#HHF

Lecture series focuses on preserving cemeteries By Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi Honolulu Star Advertiser, Jan 25, 2015 Stones speak to Nanette Napoleon. A tombstone, she points out, can be a revealing snapshot of the deceased's life, sometimes providing information that's not documented elsewhere. "Besides the date and place of birth and death, you may find the person's occupation, talents, accomplishments, family relationships, military service, cause of death, and religious and group affiliations," said Napoleon, founder and director of the Hawaii Cemetery Research Project, which underscores the importance of cemeteries not just as repositories for the dead, but as valuable historical, cultural and genealogical resources. The scope of her work has ranged from giving lectures and leading walking tours to compiling cemetery directories and writing a book ("Oahu Cemetery Burial Ground & Historic Site," 1998). While on a 1972 backpacking trip on Maui when she was a college student, Napoleon camped in an old Hawaiian graveyard in remote Kaupo. "That got me thinking about life and death and why we have cemeteries," she said. "After that I started hanging out in graveyards a lot and found them more and more interesting. Over time this interest became a full-blown passion, prompting me to want to document older sites that were in danger of being destroyed through increasing development." Napoleon has been studying Hawaii's historic cemeteries for more than 30 years and is the state's leading expert on the subject. Her Thursday talk on "Gravestones and History: Cemeteries as Genealogical Resources" will kick off the 28th annual historic preservation lecture series, themed "Preserving Our Historic Cemeteries." Nanette Napoleon stands by the King Street Catholic Cemetery, across the street from Straub Clinic & Hospital. Her talk on “Gravestones and [...]

PRESERVATION IN THE NEWS:  The inaugural Hawaii Heritage & Hospitality Forum on October 31 brought together a diverse group of Hawaii professionals and cultural stewards to share ideas on how to thoughtfully expand heritage tourism in the islands.  Allison Schaefers of the Star Advertiser shares some insights gleaned from members of the forum's planning committee on the eve of the event. Tourists will be encouraged to look beyond the beach By Allison Schaefers What will bring visitors back to Hawaii once they've experienced its famous sun, sand and surf? And, how can the state get first-timers to visit if they aren't beachgoers? The Historic Hawai'i Foundation and the Hawaii Tourism Authority aim to answer those questions and more during a one-day inaugural forum on heritage tourism scheduled Friday at the Hawai'i Convention Center. There some 150 travel industry professionals, cultural stewards, nonprofit organizations, ecotourism groups and other community stakeholders will explore ways to preserve Hawaii's unique sense of place while providing a high-quality visitor experience that goes beyond Hawaii's traditional leisure branding. he Historic Hawai‘i Foundation and the Hawaii Tourism Authority will hold an inaugural forum Friday on heritage tourism. Promoting the islands’ history and culture is a way of getting travelers to return to Hawaii. Visitors arrive at Iolani Palace during the commemoration of King Kala­kaua’s birthday. (Photo credit: Krystle Marcellus / 2013) "We are proud to facilitate this discussion dedicated to preserving Hawaii's diverse and unique history," said Kiersten Faulkner, executive director of the Historic Hawai'i Foundation. "This is the first time that the visitor and heritage industries will come together. While Hawaii has done an outstanding job in explaining the aloha, culture, nature and beauty that makes it different than [...]