Indigenous > Pacific Islander Archives

Gladys Kukana Grace

Gladys Kukana Grace learned the art of weaving lauhala (lau = leaf, hala = pandanus tree) from her maternal grandmother, Kukana, through a longstanding oral tradition.

Genoa Keawe

Renowned Hawaiian music icon

Maria Keawea Maki

Maria Keawea Maki was among the Native Hawaiians who participated in nineteenth-century Anglo-led missionary efforts in Oregon Territory.

Mavis Rivers

Samoan-New Zealander jazz singer

New York Times bestselling author Janet Mock continues to make history as a writer, director, and advocate. In 2018, Mock became the first transgender woman of color to write and direct an episode of television. Most recently, she signed a three-year multimillion-dollar contract with Netflix, making her the first openly transgender woman of color to sign a deal with a major content company.

Geri Kenui Bell

Geraldine Kenui Bell, better known as Geri, was the first Native Hawaiian woman to be superintendent of a National Park Service (NPS) unit – in fact, she oversaw the operation of two different parks in Hawai‘i simultaneously.

Ka‘oana‘eha

Hawaiian royal

Ruth Ke’elikōlani

Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani was an advocate for Hawaiian culture who was best known for defending the town of Hilo during the 1880–1881 eruption of the Mauna Loa Volcano

Ka’ahumanu

Queen Ka‘ahumanu was one of the most powerful women in Hawaiian history, whose decisions would affect her people for centuries.

Wilhelmina Kekelaokalaninui Widemann Dowsett

Suffragist and member of the Hawaiian royal family