​THE HAWAIIAN LEGACY FOUNDATION

Lahaina: Waves of Change Digitized Raw Footage

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Navigating Change: Finishing the Work of Eddie & Myrna Kamae
to Share the Layered Stories of Lāhainā
 

In 2022, The Hawaiian Legacy Foundation, in partnership with ʻUluʻulu: The Henry Kuʻualoha Giugni Moving Archive of Hawaiʻi, made available 207 tapes of raw footage from the documentary Lahaina: Waves of Change.

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This project was supported by a Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities Preservation and Access grant. Dr. Katrina-Ann R. Kapāʻanaokalāokeola Nākoa-Oliveira served as our project's humanities scholar. Her introduction below speaks to the importance of this collection for the community.

 

Eddie Kamae was a Hawaiian legend and musical icon. For Eddie Kamae, this documentary was a way for him to talk about the changes he witnessed in Lāhainā during his life through his own relationship with this place, others’ stories, and Lāhainā itself. His videos served to anchor the layered stories of place and people during a time of constant change.

 

The significance of this body of knowledge cannot be overemphasized. The 207 tapes of raw footage of interviews and scenic shots digitized represent an important chapter in Hawaiian history. This project helps us to preserve our history and culture by making these resources readily accessible to the community. The oral histories and scenic landscapes documented in this collection are irreplaceable. Many of the people recorded have passed away; many of the places documented have changed forever. This collection offers us a window into the past to better understand what life was like when Eddie Kamae was growing up in a more simple and rural time. Through this window of time, we are inspired to pause and reflect on our own values, histories, and philosophies. Eddie Kamae’s story is not just a story about a Hawaiian music legend; rather, at its core, it is a deeper story about human identity and connection. It serves as an awakening to explore more intimately what truly matters to us and to seek ways to preserve our histories for future generations.