Annual Newsletter | ʻUluʻulu: The Henry Kuʻualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive of Hawaiʻi

Well 2021 was some kind of year! There were highs and lows throughout, but Covid-19 aside (if only it could be forever put aside), stories have thrived and human resilience has remained high. Here on the West Side of Oʻahu, ʻUluʻulu staff continued throughout the year to work wonders in preserving, cataloging and archiving Hawaiʻi’s precious films and videotape. We accomplished this through teleworking, which began in 2020, connecting us through the internet and finally moving back into scheduled office days in 2021.

We also welcomed incredible collections from Hawaiʻi residents – and from some who are no longer with us. The late Cal Hirai spent most of his career as a news camera operator and editor before moving on as an independent, producing the Outside Hawaiʻi series; recently departed Robert Liljestrand helped save his parent’s home, known as the Liljestrand House, by creating a foundation that not only preserved his dad’s legacy and that of architect Vladimir Ossipoff but the exceptional film collection created by his dad, Dr. Howard Liljestrand. And thanks to Paula Rath, whose grandparents founded and supported the Palama Settlement, the archive is caring for those treasured moving images.

These new collections are now part of ʻUluʻulu, an archive that keeps growing thanks to the support and inspiration of donors, researchers and funders. We are a unique educational agency that is about our past and our future. About memories that will last lifetimes. About stories that never get old.

We are grateful to you the reader, the supporter, the fan, the donor. Please continue to support ʻUluʻulu! We wish you the best in 2022!

Mayor Rick Blangiardi visits with the ʻUluʻulu staff.
Posing with some of the wonderful Liljestrand collection with Shan Liljestrand.
Receiving the Outside Hawaii Collection from Pauline Sato.
Picking up the “Palama Settlement” collection from Paula Rath and Rebecca Hirakami.
Head Archivist, Janel, gives State House Representative Gregg Takayama a tour of the ʻUluʻulu facilities.
Sidney examining tapes in the vault.