Curator Chat & Book Signing
with Susan Middleton, Holly Bolick, and Dr. Rich Pyle
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
6:00 – 7:30 pm
Hawaiian Hall Atrium | Joseph M. Long Gallery
Free with online pre-registration

Meet acclaimed nature photographer Susan Middleton, whose work is on view alongside rarely seen marine invertebrates from the Museum’s collection, and hear Museum researchers Holly Bolick and Dr. Rich Pyle talk about the Museum’s cutting-edge research and new species recently discovered in Hawai‘i’s own undersea backyard!

The talk will be followed by a book signing with Susan Middleton. Her book Spineless: Portraits of Marine Invertebrates, the Backbone of Life features a collection of over 250 stunning images combining art and science.

During the talk, the publication will be on sale for the special price of $50.00 (after the event the price returns to $59.99 plus tax); cash and credit cards accepted.

Nā Ulu Kaiwiʿula Native Hawaiian Garden Tour    

10:30 – 11:30am

Native Garden

Free with Museum admission

Learn about Hawaiʿi’s native plants, and Bishop Museum’s role in recording and preserving the living history of Hawaiʿi, on this guided tour of the ethnobotanical garden.

Supported by Hawaiʿi Tourism Aloha ‘Āina program.

Navigating by the Stars: Ka Lupe o Kawelo

Wednesday November 20

7:00 PM  –  8:00 PM

Navigating by the Stars Series

Bishop Museum’s J. Watumull Planetarium Presents A Series of Talks from Polynesian Voyaging Society Navigators, featuring Ka‘iulani Murphy

This month’s Hawaiian star line: Ka Lupe o Kawelo (The Kite of Kawelo)

At Bishop Museum, we believe in exploring the world around us and in the importance of sharing knowledge. Join Bishop Museum Planetarium educators and Polynesian Voyaging Society navigators as the stars are projected on Bishop Museum’s 30-foot Planetarium dome and listen as Hōkūleʻa navigator and Honolulu Community College Hoʻokele Instructor Ka‘iulani Murphy shares how voyaging navigators use the stars to navigate. Each talk will include an introduction to the night sky and will feature the Hawaiian star line most prominent that month. To help remember the pattern of stars in the sky, it is organized into four star lines, each taking up about a fourth of the celestial sphere.

Following each talk, weather permitting, you will be invited to the Bishop Museum viewing deck to find the stars in the actual night sky that were discussed earlier in the program.

Science Talk:

The Cultural and Scientific Importance of Hawaiian Land Snails

Thursday, November 21, 2019                   

with Dr. Norine Yeung, Bishop Museum Malacology Curator, and Dr. Sam ‘Ohu Gon III, Senior Scientist and Cultural Advisor at the Nature Conservancy of Hawaiʻi

6:00–7:30 pm

Atherton Hālau               

General: $10

Members receive 10% off

Hawaiian snails are both diverse and important to our cultural and natural heritage. The earliest sections of the Kumulipo (a Hawaiian creation chant) are devoted to invertebrates of land and sea. “Singing” land snails played an important role in love poetry and characterizations of place, and even their names reference details about their habitat. Historically, land snails were believed to sing, and were called “pūpūkanioe,” meaning the shell that sounds long.

Traditional oli (chant) and moʻolelo (stories) also illustrate geographic knowledge and habitat of our native snails. Similarly, the natural science collections of the Bishop Museum tie species to specific locations and habitats. So both Hawaiian traditional knowledge and scientific information work together to offer insight into the diversity and biogeography of land snails.

Protecting our diverse ecosystems is vitally important. The research done within Bishop Museum’s Natural Science collections informs how we might best protect our remaining snails, nearly all of which are severely at risk.

This program is coordinated by the Bishop Museum Education Department to celebrate the extraordinary history, culture, and environment of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.

‘Ukulele Builder & Player Workshops
Friday, November 22, 2019
9:00 am–4:00 pm

A weekend of ‘ukulele workshops, exhibitions, and kanikapila

Bishop Museum and the ‘Ukulele Guild of Hawai‘i present hourly workshops on ‘ukulele-building tools and processes or attend workshops on ‘ukulele playing techniques. Visitors can learn the process of building quality ‘ukulele, experience the fun of playing a Hawaiian song, or sharpen their playing technique. Mike Chock, one of the founding members of the ‘Ukulele Guild of Hawaiʻi, will moderate ‘ukulele-building workshops and guild president and ‘ukulele ambassador Kimo Hussey will host the playing workshops.

