Sissy Lake-Farm is not a scholar of Hawaiian history. Nor does her resume show experience in administration, grant writing, fundraising or curating exhibits.

But after just 18 months as the executive director of the Bailey House Museum, she’s proving to be the perfect person for the job, bringing enthusiasm and fresh ideas to a beloved 58-year-old attraction while remaining respectful to the past.

"I think being Hawaiian and having family ties to Maui help," Lake-Farm said. "My father — kumu hula, teacher and cultural practitioner John Keola Lake — was born and raised just down the street from the museum. I’m a direct descendant of Kahekili, Maui’s last ruling chief, and the museum is on land that was his royal compound, so I feel a strong connection to it. It’s my kuleana (responsibility) to help the museum develop a vibrant presence in the community."

Lake-Farm’s background in hula, retail, entertainment, interior design and visual merchandising has served her well as she leads the effort to re-brand Bailey House Museum. She has hired a committed staff, restructured the board, launched new programs and partnered with organizations such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Queen Liliuokalani Children’s Center and Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus on book signings, poi-pounding workshops and cultural festivals. In the works are a new app, logo, website and signage.

"Our goal is to dispel the notion that museums are staid — as much relics of the past as the artifacts they display," Lake-Farm said. "We’re reintroducing the museum as a place where people can learn, have fun and perhaps be inspired to volunteer and be a part of our growth."

The main exhibition building was constructed in 1833 as the base for missionaries’ Wailuku Station and the home of the Rev. Jonathan Green, who was designated to oversee it. King Kamehameha III, Maui Gov. Hoapili and various chiefs had agreed to lease prime land near Iao Valley for the mission and a school for Hawaiian girls.

In 1837, with Green as its headmaster, the Wailuku Female Seminary opened with 12 students ranging in age from 4 to 10 years old. As enrollment increased over the years, several other buildings were added, including a dormitory, cookhouse, chapel, meetinghouse and dining hall, which is the only building of the school complex that remains (it’s now used for events and changing exhibits).

Edward Bailey and his wife, Caroline, joined the Wailuku Station in 1840 as teachers at the seminary. When Green left in 1842, the Baileys moved into his house and renovated it to accommodate their growing family. Bailey became headmaster of the school, a position he held until it closed in June 1849.

"Since the land was no longer being used for its intended purpose, ownership reverted to Kamehameha III, who wound up selling it to Edward the following month," Lake-Farm said. "Edward and Caroline lived in the house until 1888 when they moved to California."

Wailuku Sugar Co. bought the Bailey home and allowed the Maui Historical Society to establish its headquarters and open Hale Hoikeike (House of Display) there on July 6, 1957. The site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and the State Register of Historic Places in 1981.

The late philanthropist Masaru "Pundy" Yokouchi purchased the property in 1991 and gave it the following year to the historical society, which continues to operate the museum.

Treasures in seven exhibit areas include 19 of the 100 known oil paintings of Central Maui landscapes by Bailey; a spinning wheel used at the Wailuku Female Seminary; and adzes, weapons, kapa (tapa), poi pounders, fishing tools and lei made of shells, nuts, feathers, human hair and dog teeth dating back to 1776.

Displayed outdoors amid beautiful gardens is the 600-pound, 33-foot canoe Honaunau, which was carved from a single koa log more than a century ago, and a 10-foot redwood surfboard from the era when Duke Kahanamoku ruled the waves.

"Bailey House Museum is tucked away in a quiet spot, away from the center of Wailuku, but when people find us they’re amazed," Lake-Farm said. "Sometimes they say they can visit for only an hour, but they wind up staying for three. That really makes our day!"

COMING UP

Quarterly Moonlight Mele concerts feature popular slack key guitarist George Kahumoku Jr. The next concert will be from is 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 19. Admission is $5; children 12 years old and younger get in free.

HI Mele Hoaka is another quarterly concert that spotlights top local entertainers. 2016 dates to be announced. Tickets range from $20 to $25. Free poi-pounding and kaula- (rope) making classes take place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays in January.

Mele Fong’s Play Along Ukulele classes are set for 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 16, Feb. 20 and March 19. Cost is $5 for members of the Maui Historical Society and $10 for nonmembers. Call 281-4981 at least two days in advance to register; ukulele rental costs an additional and let Fong know whether you need to rent an instrument for $10.

NEW EXHIBIT TO DEBUT

Bailey House Museum’s annual fundraiser, E Pulama Mau Ia Maui (Cherish Maui’s History), will be from is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the museum. The event will feature live music, hula performances, a silent auction, food, arts and crafts booths, and bamboo-stamping and stone-carving demonstrations.

The new “Best of Bailey House Museum” exhibit, which includes a complete 1834 edition of Ka Lama Hawaii, the first newspaper published in Hawaii, will be unveiledthat day.

It includes a complete 1834 edition of Ka Lama Hawaii, the first newspaper published in Hawaii.

Tickets are $15 at the door and $10 in advance (available at the museum, 808 Deli in Kihei and Native Intelligence in Wailuku). Children 12 years old and younger get in free.

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Cheryl Chee-Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based freelance writer whose travel features for the Star-Advertiser have won several Society of American Travel Writers awards.