Student Equity, Excellence, and Diversity

Digitizing Hawaiian Language Newspapers to Promote
Wider Use via the World Wide Web

Summary of Accomplishments

Complete microfilmed holdings of six newspapers were scanned in entirety during Phase I. They are Ka Hoku o ka Pakipika, Ke Au Hou, Ka Manawa, Ka Lama, Ka Lei Momi, Ka Lanakila. Processing and mounting of Ke Au Hou on the web was completed during Phase I. However, better microcomputer equipment and software was required to perform the far more complex file manipulation of the graphic images of Ka Hoku o ka Pakipika. The software purchased for Phase II allowed the completion of the processing of the Hoku scanned files. A list of the software programs purchased, tested and used is included in the attached expenditure report. Processing and mounting of Ka Hokuas well as Ka Manawa, Ka Lama, Ka Lei Momi, and Ke Au Okoa were completed during Phase II. This work was performed by the graduate student funded by the Phase II grant. A rough calculation of image files scanned and processed, as well as web 'html' files is included.

Twenty-two series and articles selected from Hawaiian language newspapers listed above as well as others (Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Ke Alaula, Ke Au Okoa, Ka Puuhonua o na Hawaii) were printed from microfilm and prepared for scanning during Phase I. All of the articles from Ka Nupepa Kuokoa were scanned and preliminary processing was completed during Phase II. This work was done by a graduate student intern from the Library and Information Studies Program as part of an unpaid, for-credit independent study course. The intern also investigated and identified the procedures for using the Adobe Capture software to produce PDF documents 1 from the scanned story files. Some story files were converted to PDF format and mounted.

Even though all of the newspapers had not been completely processed and made available on the web at the time, the utility of the materials that were available and the increasing 'word of mouth' combined to make March the date of public unveiling of the site. The web site 'went public' by way of an email announcement sent out to a number of Hawaiian studies related email lists by an early user. The site was demonstrated to a Library and Information Studies class in early March, at a workshop in Hilo a few days later. The project will be demonstrated to the UH Manoa Hawaiian Language Discussion Group in Fall 1998. The Hawaiian Newspaper digitizing project was demonstrated to 7 UH Manoa Hawaiian language classes, 1 Hawaiian Studies class and a class of 7th and 8th grade Hawaiian immersion students during the Spring 1998 semester. The project was also demonstrated as part of a panel presentation at the 15th Annual Conference of the Association for Asian-American Studies held in Honolulu in June.

In March 1998, a link to the site was added on the UH Hilo Library Hawaiian Collection page; in May 1998, a link to the site was added on the UH Manoa Hamilton Library Hawaiian Collection's Hawaiian Studies Web Sites page in the 'Language' section. A link from the Kualono web page was added in late March; in June 1998 a link in the 'Education' section was made on the Hawai'i Home Page.

Back To Top