A Review of Papakilo Database
Reviewer: Benjamin Mørch
Digital Project: https://www.papakilodatabase.com/
Data and Sources
An online repository of links to different databases pertaining to historically and culturally significant places, events, and documents in Hawaii's history.
Processes
The main way the website has processed the databases is by a search function with multiple options. You can either choose to search by location, genealogy, mahele, records or newspapers. It is also possible to search by word og Phrase.
Presentation
The site is built up with the search function as the main part, from the main site it is possible to navigate to the more specific search functions, to read the latest news from the project, to create an account and read about the terms of use. On top it is possible to click to different parts of the site and learn more about the project, partners, how to use it and a forum.
Languages
- English
REVIEW
The site describes the reason behind the project and the need for it “The primary need for this project was identified by the Native Rights, Land and Culture Hale (NRLC). Having a database of various collections of data would allow NRLC to assess and provide comprehensive feedback in compliance work as identified by OHA’s Strategic Goal #1; “All goals of the OHA strategic plan will list at least one strategy that will promote, protect, and or advocate for native Hawaiian rights, entitlements and or issues,” If you look at the name Papakilo it refers to an Hawaiian word meaning: foundation for seeking, searching, observing. Which is the main focus of this project: to provide a space for people searching, seeking and observing even if it is just for personal use.
The project was launched back in 2011 by The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and is in ongoing development according to the website. OHA is a semi-autonomous state agency responsible for improving the wellbeing of all Native Hawaiians. The work on different levels and improve the wellbeing of Native Hawaiians through advocacy, research, community engagement, land management and the funding of community programs. In general the website describes in detail the process behind and thoughts very well.
The website describes the audience as “educate other regulatory agencies, OHA’s Native Hawaiian beneficiaries, and the general public”. It is addressed to people who wish to know more about Hawaiian history. It can both be in an academic sense or for personal interest but it is specifically targeting native Hawaiians. I am therefore not the desired audience and therefore I would have a time judging if the project succeeds, but from my outside perspective it gives many different possibilities to search in many databases. The specific search function seems a bit hard to figure out unless you are already familiar with the different databases. The two main search functions are by collection or location, and it is clear that his project is specifically for people with already existing knowledge about Hawaii.
The website clearly obtains its main goal to preserve and perpetuate cultural and historical information and practices within Hawaii’s history even though it does not give a user friendly experience for a first time user but I’m sure is useful for people with knowledge about the subject. What is maybe especially interesting about this project is also how it has managed to collect archives by working together with many different partners invested in the subject. It brings together many different actors working with Hawaii’s history and is an ongoing project that I would imagine will only expand over the years.