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International AV archives conference showcases UH, Hawai?i expertise

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hensel speaks to conference participants
UH President Wendy Hensel welcomes conference participants.

The welcomed 185 archivists and cultural heritage professionals from 35 countries September 8–11 for the first Â鶹´«Ã½-based joint conference of the and the , held at the East-West Center.

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UH law school’s Kapuaʻala Sproat and Kaulu Luʻuwa and UH Hilo’s Patrick Hart take part in a panel discussion.

Centered on the theme “A Loss of Place,” the gathering examined how climate change transforms landscapes, challenges cultural identities, and impacts media preservation, with international partners including UNESCO, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, and national archives and libraries worldwide.

UH President Wendy Hensel opened the conference at the Imin International Conference Center. “In Â鶹´«Ã½ and across the Pacific, we know that there are significant challenges with climate change, the fight for cultural identity, and amplifying voices that, too often, go unheard,” she said. “The work that you do in preserving those voices, protecting and sharing these stories, ensures that memory endures and that wisdom is not lost.”

UH leadership, systemwide support

UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹¡¯s Library and Information Sciences program and the were among the conference¡¯s financial sponsors. and faculty played key roles in planning, and presenters and volunteers came from across the UH System and Â鶹´«Ã½.

UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ librarian Malia Van Heukelem shares works in the Jean Charlot Collection and Archive of Â鶹´«Ã½ Artists and Architects.

Participants took part in a workshop at the at UH West Oʻahu, toured , and explored Hamilton Library¡¯s Asia, Hawaiian, Pacific, and University Archives collections. They also visited key cultural sites, including Bishop Museum, the Jaku¡¯an Japanese Tea House at the East-West Center, and the .

“I thought it was a great opportunity to bring people here to showcase the library and our collections, and also focus on Â鶹´«Ã½ and the Pacific,” said David Rowntree, digital preservation librarian at Hamilton Library and local organizing chair.

University Librarian Clem Guthro added: “We are a major research university, and we¡¯re doing work that isn¡¯t being done elsewhere in the world. Having conference attendees experience UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ and Â鶹´«Ã½ allows our work to be known and our reputation enhanced.”

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