Hawaiians, Inouye help open museum

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hundreds of Hawaiians will march along the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in ceremonies today to mark the grand opening of The National Museum of the American Indian.

Inouye

OHA chairwoman Haunani Apoliona will be there, along with participants from across the Islands. Apoliona estimated that 400 to 500 Hawaiians will take part in the ceremonies this week, with a total of about about 15,000 people expected in the march today.

Apoliona said indigenous people have gathered from across the world. "It's just tremendous; it's going to be an affirmation of native peoples," she said. "The Hawaiians have been given the honor of leading the procession. All the Hawaiians will be walking together."

Hawai'i Sen. Dan Inouye played a pivotal role in the creation of the museum, which fills the last remaining museum location on the National Mall.

He introduced the bill to establish a national museum of the American Indian after a trip he took in the 1980s to New York shortly after he became chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. In the Bronx, he was shown one of the largest collections of Native American objects, some 800,000 items, many of them deteriorating without a proper place to preserve them.

When he returned to Washington, he felt his path was clear. "Through this legislation, Congress and the American people will be able to commemorate and memorialize those Indian nations that disappeared in the process of European settlement on this continent," he said.

"I believe the time has come to honor and remember the greatness of the first Americans, their wisdom, their leadership, their valor, and this contributions to the people of the United States," Inouye said.

Because of his crucial role, Inouye is among the few officials who will speak at today's opening. He saw the museum as a way to educate everyone about the tribes and nations "and acknowledge their many great contributions to our society."

Today is the formal opening of the Smithsonian Institution's latest museum. Apoliona was among those invited to a preview last night.

She said walking through the galleries of native art, seeing the basketry, beads, pottery, woodwork, alabaster and more opens the eyes of visitors to a unique view of native people. "It calls attention to the treasure and value and contributions to not only this culture but the world," she said.

Initially, the museum opened with exhibits of Native Americans and Alaska natives. It does not include a permanent Hawaiian exhibit but expects to welcome a presence later, she said.

Tomorrow, the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History opens a six-month exhibit titled, "Na Mea Makamae O Hawai'i," or the enduring treasures of Hawai'i as a complement to the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian.

The exhibit will include 50 works of art, including a historic outrigger canoe given to the Smithsonian by Queen Kapi'olani in 1888, feathered capes and other items, some of which have not been exhibited for a long time.

Also last night, Apoliona and many from the Hawaiian contingent attended a preview at the museum after a service at Calvary Baptist Church, hosted by the senior pastor, the Rev. Amy Butler, who is from Hawai'i and is part-Hawaiian.

Apoliona said the gathering in Washington over the last several days has been very powerful, with Hawaiians and Native Americans coming from far and near.

She said visitors to the nation's capital should add the new museum to their must-see list. "Whether Native American or not, they will be truly proud," she said.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.