[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 125 (Tuesday, September 8, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H9295-H9296]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING RESTORATION AND RENOVATION OF BISHOP MUSEUM'S HISTORIC 
                             HAWAIIAN HALL

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 541) recognizing and honoring the restoration 
and renovation of the Bishop Museum's historic Hawaiian Hall, the 
Nation's premier showcase for Hawaiian culture and history, on the 
occasion of the Museum's 120th anniversary.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 541

       Whereas the Bishop Museum was founded in 1889 in Honolulu, 
     Hawai`i, by Charles Reed Bishop in memory of his beloved 
     wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the great granddaughter 
     of Kamehameha I, to house the personal legacies and bequests 
     of the royal Kamehameha and Kalakaua families;
       Whereas the mission of the Bishop Museum since its 
     inception is to study, preserve, and tell the stories of the 
     cultures and natural history of Hawai`i and the Pacific 
     Ocean;
       Whereas the Bishop Museum's collections include some 
     24,000,000 objects, collectively the largest Hawai`i and 
     Pacific area collection in the world, including over 
     1,200,000 cultural objects representing Native Hawaiian, 
     Pacific Islands, and Hawai`i immigrant life, more than 
     125,000 historical publications including many in the 
     Hawaiian language, 1,000,000 historical photographs, films, 
     works of art, audio recordings, and manuscripts, and over 
     22,000,000 plant and animal specimens;
       Whereas a primary goal of the Bishop Museum is to serve and 
     represent the interests of Native Hawaiians by advancing 
     Native Hawaiian culture and education, protecting the 
     collections and increasing access to such collections, and 
     strengthening the Museum's connections with the schools of 
     Hawai`i;
       Whereas the national significance of the Bishop Museum's 
     cultural collection lies in the Native Hawaiian collection, 
     which collectively represents the largest public resource in 
     the world documenting a unique way of life and a source of 
     knowledge and inspiration for numerous visitors, researchers, 
     students, Native Hawaiian craftsmen, teachers, community, and 
     spiritual leaders over the years, especially since the 
     Hawaiian cultural revival, which has been steadily growing 
     and gaining in popularity in recent years;
       Whereas over 300,000 people visit the Bishop Museum each 
     year to learn about Hawaiian culture and experience Hawaiian 
     Hall;
       Whereas the primary reason for visiting the Bishop Museum, 
     given by an average of 400,000 visitors each year, is their 
     desire to see Hawaiian Hall and to learn about Hawaiian 
     culture;
       Whereas Hawaiian Hall is the Nation's only showcase of its 
     size, proportions, design, and historic context that is 
     devoted to the magnificent legacy of Hawai`i's kings and 
     queens, and the legacies of its Native Hawaiian people of all 
     walks of life and ages;
       Whereas Hawaiian Hall, one of three interconnected 
     structures known as the Hawaiian Hall Complex and constructed 
     between 1889 and 1903, is considered a masterpiece of late 
     Victorian museum design with its Kamehameha blue stone 
     exterior quarried on site and extensive use of Native koa 
     wood, and is one of the few examples of Romanesque 
     Richardsonian-style museum buildings to have survived 
     basically unchanged;
       Whereas Hawaiian Hall, designed by noted Hawai`i architects 
     C.B. Ripley and C.W. Dickey in 1898, was placed on the 
     National Register of Historic Places in 1982 based on its 
     unique combination of architectural, cultural, scientific, 
     educational, and historical significance;
       Whereas the restoration and renovation of Hawaiian Hall and 
     its exhibits, conducted by noted Hawai`i architect Glenn 
     Mason and noted national and international museum exhibit 
     designer Ralph Appelbaum, is integral to the Bishop Museum's 
     ability to fulfill its mission and achieve its primary goal 
     of serving and representing the interests of Native 
     Hawaiians;
       Whereas the restoration and renovation of Hawaiian Hall, 
     commenced in 2005, included the building of a new gathering 
     place in an enclosed, glass walled atrium, improved access 
     through the installation of an elevator in the new atrium to 
