The most famous guitars in the world trace their origins to the Hawaiian kingdom.

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Our Mission

RESEARCH

We research, document and gather living histories, historical recordings, stringed instruments and archival materials relevant to Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region’s pivotal role in the evolution of popular music and stringed instrument design.

RESTORATION

Working with a team of world renowned scholars, luthiers, conservators, musicians and audio engineers, we facilitate and promote the restoration and conservation of historic stringed instruments and their legacy of recorded music.

CELEBRATION

Through live concerts, exhibitions, publications, recordings and an online digital resource portal, we bring the legacy of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific to life for a global community of students, researchers, scholars and practitioners of luthiery and the musical arts.

Support Our Work!

Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, our work is made possible with your generous support!

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Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings

In the News:

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -

Behind the sounds of Hawaiian music stand a rich history that’s being explored by a Hawaii nonprofit. Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings celebrates the role and the influence Hawaiian music and musicians have played in the evolution of popular music.

This year, the organization launches two groundbreaking virtual platforms with the help of a hui that includes major manufacturers of stringed instruments.

ALOHA AUTHENTIC with Kamaka Pili (KHON)

Support from HTA is helping Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings build the Pacific String Museum & Pūmanamana Digital Archives, a public heritage research and resource portal for Hawaiʻi and Pacific music history. HTA believes in partnering with organizations committed to representing authentic Hawaiian culture as an integral part of their work to Mālama Kuʻu Home through reinvesting in the community.

HOME IS HERE (PBS HAWAIʻI)

Earlier this year, the Hawai‘i State Archives received two historic collections of records. One of the collections was from long-time radio personality and host of Territorial Airwaves, Harry B. Soria Jr. The other collection was from an Englishman who resided in Toronto, Canada named Michael Scott. In all, the collections equal roughly 20,000 records, with the earliest dating back to 1905. Contained within these priceless vinyl artifacts is much of the history of Hawaiian recorded music.

WINDWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE