Permanent Exhibition Design Planning for the King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center

FAIN: GE-293295-23

Friends of the Judiciary History Center of Hawaii (Honolulu, HI 96813-2943)
Brieanah Gouveia (Project Director: January 2023 to present)

Planning for the reinterpretation of permanent galleries exploring Hawai’i’s hybrid legal system.

The Friends of the Judiciary History Center of Hawai?i’s planning project will redesign the King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center’s permanent exhibitions. Our new museum narrative centralizes Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) perspectives, and weaves in stories of immigrants of color who made significant contributions to Hawai?i’s legal and judicial history. Hawaiian cultural elements—?olelo Hawai?i (Hawaiian language), mo?olelo (oral history), mele (song), and oli (chant)—will supplement exhibit content and indigenize the new museum experience. Through an investigative interpretive approach that draws out curiosity and empathy, we will expand the public’s understanding of Hawai?i's civic heritage. When museum-goers realize personal connections to Hawai?i’s judicial legacy, they are more likely to actively participate in their community—a core mission of the Judiciary History Center.