Website displays documents from Hawaiian kingdom

A new website is available for those who want to peruse historical documents from the Hawaiian kingdom.

The website, called Punawaiola, which means "spring of life," officially launched on Oct. 17, providing a vast collection of documents of legal, cultural and historical significance, according to Hawaii State Archives Program Coordinator Keith Johnston.

More than 300,000 pages of documents from the Hawaii State Archives were scanned or photographed for the website to allow those abroad access to the information.

While the state archives also have a website available, Punawaiola focuses on government records and legal documents such as the constitution and laws for the Hawaiian Islands established during the reign of King Kamehameha III, minutes of the Privy Council and legislative records of the House of Nobles.

The project began in the mid-2000s when the William S. Richardson School of Law noticed a lack of material on the Web of the islands’ early laws during the Hawaiian monarchy.

Staff and volunteers continue to photograph documents that date to 1834 for the website.

A soft opening of the website was launched six months ago.

Documents scanned include records in the Hawaiian language and in English.

The new website has been an invaluable resource, especially for legal scholars and historians, according to Melody MacKenzie, associate law professor of the William S. Richardson School of Law and director of Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law.

The documents give the public a look at perspectives during that era, she said.

Johnston said people can read advice King Kamehameha III received from his advisers and the type of issues he dealt with, similar to those government grapples with today.

Also available are archived documents of government addressing smallpox and other health concerns, and education, which was a high priority for Kamehameha III.

The website, www.punawaiola.org, is part of the law school’s Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law.

The academic center was established in 2005 through a grant by the Native Hawaiian Education Act, according to the website.