Schatz Secures $1.6 Million Earmark To Help Digitize Collections At Bishop Museum

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) secured $1.6 million in congressionally directed spending, also known as an earmark, in this year’s appropriations deal to help digitize collections at Bishop Museum. The funding will support the creation of a program to digitize entire collections for use by the public, academic institutions, and other museums.

“The incredible collections at Bishop Museum have educated generations of locals, scholars, and tourists about our state’s rich history and culture,” said Senator Schatz, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This funding will help digitize these vital resources, providing greater access and preserving them for generations to come.”

“Bishop Museum holds the world’s foremost collection of Hawai?i and Pacific materials. These collections are an unparalleled resource for students, teachers, scholars, cultural practitioners, artists, and scientists for knowledge and inspiration. Our holdings include 22 million plant and animal specimens; 1.3 million artifacts of Hawai‘i and the Pacific; more than 1 million historical photographs, films, works of art, audio recordings, and manuscripts; and 125,000 historical publications. These funds will allow us to embark on a large-scale digitization initiative to preserve collection materials and to provide free online access to the knowledge we steward. We are truly grateful to Senators Schatz and Hirono for championing our ability to share this cultural, historical, and environmental knowledge globally,” said Kris Helgen, President and CEO of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum.

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