This Hawaiian Historical Society Talk Story Saturday: Lāʻau Kamaʻaina was produced by HHS' executive director, Cynthia Engle, Hiʻilani Chang, and Kailana Keen.

History of The Hawaiian Historical Society

In 1891, a group of haole men came together to establish a historical society with the goal of preserving Hawaiʻi's history. They met at the Honolulu Library and Reading Room, now known as the Honolulu Public Library. Shortly after its official founding in 1892, many prominent figures in Hawaiʻi joined the society. Notable members included Hawaiʻi's last queen, Liliʻuokalani, and Charles Reed Bishop, who served as president.

Due to a growing membership, the Hawaiian Historical Society eventually moved to the Hawaiian Mission Home property in 1950, where it remains today.

Currently, the Hawaiian Historical Society continues its mission through archival tours available to both members and the public. It is also home to the annual publication The Hawaiian Journal of History, the longest-running journal focused on Hawaiian history. Additionally, the Society features the Ke Kupu Hou series, which republishes Hawaiian language materials that were once only available in out-of-print repositories. Titles in the Ke Kupu Hou series include Ka Moʻolelo Hawaiʻi, Kaluaikoolau, Nā Mele ʻAimoku, Buke Mele Lāhui, and He Mau Palapala ʻĀina.

In 2025, the Society launched Talk Story Saturdays to increase community engagement and provide patrons with opportunities to interact with archival materials. This is made possible through a grant from the Atherton Family Foundation. Each month features a new theme, presented on the second Saturday using materials from the vault. Past themes have included HHS' 133rd Anniversary, Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, and Women's History Month. In addition to the presentation, patrons receive a researcher's toolkit, which includes a copy of The Hawaiian Journal of History featuring articles relevant to that month’s theme.

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