Hours:

Admission free, Donations greatly appreciated.

Monday - Friday — 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Saturday — 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Sunday — Closed

Special arrangements for group visits can be made by e-mail or call 808 565-7177. Mahalo!

Holidays Observed

January 1, 2013 - New Years
November 28, 2013 - Thanksgiving
December 25, 2013 - Christmas

About Us

E Hoohanohano ana i ka wa ma mua,
a e Hoolako ana i ka mua aku!
(Honoring the Past, Enriching the Future!)

The Lanai Culture & Heritage Center (Lanai CHC) is a 501c3 non-profit charitable community organization organized through a Memorandum of Agreement-partnership between the Lanai Archaeological Committee, Hui Malama Pono o Lanai, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Department of Land & Natural Resources, members of Lanais' community, and Castle & Cooke Resorts, LLC. The Lanai CHC seeks to collect, document and share the history of Lanai with residents and visitors. The center includes artifacts of Hawaiian origin collected through archaeological investigations, and by plantation employees over the years found while working the fields with plow and hoe. Historical plantation era documents and family memorabilia have also been donated to the Lanai CHC. These combined collections represent the cultural diversity of the island and enable us to share of Lanai's history—remembering those people who have come before us, and upon whose successes we stand. 

Mission

The Lanai Culture & Heritage Center seeks to inspire people to be informed, thoughtful and active stewards of Lanai's heritage by preserving, interpreting and celebrating its natural history, Hawaiian traditions, diverse heritage and cultures, and ranching and plantation era histories.

Vision

Our vision includes, but is not limited to collect, preserve and display artifacts of traditional, cultural, historical and artistic value to the people and island of Lanai—representative of Lanais' Hawaiian culture, ranching era, diverse populations who built the pineapple plantation and community on the island, and natural history.

Our collections are housed, curated, and displayed in a community heritage center managed and operated by the Lanai CHC, in partnership with community and charitable organizations, Castle & Cooke Resorts LLC, and other museums in the State of Hawaii.

Our programs seek to educate and cultivate interest and knowledge in the history, folklore, culture, customs and practices of Lanai. Identify and recommend cultural and natural landscapes and archaeological sites of historical importance and interest to Lanai for preservation, and to determine levels of access and interpretation. Study and promote awareness of the unique environment and ecosystems of Lanai. Develop programs to ensure preservation of the island's endemic and indigenous life forms. Our goal is to provide long-time island families, youth, new residents, visitors, business interests and all interested parties with a sense of place and cultural attachment to the unique cultural and natural histories of Lanai. In so doing, together, we will foster an environment that will cherish the heritage of Lanai and its people.

Board of Directors & Officers

  • Pamela Mae Pili Alconcel
  • Jay Ballesteros
  • Sheila Black
  • Joan de la Cruz
  • Albert Halape Morita
  • Michele Holsomback
  • John Mumford
  • Warren Osako
  • John Schaumburg

Board Advisors

  • Martha Haia Evans
  • Colbert Matsumoto

Executive Director

  • Kepa Maly

Staff

  • Mikala Enfield, Operations Assistant/Interpreter
  • Simon Tajiri, Program Manager

Mikala Enfield

Mikala Enfield and program volunteers, Debbie Dela Cruz, Pat Palumbo and Tristan Lopes have now input nearly 9,000 names and statistics of the Lanai Plantation employees, dating from 1929 to 1932, and are still working on thousands more of the Employee Identification "Bango" Cards, which were rescued from disposal years ago. The cards provide important family information such as — name, date/place of birth, marital status, pay scale, type of work when hired, and the all famous "bango" number.

Simon Tajiri 

Pictured, Board President, Albert Morita, Mikala and Simon explore one of Lanai’s rich cultural sites in the Kioi-Koiahi vicinity. [Photo by Kepa Maly, Oct. 31, 2012]

Together, Simon (Program Manager), Mikala Enfield (Operations Assistant/Interpreter) and Kepa Maly (Executive Director) share the history and cultural legacy of Lanai with island ohana (families) and visitors.

Stewardship Program Participants

  • Ariel Badillo
  • Mathew Barsatan
  • Hallett Hammatt Ph.D. and Cultural Surveys
  • Gaylien Kahoohalahala, Jr.
  • Kaulana Kahoohalahala
  • Weston Leslie
  • Randy Mosher
  • Ben Ostrander
  • Kevin Pitsch
  • Hy Hoe Silva
  • Keao Soriano
  • Austin Urpanil
  • Edwin Urpanil

Student Interns - Stewardship Program

  • Aaron Jake Cabica Alcantara
  • Kekoa Carlos Benanua
  • Isaac Casdaron
  • Jessie Del Rosario
  • Tavian Del Rosario
  • Kyle Kekoa Garner-Eskaran
  • Zeth Kipi
  • John Koanui
  • Luckie Kaimana Sato
  • Viola Silva
  • Glenn Yoshimoto

Student Interns - Museum Program

  • Megan Amby
  • Michael Decano
  • BJ Kaaikala
  • Tristan Lopes
  • Shelly Preza
  • Mathew Tan
  • Leinani Zablan


Shelly Preza Volunteer

Shelly Preza student volunteer working with Mikala Enfield in development of our collections finding aide.

Operations Volunteers

  • Pamela Mae Pili Alconcel (Board of Directors)
  • Jay Ballesteros (Board of Directors)
  • Winnie Basques
  • Sheila Black (Board of Directors)
  • Naupaka Borders
  • Tim Catiel
  • Serenity Chambers
  • Irene Cockett Perry
  • Andrew de la Cruz
  • Joan de la Cruz (Board of Directors)
  • Zane de la Cruz
  • Debbie Dela Cruz
  • Sheldon Hanalei Eskaran
  • Michelle Fujie
  • Jason Gill
  • Katrina Gillespie
  • Martha Haia Evans (Board Advisor)
  • Michele Holsomback (Board of Directors)
  • Bruce Kaaikala
  •  Robin Kaye
  • Sally Kaye
  • Kawena Maly
  • Onaona Maly
  • Colbert Matsumoto (Board Advisor)
  • Genji & Toshiko Miyamoto
  • Stacy Miyamoto
  • John Montgomery
  • Albert Halape Morita (Board of Directors)
  • Julie Morita
  • John Mumford (Board of Directors)
  • Warren Osako (Board of Directors)
  • Anthony Kaauamo Pacheco
  • Pat Palumbo
  • Moana Perry Freitas
  • Momi Perry Suzuki
  • Sam Koa Shin
  • Donna Schaumburg
  • John Schaumburg (Board of Directors)
  • Phillip "Philo" Sowers
  • Gary Suzuki
  • Chase Urpanil

    And many others from Lanai and afar, who have come together to assist in resource stewardship projects on Lanai. Mahalo nui!

    I ka lokahi ko kakou ola ai
    (Our well-being is in our unity)