Kona Historical Society announced today that they will present a new exhibit highlighting cultural contributions from Kona’s many ethnic groups. Supported by the State of Hawaii Grant-in-Aid program “E Hele Me Ka Pū‘olo: The Gifts We Bring,” will be open to the public starting Monday, December 10, 2018 at Kona Historical Society’s headquarters in Kealakekua, and will be on display until June 27, 2019.

Through historical photographs and artifacts showcased alongside contemporary artworks from three Kona artists, “Pū‘olo: The Gifts We Bring” will illustrate a deeply significant Hawaiian concept, also shared by many cultures, of the importance of taking a gift when one travels, and being prepared to express one’s respect and appreciation in the form of a pūʿolo, a small package or bundle. Artwork, oral histories, photos and artifacts reflecting Native Hawaiian, Japanese, Portuguese, Filipino, Chinese, and English heritage appear alongside each other to illustrate a tapestry of cultures that create Kona’s unique sense of place.

In addition to photographs and artifacts from Kona Historical Society’s rich archive and collections that will be on display, this exhibit will showcase artwork from three artists deeply rooted in Kona’s districts. From Holualoa, Artists Hiroki Morinoue and his daughter Miho Morinoue will contribute a mixed media piece reflecting their Japanese heritage. Captain Cook Artist Gerald Lucena will present a fiber piece, made with locally sourced materials, gathered from the Kona districts. Artist and Cultural Practitioner Conall Kahaka‘io Ravenscraft from South Kona will be contributing a sculpture carved from native wood that expresses the personal relationship he has with his home.