 |
That's Mom and I, reading family letters
written over 100 years ago between Boston and Hawaii
at the Hawaii State Archives |
I recently took a trip to Hawaii, combining a family vacation
with a bit of genealogy research. It was
a great way to get the extended family, my Mom and my daughter, to learn about
a branch of the family that we used to think of as a family myth. Seeing the historic homes, meeting the
cousins and experiencing the culture was a great vacation. I also did a bit of research while I was
there. It took a lot of planning ahead,
and these strategies can be used for a genealogy trip anywhere, not just Hawaii
Planning ahead…
1. Make a list of specific things you want to
research. Not just, “find vital records”
but “find birth for cousin X” or “where did great uncle Y die?” Write up a research plan, but be flexible.
2. Call ahead to repositories and archives to find
out the schedule, fees, hours, and any special days they might be closed. There are lots of local holidays you might
not be aware of, or the clerk might take a vacation. Ask specific questions about the very day
and time you want to visit.
Remember the time difference when calling archives in Hawaii, you have
to call at 6PM to reach someone at noon in Honolulu (six hour time difference!).
3. If you have a Flip Pal or other scanner, ask if
it is allowed in any archive or library you want to visit (not allowed in the
Hawaii State Archives). If not, you can
leave it off your packing list. Packing
light is a necessity nowadays with 50 lb weight limits on luggage!
4. Bring your digital camera, lots of memory cards,
chargers, etc. Ask if it is allowed inside libraries (yes for Hawaii State
Archives!), but you’ll need it anyways to photograph your trip, villages,
homesteads, cousins, etc.
5. Contact any distant cousins, genealogists,
genealogy clubs, historical societies, etc. in the area for meetups and
suggestions for research ideas. Plan
time to make lunch and dinner plans with these people as a “Thank you”. In Hawaii we presented them with leis, too,
and gifts of New Hampshire maple syrup and other local products from home.
6. Research ahead of time the customs and etiquette
for visiting cemeteries. In Hawaii we
brought leis for family graves. Call
churches ahead of time, they are open on very limited hours, even on Sundays.
Bring water for exploring cemeteries, they are hot and dusty in the Honolulu
area.
7. Be prepared to visit more than one island. Plan your research carefully so you can
complete everything on one island before you move on to the next. This is an extra expense to add to your
travel budget, and needs planning.
8.
You probably need half the paperwork and half the clothes you originally
planned to bring. I did a two week trip
with one folder of paperwork, but brought home three times as much paper. Reconsider bringing your laptop. Are you going to spend vacation time entering
data, or will you do it when you arrive home?
Will a smart phone suffice? (Bloggers have different needs!)
While you are there…
1. Be flexible about changing your plans to squeeze
in those “once in a lifetime” opportunities for meetups and photo
opportunities.
2. If you are traveling with family, make sure you
make time for fun and relaxation. For
each cemetery or library visit, match it up with your spouse’s choice of
activity. Don’t be afraid to ask if they
would rather go to the beach or shopping while you do a genealogy activity
alone.
3. Buy any books you think are valuable and not
available at home. Ship them home by
mail since books are heavy and your baggage allowance is only 50 lbs (less at
some international locations).
4. If you take a lot of notes or pick up paper such
as brochures, printouts, postcards, folders and other items, consider shipping
them home, too. All that paper adds up
to extra weight. Those new “If it fits,
It ships” boxes from the USPS are great for this, and a bargain for shipping
from Hawaii.
5. Hang out with the locals. The neighborhood pub, church on Sunday, read
the local paper, eat the local food.
Chat up the staff at restaurants, post offices and on tours. You just might meet a distant cousin!
Watch out for….
1. Climate issues.
Hawaii was very different from New Hampshire. We brought lots of zip loc baggies for
packing, silicon desiccant packs for cameras, a sweater for the archive
building (locals were wearing parkas!) We went through lots of sunscreen at
cemeteries. Bring wide brim hats! Dehydration and sunburns can ruin your trip.
2. Language issues.
Yes, we needed a Hawaiian/English dictionary. Should have bought it ahead of time. Ask about translation services at archives,
too (available at the Hawaii State Archives).
3. Bring a
GPS if you are renting a car. Hawaiian
street and village names are especially confusing and difficult to read,
pronounce and spell. Double check
everything with maps and guide books.
4. Don’t be disappointed if you don’t find what you
came to research. The entire trip and
the exposure to the culture and surroundings will enrich your research.
5. Watch out for issues with connectivity with WiFi
or hotel internet. Don’t be disappointed
if you can’t connect at all, and be prepared to not get online. Call ahead to see if your phone plan will
work at your destination, or buy a throwaway phone upon arrival if you
absolutely need to have a mobile phone.
6. Money issues.
Hawaii is much, much more expensive than the mainland. Gas prices are exorbitant compared to gas at
home, and all that eating out can blow your budget. Ask bellhops, tour guides, librarians and
locals for inexpensive ideas for lunch, groceries, and other purchases.
7. Time differences. If you call, text or email home to New
Hampshire, remember that 6PM in Honolulu is midnight at home! Some businesses that deal with the mainland
open and close early because of this time difference, so plan ahead.
After you get home…
1. As soon as possible download and then backup your digital photos and
scans.
2. Write thank you email and letters, don’t forget
to mail them, too!
3. Enter your new information and source citations
into your genealogy data bases, make printouts of trees to see if there are new
connections you need to follow up on as soon as possible while the trip and research
are still fresh in your mind
Important genealogy places to visit in Hawaii:
Hawai’i State Archives
Kekāuluohi Building
‘Iolani Palace
Grounds
364 S. King Street
Honolulu, Hawai‘i
96813
Phone:(808)586-0329
Fax: (808) 586-0330
E-mail:
archives@hawaii.gov
Business Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00
a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Closed Saturday,
Sunday, and State Holidays
Metered parking near Iolani Palace
Genealogy research Guide for the Hawaii State Archives:
Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice
Street
Honolulu, HI
96817
Phone: (808)
847-3511
Free Parking
NOTE- the
library and archives are closed due to budget concerns!
Hawai’i State Library
The only
state library system in the USA, with 50 branches on six island
Main Library
249 South King Street, Honolulu, HI, 96813
(808) 586-3500
University of Hawai’I at Manoa Library
Hawaiian Historical Society at Honolulu
Library is
located at 560 Kawaiahao Street, Honolulu, HI
96813
Phone (808)
537 – 6271
(collections
include newspapers, newsclipping files, manuscripts, photographs, etc)
Some important websites to check:
Honolulu County Genealogical Society
Native Hawaiian Genealogy Society
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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Planning a Genealogy Research Trip", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 18, 2012, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2012/10/planning-genealogy-research-trip.html: accessed [access date]).
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