Indigenous > Pacific Islander Archives

Nalani Kanaka’ole

Guardian of the ancient style of hula that predates commercial forms of the dance that emerged in the twentieth century

Pualani Kanaka’ole Kanahel

Guardian of the ancient style of hula that predates commercial forms of the dance that emerged in the twentieth century

Marie McDonald

McDonald is not only the islands’ best-known practitioner of the art of Hawaiian lei making, but she is also its primary scholar.

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