Living Culture Workshop: Hawaiian Kapa—Beat It, Stamp It, Dye It
With Dalani Tanahy of Kapa Hawaii, LLC
Saturday, November 23, 2019
9:00 am–Noon
Hale Ikehu
Registration: $25 per person
Bishop Museum Members receive 10% off registration.
Space is limited.

In this three-hour workshop, you will experience Hawaiian kapa bark-cloth making in-depth. Learn about a range of activities, from gathering wauke (paper mulberry) and creating bark cloth, to making natural dyes, to crafting and using ‘ohe kāpala (bamboo stamps).

The Bishop Museum Living Culture series and workshops are supported by Hawai‘i Tourism through the Kūkulu Ola Program.

‘Ukulele Exhibition & Kanikapila
Saturday, November 23, 2019
9:00 am–4:00 pm

The guild’s luthier members, from Hawaiʻi and around the world, will exhibit their ‘ukulele-building craftsmanship in this weekend exhibition. View restored, antique collectable, and custom ‘ukulele ranging from the traditional to the innovative. Luthiers will be on hand to talk about their work and collections. Along with this stunning display there will also be live music and ‘ukulele playing. Visitors will enjoy the lively sounds of kanikapila—making music together. Relax and enjoy the music or pick up an ‘ukulele and songbook and join in.

The ‘Ukulele Guild of Hawai‘i is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation, perpetuation, and promotion of the ‘ukulele as a significant musical instrument. Founded by a small group of ‘ukulele builders on O‘ahu in the early 1990s, the ‘Ukulele Guild of Hawai‘i has grown to an international membership of over 300. These ‘ukulele players, historians, luthiers (stringed instrument builders), teachers, and collectors—some of the world’s finest—are committed to sharing the musical quality and liveliness that the ‘ukulele offers.

‘Ukulele Exhibition & Kanikapila
Sunday, November 24, 2019
9:00 am–1:00 pm

The guild’s luthier members, from Hawaiʻi and around the world, will exhibit their ‘ukulele-building craftsmanship in this weekend exhibition. View restored, antique collectable, and custom ‘ukulele ranging from the traditional to the innovative. Luthiers will be on hand to talk about their work and collections. Along with this stunning display there will also be live music and ‘ukulele playing. Visitors will enjoy the lively sounds of kanikapila—making music together. Relax and enjoy the music or pick up an ‘ukulele and songbook and join in.

The ‘Ukulele Guild of Hawai‘i is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation, perpetuation, and promotion of the ‘ukulele as a significant musical instrument. Founded by a small group of ‘ukulele builders on O‘ahu in the early 1990s, the ‘Ukulele Guild of Hawai‘i has grown to an international membership of over 300. These ‘ukulele players, historians, luthiers (stringed instrument builders), teachers, and collectors—some of the world’s finest—are committed to sharing the musical quality and liveliness that the ‘ukulele offers.

Living Culture Presentation: ʻŪkēkē, Hawaiʻi’s Indigenous Stringed Instrument
With Lance Genson Mahi La Pierre
Sunday, November 3, 10, 17, and 24, 2019
10:30 am–2:30 pm
Hawaiian Hall Atrium
This program is free with paid Museum admission.

Developed generations before the ʻukulele, the ʻūkēkē, or Hawaiian musical bow, is Hawaiʻi’s only indigenous stringed instrument. Learn about this not widely known yet once-treasured musical instrument primarily used for hoʻoipoipo (courtship and romance)and to accompany hula, mele, and oli. Few people today have seen, heard of, or know how to make and play this instrument. Attend this program to see, touch, and play this unique Hawaiian stringed instrument.

The Bishop Museum Living Culture series and workshops are supported by Hawai‘i Tourism through the Kūkulu Ola Program.

ʻUkulele Jam Session

10:00 – 11:00 am

Mauka Gallery Lawn

Free with purchased Museum admission

Members Free with Member card and ID

Bring your ‘ukulele or borrow one of ours! Learn some new techniques or just enjoy the music with the members of the ʻUkulele Guild of Hawaiʻi while they kanikapila (jam).

The book used in this program is He Mele Aloha: A Hawaiian Songbook and can be purchased in the Shop Pacifica.