Kalapana, a Hawaiian Place photographs 1971-1975 by Mary Ann Lynch
In an isolated coastal area in the Puna District of the island of Hawaii, a small fishing village known as Kalapana existed for centuries. Here the native Hawaiian people harvested the ocean and the land, raised animals, kept their traditions, spoke the Hawaiian language, and honored their ancestors and gods. Kupunas--the elders--were treated with respect, and the ohana--the family unit--was strong.
By the 1970s the native population had declined to about one hundred, most of whom were related. They lived in simple homes with no electricity or running water. These photographs depict their lives at this time.
The 1990s to now Eruptions of Kilauea volcano during the 1980s and 1990s covered the Kalapana community in new molten lava. This destroyed most of the homes, forcing residents to relocate. The few Hawaiians whose homes were spared live there still. Many of the displaced Hawaiian families are in the process of returning to Kalapana. With state assistance, they are developing a community nearby where they can once again live together. Others who have located their land, now buried beneath lava, are returning to build anew. There is also a grassroots effort to establish a "living" museum, where Kalapana's rich past and legacy can be honored and Hawaiian traditions and culture passed on.
--------- Photographs of the present-day community soon to be posted -------
Exhibitions & Press on Kalapana
Kalapana was first exhibited in 1972 in a traveling exhibit that opened in Honolulu and toured the islands through the state library system.
Kalapana, a Hawaiian Place, photographs 1971-1975 debuted as a retrospective at the Lyman Museum in Hilo, Hawaii summer 2003. The month-long exhibit, as well as the one-day Hawaiian festival (ho'olaule'a) organized by members the Kalapana community, drew record attendance. The exhibited consisted of 65 photographs and many original Hawaiian artifacts, arts & crafts from the Kalapana community and the Lyman Museum.
In 2004 selections from the show were exhibited in Honolulu at Na Mea (Native Books), and the University of Hawaii Manoa Campus in 2004.
Articles on the 2004 exhibits appeared in the Honolulu Star Bulletin (Sunday September 19, 2004, "Kalapana: Remembering the Town that Pele Took," Nadine Kam, features) and Honolulu Advertiser (Sunday, September 26, 2004, "Kalapana, the Last Hawaiian Place Revisited," Wanda Adams.) The Kalapana story was also the featured cover article for Bamboo Ridge's 20th anniversary issue (see Publishing & Bookstore page to purchase a copy).
Links to the above articles (or you may need paste into your browser):
Other works from the Mary Ann Lynch Hawaiian Archives soon to be posted include "Molokai, a Hawaiian Place," photographs 1970-77 and 2002; and "The Hana Music Festival,1970 " featuring Gabby Pahinui, Eddie Kamae, and Iolani Luahine.
To arrange an exhibit, lecture, or see prints, contact Mlynch3424@aol.com
Coming Soon, New Galleries on: Berkeley in the Sixties; Take It to the Streets; Legendary Waters: the Springs of Saratoga
All photographs and text are copyright 2011 Mary Ann Lynch unless otherwise noted. No materials can be copied, reproduced, used, or altered in any manner or by any form of reproduction without written permission from Mary Ann Lynch.