     all three floors of the Hall and other buildings in the 
     Hawaiian Hall Complex, improved collection preservation 
     through the installation of new, state of the art 
     environmental controls, lighting, security, and fire 
     suppression systems, and restored original woodwork and 
     metalwork;
       Whereas the restoration and renovation of the Hawaiian 
     Hall's exhibits brings multiple voices and a Native Hawaiian 
     perspective to bear on the Bishop Museum's treasures by 
     conveying the essential values, beliefs, complexity, and 
     achievements of Hawaiian culture through exquisite and 
     fragile artifacts in a setting that emphasizes their mana 
     (power and essence) and the place in which such artifacts 
     were created;
       Whereas the new exhibit incorporates contemporary Native 
     Hawaiian artwork illustrating traditional stories, legends, 
     and practices, and contemporary Native Hawaiian voices 
     interpreting the practices and traditions through multiple 
     video presentations;
       Whereas the new exhibit features over 2,000 objects and 
     images from the Bishop Museum's collections on the open 
     floor, mezzanines, and the center space conceptually 
     organized to represent three traditional realms or wao of the 
     Hawaiian world--Kai Akea, the expansive sea from which gods 
     and people came, Wao Kanaka, the realm of people, and Wao 
     Lani, the realm of gods and the ali`i, or chiefs, who 
     descended from them;
       Whereas the new exhibit's ending display celebrates the 
     strength, glory, and achievements of Native Hawaiians with a 
     large 40-panel mural titled Ho`ohuli, To Cause An 
     Overturning, A Change, made by students of Native Hawaiian 
     charter schools in collaboration with Native Hawaiian artists 
     and other students, and interpreted by Native Hawaiian 
     artists and teachers in a video presentation; and
       Whereas the people of the United States wish to convey 
     their sincerest appreciation to the Bishop Museum for its 
     service and devotion: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the reopening of historic Hawaiian Hall on 
     the 120th anniversary of the

[[Page H9296]]

     founding of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawai`i; and
       (2) honors and praises the Bishop Museum, on the occasion 
     of its reopening and 120th anniversary, for its work to 
     ensure the preservation, study, education, and appreciation 
     of Native Hawaiian culture and history.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, the Bishop Museum was founded in 1889 in 
Honolulu, Hawaii, and for 120 years has served as the Nation's 
preeminent resource documenting, preserving and educating others on 
Native Hawaiian culture. The museum's collection of 24 million objects 
is the largest Hawaiian and Pacific Island collection in the world. 
Over 2,000 of these objects and images are on display in the newly 
renovated Hawaiian Hall.
  H. Res. 541, introduced by our distinguished colleague from Hawaii, 
Representative Neil Abercrombie, would express the appreciation of the 
House of Representatives to the Bishop Museum for 120 years of service 
to the people of Hawaii and the United States. We commend 
Representative Abercrombie for his tireless efforts on behalf of his 
constituents and the preservation of Hawaiian history and culture.
  We support passage of House Resolution 541 and urge its adoption in 
the House today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the resolution has been explained well by the majority. 
We have no objection.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. 
Res. 541, recognizing and honoring the restoration and renovation of 
the Bishop Museum's Historic Hawaiian Hall, the Nation's premier 
showcase for Hawaiian culture and history, on the occasion of the 
Museum's 120th anniversary.
  I thank the gentleman from the State of Hawaii, my good friend, Mr. 
Abercrombie, for his leadership on this important issue. I also want to 
thank Chairman Rahall of the Natural Resources Committee for bringing 
this resolution for House floor consideration.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 541 conveys our sincerest appreciation to the 
Bishop Museum for its service and devotion. Founded in 1889 by Charles 
Reed Bishop in memory of his beloved wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi 
Bishop, the great granddaughter of Kamehameha I, the Bishop Museum is 
essential to study, preserve and tell the stories of the cultures and 
natural history of Hawaii and the Pacific Ocean.
