The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) awarded $50,000 to ‘Ulu‘ulu: The Henry Ku‘ualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive of Hawai‘i at the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu to digitally preserve at-risk Hawai‘i broadcast newsreels from the 1970s through the early 1980s.
The CLIR Recordings at Risk program recently announced it awarded a total of $814,332 in grants nationwide to digitize rare and unique audio and audiovisual materials. ‘Ulu‘ulu, Hawai‘i’s official state archive for moving images, is part of the Recordings at Risk program’s 12th cohort of 21 projects and will begin work on Sept. 1.
The ‘Ulu‘ulu project is titled, “Digitization of Hawai‘i Regional Broadcast News 1970 – 1981.” According to an abstract of the project, “Local television news from 1970s Hawai‘i is a vital, yet fragile, chronicle of the Hawaiian Renaissance, a period of profound cultural and political resurgence. These broadcasts documented Kanaka ʻŌiwi-led movements for land and water rights, cultural revitalization, and social justice. However, these historical records are critically endangered. The 403 films and videotapes from Honolulu television stations KHVH, KGMB, and KITV are actively deteriorating due to mold, and digitization is increasingly challenging because of the obsolescence of their formats. Without immediate action, these invaluable resources will be lost.”
Janel Quirante, head archivist at ‘Ulu‘ulu, said the newsreel collections at ‘Ulu‘ulu are among the most heavily viewed and used by researchers.
“We continually receive requests for archival news footage from filmmakers locally, nationally, and internationally who are able to use these films in their documentaries and other productions,” Quirante said. “Our UH West O‘ahu Humanities and Creative Media students access the newsreels regularly as primary source materials for class research projects. We even get requests from our local news stations who use the archival footage to highlight current news.”
Quirante continued, “It is amazing to see how much television news has changed in the 50 years since these were first broadcast in the 1970s. This grant comes at a crucial time because these newsreels are actively deteriorating from age and damage from mold. This might be our last and best chance to save and digitize these reels before they are lost forever.”
According to a recent CLIR announcement, since its inception in 2017, the CLIR Recordings at Risk program has awarded nearly $6.75 million for over 200 projects led by libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural organizations that hold audio or audiovisual materials.
“Each cycle of Recordings at Risk reminds us how fragile yet vital our recorded heritage is,” said Charles Henry, president of CLIR, in the announcement. “These grants ensure that people can experience voices, performances, and stories that might otherwise fall silent. These preserved recordings will offer future generations a chance to build deeper understanding across time, place, and identity, ultimately strengthening our shared cultural fabric. We are grateful to the Mellon Foundation for their steadfast support and to our partner organizations for their dedication to preserving our collective memory.”
