Kamae Fellowship: Accepting Applications through November 30

UH West Oʻahu (UHWO)’s James & Abigail Campbell Library and ʻUluʻulu: The Henry Kuʻualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive of Hawaiʻi are jointly offering semester-long student research fellowships to engage with UHWO’s Kamae Archive. The purpose of the fellowship is to empower students to explore and use the Kamae Archive, develop archival research skills and critical thinking, foster collaboration between students and faculty, and raise awareness of the Kamae Archive in the community.

Eddie and Myrna Kamae dedicated their lives to documenting and sharing the stories and music of the elders so that traditional knowledge of Hawaiʻi is passed down from generation to generation. Together, they produced ten award-winning documentaries, curriculum for K-12 learners, and fifteen albums of genre-defining Hawaiian music. Eddie and Myrna were guided by three close teachers. Mary Kawena Pukui shared, “Write for the children, and it will live forever.” Sam Liʻa Kalāinaina said, “With our music, play it simple and play it sweet.” Pilahi Paki emphasized, “Do it now, for there will be no more.”

The Kamae Archive comprises the raw footage from all ten documentaries, audio recordings, thousands of photographs, and papers that range from original lyrics, scores, and arrangements to notebooks, correspondence, transcripts, scripts, news articles, and handwritten ideas on napkins.

UHWO students from any discipline and at any level of study are invited to submit proposals for research or creative media projects that utilize the Kamae Archive. Projects may be part of or a continuation of course-related activities, research, or creative media assignments, such as the senior capstone. Two fellowships will be awarded. The fellowship recipients will present their final project at a public event hosted by UHWO’s ʻUluʻulu and Campbell Library at the end of the Spring 2026 semester.

Fellowship Amount

$1,500

Eligibility

• University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu students at any level of study and in any discipline are eligible.
• The student’s estimated graduation time is Spring 2026 or later.

Important Dates

• Proposal submission deadline: November 30, 2025, by HST midnight
• Notification to fellowship recipients: December 15, 2025
• Presentation of final works by fellowship recipients: TBD before Summer 2026

Full Details and To Apply

Visit go.hawaii.edu/WSm. Read all materials carefully. Questions can be directed to Carina Chernisky at carinac@hawaii.edu.

Acknowledgments

Mahalo nui! We want to thank the many supporters of the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation Eddie & Myrna Kamae Endowment and Expendable account. Their generous donations have made it possible to launch this fellowship.