  Collectively, the Museum houses the largest Hawaii and Pacific area 
collection in the world, including 1,200,000 cultural objects 
representing Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islands, and Hawaii immigrant 
life, more than 125,000 historical publications including many in the 
Hawaiian language, 1,000,000 historical photographs, films, works of 
art, audio recordings, and manuscripts and over 22,000,000 plant and 
animal specimens. This cultural collection creates a significantly 
important public resource for academic studies and for public 
information.
  Not only that, the Bishop Museum is also very significant because of 
the fact that it houses the Hawaiian Hall, the Nation's only showcase 
of its size, proportions, design, and historical context that is 
devoted to the magnificent legacy of Hawaii's kings and queens, and the 
legacies of its Native Hawaiian people of all walks of life and ages. 
Over the years lead paint and termite damage rendered the building 
unable to meet modern standards and requirements for any museum until 
in 2005, the restoration and renovation of the Hawaiian Hall commenced. 
Multiple parties came together to collaborate in this effort. The 
museum was redefined conceptually as well as given physical 
reconstruction. The end product stands as testament to the efforts of 
all those involved.
  The new exhibit incorporates Native Hawaiian artwork depicting 
traditional stories, legends, and practices, and contemporary Native 
Hawaiian voices interpreting the practices and traditions through 
multiple video presentations. In addition, the new exhibit is 
conceptually organized to represent three traditional realms or wao of 
the Hawaiian world including: Kai Akea--the expansive sea from which 
gods and people came; Wao Kanaka--the realm of people; and Wao Lani--
the realm of gods and the alii or chiefs, who descended from them. The 
new exhibit even includes a large 40-panel mural which celebrates the 
strength, glory, and achievements of Native Hawaiians.
  Mr. Speaker, the Bishop Museum is very important to the Native 
Hawaiians, especially in their efforts to revive their culture and 
their Hawaiian traditions. I congratulate the Bishop Museum on its 
120th anniversary and for its service and devotion, and I urge my 
colleagues to vote in support of H. Res. 541.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 541, 
recognizing and honoring the restoration and renovation of the Bishop 
Museum's historic Hawaiian Hall, the Nation's premier showcase for 
Hawaiian culture and history, on the occasion of the Museum's 120th 
anniversary.
  Founded more than a century ago, in the memory of Princess Bernice 
Pauahi Bishop by her husband, Charles Reed Bishop, Bishop Museum has 
contributed to the world's understanding of the natural and cultural 
history of the Pacific and Hawai`i. It has collected and preserved 
nearly 25 million scientific animal and plant specimens and 2.4 million 
cultural objects that together help tell the full story of Hawai`i and 
the Pacific.
  I attended the celebration of the Bishop Museum's 120th anniversary 
in Honolulu during our August district work period. The magnificent 
historic Hawaiian Hall has been beautifully restored and now serves as 
a more fitting setting for the irreplaceable and precious cultural and 
historical artifacts it showcases. Listed on the National Register of 
Historic Places, Bishop Museum's Hawaiian Hall has traditionally housed 
Hawaii's most sacred and beloved artifacts. With its volcanic stone 
exterior and extensive use of native koa wood, Hawaiian Hall is 
considered a masterwork of late Victorian museum design.
  With this important renovation, hundreds of thousand visitors and 
local residents will enter the world of Hawai`i. They will hear the 
oral tradition of oli and mo `olelo. They will experience Hawai`i's 
deep connection between its natural and cultural worlds. Bishop Museum 
has served as an essential repository and education institution for 
over a century.
  I urge my colleagues to join me voting for H. Res. 451 and encourage 
you to visit the restored Hawaiian Hall when you next visit Hawaii.
  Mr. LAMBORN. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 541.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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