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With a simple scanner that can be bought at most major retailers, you are now able to do what our kūpuna (ancestors) were not, to preserve a record of your 'ohana's history for generations to come.

 

Digitizing genealogical records has been possible for quite some time. Websites such as Ancestry.com, Footnote.com; and most recently FamilySearch.org, have been digitizing document for quite some time. Doing so has allowed many of us to access documents that once was only possible through visiting various libraries and archives. Now, with a few key strokes or queries on search engines, many of us are able to find documents and genealogical records that we can print and even download to our own personal computers for archiving within our own collections.

 

Over time, paper documents can become hard to read and eventually, they will degrade and break down to a point in which they are no longer of use. Even photographs can only last for a certain period of time before they too are no longer useful. Floods, fires and other acts of nature can take a toll on these vitally important genealogical records. Many things over time have been lost forever due to these types of events. Vandalism, theft and other acts performed by individuals have rendered some records incomplete.

 

By digitizing documents and photographs, we can extend the life of the information they contain and provide them to members of our 'ohana, no matter where they may live. We can ensure that no matter what situation may befall ourselves or others, we have a record of what once was.

 

We can take this one step further by creating a system of naming conventions and organization that allows for easy categorization and retrieval of these digitized genealogical records. We can back these documents up on external hard drives and even data discs, providing another level of protection in the event that the main location in which we stores our digital files, becomes corrupt.

 

It is our kuleana (responsibility) to take the necessary measures with the tools we have at hand, to preserve the genealogical records of our 'ohana and our community for future generations.

 

We can kokua (help) the older generations in our 'ohana and community to understand the importance of preserving these items electronically. We can work with them to digitize the items they have in their possession, enssuring their legacy and hard work is kept for others to have, research and study, long after they themselves have left this earth.

 

We can work within various business owners in our towns and cities to sponsor events in which individuals can bring in their genealogical records and photographs and leave with digitized versions of them at no or very little cost.

 

This goes beyond our own personal documents and photographs and extends into those records of our culture. We as a community have the power to direct the course of history that our public records take as well. By starting movements that raise awareness and funds so that all of Hawai'i's historical and genealogical records are digitized, we can ensure that they too are preserved for many years to come.

 

We can get involved with our local governments to understand if there are projects in place to accomplish these things. If there are, we need to be asking what the process is and the timeline of these individuals project(s). Let it be known that this; among other things, is something we see as important and vital to the survival of our cultural knowledge and understanding.

 

We can also work with our local governments to provide free and fair public access through the internet to these documents, so that those who are not able to travel to the islands of Hawai'i, can have access to the records of their kūpuna.

 

We owe it to nā kūpuna (the ancestors) who laid the path upon which we travel, to preserve their memories and ensure that they do not succumb to the wrath of time, mother nature, neglect and the misdeeds of others.

 

If you believe this is an important issue, please mahele (share) the link to this article with your 'ohana and friends.