Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 6, 1 June 1988 — Maritime Center's Grand Opening Scheduled Nov. 16 [ARTICLE]

Maritime Center's Grand Opening Scheduled Nov. 16

Hawaii's maritime history, from early Polynesian voyages through the time of Captain James Cook, whaling, immigrants up to today will be told at the new Hawaii Maritime Center, now under eonstruction at Pier 7, Honolulu Harbor. Installation of exhibits has begun, featuring displays on historic Honolulu harbor, boat day, immigrant arrivals, interisland voyages by eanoe or steamer, the evolution of surfing, fishing , and arrival of the first missionaries. The museum will be housed in a two-story wood structure known as the Kalakaua Boat House, a reconstruction of a harbor boat house of the early 1800s. In addition to maritime and marine exhibits, a multi-purpose room, restaurant, and children's museum are also planned in the 25,000 square foot structure. The grand opening is set for Nov. 16, birthday of King David Kalakaua. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held Mar. 26 to mark the start of construction made possible by a capital campaign that has raised $2.5 million, largely from Hawaii businesses, foundations and individuals. In May, the Maritime Center received the first $10,000 installment of a $50,000 pledge from Sause Bros. ine. for construction of a ehildren's museum within the Maritime Center itself. Star attractions of the Hawaii Maritime Center will be the four-masted square rigger Falls of Clyde, the Hokule'a Polynesian voyaging eanoe, and the renovated Bluefin tuna fishing boat. An upcoming major event at the museum Aug. 7-12 will be the Pacific Canoe Conference on aneient and traditional arts of eanoe building and use. Participants from throughout the Pacific Basin will share knowledge and skills in workshops on eanoe design, sails, paddles, building materials, eanoe houses, ornamentation, non-instrument navigation, voyaging canoes and traditions and ceremonies. Daniel Kahikina Akaka Jr., is conference coordinator. The event is co-sponsored by the National Endowment Folk Arts Program and the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. For information about the conference, eall Akaka at the Maritime Center at 523-6151.