiian Historical Society, Broadside Collection, Social Occasions, 1940s.

In observance of Memorial Day, HHS will be closed tomorrow, Saturday, May 23, 2026. We will resume operating hours on Tu...
05/23/2026

In observance of Memorial Day, HHS will be closed tomorrow, Saturday, May 23, 2026. We will resume operating hours on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Reference hours are Thursdays-Fridays 10am-4pm and Saturdays from 10am-2pm. Please email to schedule your reference appointment. Mahalo!

05/22/2026

On May 11, 1991, architectural historian Charles Peterson visited ʻIolani Palace.

Mr. Peterson first became interested in Hawaiʻi’s architecture and ʻIolani Palace while serving on Admiral Nimitz’s staff during World War II. After leaving the islands, he became one of the leading voices in the United States for historical preservation and restoration.

He was the natural choice when the Junior League of Honolulu made funds available in 1966 to draft a restoration plan for the Palace.

During his visit to the Palace, Mr. Peterson was joined by Curator Jim Bartels, The Friends of ʻIolani Palace Vice President Mary Helen Styan, and Board Member Agnes Conrad.

He praised the Palace restoration and was especially impressed with the quality of the work. During a reception after the tour, he was presented with a life membership in The Friends of ʻIolani Palace, a silver jubilee coin, and a framed 1965 photo of himself and The Friends’ first president, Liliʻuokalani Kawānanakoa Morris.

Photo credit FOIP: Liliʻuokalani Morris and Charles Peterson

Happy Kodomo no Hi!Children’s Day (Kodomo no Hi) was declared a Japanese national holiday in 1948 to be celebrated on Ma...
05/06/2026

Happy Kodomo no Hi!

Children’s Day (Kodomo no Hi) was declared a Japanese national holiday in 1948 to be celebrated on May 5th to honor children's happiness and personalities. Originally known as "Boys' Day" (Tango no Sekku), it retains traditions meant to inspire strength and health. Families display gogatsu ningyo (warrior dolls) and kabuto (samurai helmets) to inspire courage and protect boys from evil spirits and sickness.

Image: Unidentified boy in front of “Boy’s Day” display, Photographer unknown, ca. 1940s, Hawaiian Historical Society Collection, Call No. 1741.

HHS Annual Membership Meeting & Presentation, Tuesday, May 19, 2026 6:00-8:00 P.M. HST, Held online via Zoom. Free and O...
05/03/2026

HHS Annual Membership Meeting & Presentation, Tuesday, May 19, 2026 6:00-8:00 P.M. HST, Held online via Zoom. Free and Open to the Public. Register at bit.ly/HHSAnnualMeeting2026

HHS invites its members and friends to our Annual Membership Meeting and Program. The business meeting and election of the trustees will begin at 6:00 P.M. followed by Dr. Nakamura's presentation 7:00 P.M. All are welcome; however, only members in good standing may vote.

Kelli Y. Nakamura, Ph.D. will present on her newest publication, Legacies of Incarceration: The World War II Experience of Hawai‘i. This publication provides a holistic view of the incarceration experience of Hawaiʻi’s Japanese by exploring the factors that shaped the circumstances of confinement on each island before, during, and after World War II. This book examines residents’ experiences on Hawai‘i Island, Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, Kaua‘i, and O‘ahu, expanding beyond an O‘ahu-centric, urban focus to highlight the community impact of incarceration.

Join us for a discussion on Nakamura's archival research; which reveals these varied perspectives and includes sources such as inmate oral histories, diaries, newspaper interviews, songs, and poetry found in Hawai‘i, California, Washington D.C., Maryland, and Hiroshima, Japan. There will be a Q&A to follow after the presentation.

Pre-order your SIGNED copy today! Visit https://bit.ly/LegaciesofIncarceration

Are you a member? Visit https://bit.ly/LegaciesofIncarceration-MemberPrice to order your book for a member discount.

Become a member or renew at https://hawaiianhistory.org/join-us/

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi!May Day celebrations as we know them with the royal courts dressed in their island colors,...
05/01/2026

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi!

May Day celebrations as we know them with the royal courts dressed in their island colors, wearing their island lei, find their origin in the first lei contest held on May 1, 1928 – referred to as Lei Day.

Poet Don Blanding and a fellow “Honolulu Star-Bulletin” newspaper writer named Grace Tower Warren came up with the idea of honoring the tradition of the lei. The first contest took place in the lobby of Bank of Hawaiʻi.

Around this time, the familiar song, was written by musicians, Leonard “Red” Hawk and Ruth Hawk.

Want to know more about island colors, flowers, and mele? We got a HJH for that! Check out

"Na Lei O Hawai'i": On Hula Songs, Floral Emblems, Island Princesses, and Wahi Pana," By Amy Ku'uleialoha Stillman. Hawaiian Journal of History, volume 28 (1995), pp. 87-108 http://hdl.handle.net/10524/237

Image: Lei Vendors near the Honolulu Waterfront, Photographer unknown, Honolulu, O‘ahu, c. 1917. Hawaiian Historical Society Photograph Collection, Call No. 6560, Gift of Lt. Col. Charles W. Raymond III, July 2, 2006.

On this day in 1938: Johnny Noble Day is declared in Honolulu in honor of the 25th Anniversary of his musical career. Jo...
04/24/2026

On this day in 1938: Johnny Noble Day is declared in Honolulu in honor of the 25th Anniversary of his musical career.

John Avery Noble (September 17, 1892 – January 13, 1944) was an American musician, composer and arranger. He was one of the key figures behind the development of the hapa haole style of music in Honolulu.

Image: My Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua, words and music by Bill Cogswell, Tommy Harrison, and Johnny Noble, 1933, HHS Sheet Music Collection.

We are so proud of our 2025-2026 Kekaulike Interns and all the work they have done to help HHS continue to thrive and su...
04/18/2026

We are so proud of our 2025-2026 Kekaulike Interns and all the work they have done to help HHS continue to thrive and support our lāhui.

Like they said in their presentation, we are all
ʻohana and we are all here to help each other preserve and perpetuate the history of Hawaiʻi. Mahalo!

Interested in joining the HHS ʻohana by volunteering or interning? Please email [email protected] for more details.

On this day in 1935: Governor Joseph B. Poindexter signs the Sunday Bill, allowing the sale of food and other commoditie...
04/16/2026

On this day in 1935: Governor Joseph B. Poindexter signs the Sunday Bill, allowing the sale of food and other commodities on Sunday.

"Just-finished" Henry Lee Market, formerly L. Kwai Yow Market at 3434 Waialae Ave. at 9th Ave. opened in 1950 in what was considered the "rapidly developing" Kaimuki area. It boosted ample parking and a complete grocery market from meat, vegetable, and sea food departments.

Image: Henry Lee Market, photo by Honolulu Star Bulletin, January 24, 1950, HHS Photograph Collection, Call No. 193.

In support of our 2025-2026 Kekaulike Interns, HHS will be closed tomorrow from 12pm to 5pm. We will be attending 2026 ...
04/16/2026

In support of our 2025-2026 Kekaulike Interns, HHS will be closed tomorrow from 12pm to 5pm. We will be attending 2026 9th Annual Student Conference. We hope to see you there!

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560 Kawaiahao Street
Honolulu, HI
96813

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

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