Calling all Hawai'i Friends: help us with the page!

Hello PHG fans! As we're now in the second year of Pacific History Guide, I'm digging into the analytics behind the page, to gauge which areas are doing well and which need some help. Although many pages are under single-digits in views, one sticks out to me in particular: Hawai'i.Because of this low turnout, and also because I hold my own experience in Hawai'i in such high regard, I'd like to write about it today.

Although I've only been to Hawai'i once, and only to one island (Oahu), it captured my attention right away. We went to a different places, trying to get a wide-aspect view of the city and wider area around the south of the island. Looking back, it's not the USS Missouri or Waikiki that stick with me, almost eight years later. It's the Bishop Museum, and the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i, both in Honolulu.

The Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawai'i

My kids, who were young at the time of our visit, were exposed to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy and Japanese-American internment for the first time in their lives at these institutions. The importance of what is expressed in Hawai'i's museums and cultural sites is only overshadowed by how it is expressed; with pride and enthusiasm, and a firm foot in a shared cultural history. I could only cheapen the feeling one gets when walking through these museums; I encourage all of you reading this to check out their websites, and visit them the next time you're in town.

Anybody who thinks that a visit to Hawai'i can only be spent on the beach, or eating poke by the pool, is missing the cultural heartbeat of the islands. Nor does it have to be an expensive visit; one of the better museums is the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii, which is free to enter and is staffed with some of the most knowledgable docents and kindest volunteers you could hope to meet. As a side note, this museum is right next door to the Hale Koa Hotel; no reason not to visit if you're staying there.

And so, to wrap this up: if you've been to Hawai'i, are from there, or have been stationed on one of the many U.S. Military bases, I want to hear from you! What do you think about the page? Am I missing anything? Should we be pointing folks toward different museums, monuments, or memorials? I'd love to hear some feedback on any and all corners of Pacific History Guide, but especially those with low traffic, such as the Hawai'i page. I thank you in advance for your help!

All my best,

Tony