VIDEO: Deaf History Museum opens at UH Mānoa’s Hamilton Library

Contact:

Link to video and sound (details below): https://go.hawaii.edu/RwB

***Suggested VOSOT script below***

A new Deaf History Museum at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is bringing a century of Hawaiʻi's Deaf history, culture and community into the heart of Hamilton Library.

The exhibit, "I ʻike ʻia, I lohe ʻia: Nā Moʻolelo o ke Kaiāulu Kuli o Hawaiʻi (To Be Seen, To Be Heard: The Stories of Hawaiʻi's Deaf Community)," features artifacts, stories and contributions from Hawaiʻi's Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. It opened on September 14 in recognition of Hawaiian History Month and Deaf Awareness Month.

"Deaf history is Hawaiʻi history. This museum keeps our stories alive so future generations can see where we came from, know who we are, and proudly say this is my history," said Ed Chevy, a Deaf historian and curator of the museum.

Deaf history is Hawaiʻi history

The Deaf community came together for a grand opening ceremony at Kennedy Theatre, filled with sign language musical performances and a keynote by Yvette I. Ibarra-Keohuloa, a Deaf descendant of Hawaiian high-ranking chiefs Kameʻeiamoku and Kamanawa, trusted advisors to King Kamehameha I.

Ibarra-Keohuloa shared her moʻokūʻauhau (genealogy), moʻolelo (stories) and manaʻo (perspectives).

"Deaf people have always been a part of Hawaiʻi-our families, our communities, our culture and our stories," Ibarra-Keohuloa said. "Our experiences may not always have been recognized, but that does not mean we are not here."

The celebration also marked the first Deaf show presented on Kennedy Theatre's main stage.

Deaf community members and advocates express Deaf history and culture have often been overlooked, leaving many people in Hawaiʻi with limited exposure to the community's language, experiences and traditions. The museum aims to help close that gap by making those stories more visible and accessible to a broader audience.

Growing student interest

Interest in American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf culture has been growing at UH Mānoa.

This fall marked the launch of a new path for students, a standalone Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics with a Concentration in ASL.

Interest in ASL courses at UH Mānoa has surged in recent years. Enrollment has grown by 1,400% in six years, from 19 students in spring 2019 to 265 in fall 2025. Demand continues to exceed capacity, with long waitlists for courses.

A 2024 survey also found that 94% of ASL students are interested in pursuing a bachelor's degree in ASL-English interpreting.

UH Mānoa ASL instructor Gisella Tomita came up with the idea to bring the museum to Hamilton Library, placing it in the heart of the university in order to create space for greater awareness, connection and inclusion - inspiring students to carry those values into their future professions.

"Once, our languages were silenced. Today, we celebrate them openly. Both of my parents are Deaf, and they told me how sign language was discouraged in their school. Hawaiʻi also has a history of suppressing 'ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) in schools and public life," said Tomita who is one of three Deaf instructors of ASL at UH Mānoa. "There's something special about connecting with other Deaf and hearing Hawaiians and locals. We share culture, history, and experiences that connect us to Hawaiʻi. Deafness may be invisible, but when we sign, we find each other. When hearing people are willing to learn and connect, we unite our two worlds."

Link to video and sound (details below): https://go.hawaii.edu/RwB

VIDEO BROLL: (1 minute, 57 seconds)
0:00-0:55 - Deaf History Museum
0:55-1:41 - Opening ceremony
1:41-1:57 - American Sign Language courses at UH Mānoa

SOUNDBITES

Ed Chevy/Curator, UH Mānoa Deaf History Museum

(12 seconds)

"The word 'Deaf' was a very uncomfortable word to be used because when you think of Deaf, that means, ʻOh, they can't hear, they can't do this.' But we're wonderful people. We have culture. We have sports. We even have theater. We have a language."

Yvette I. Ibarra-Keohuloa/Deaf Native Hawaiian community advocate

(17 seconds)

"I'm really hoping that they can leave with more curiosity, what they want to learn more and it motivates them because that is the guide, that is what will help them to find more knowledge especially about our Deaf identity, Deaf culture."

VOSOT SCRIPT

INTRO
A new museum at UH Mānoa is putting a spotlight on more than a century of Hawaiʻi's Deaf history, culture and community.

VO:
The Deaf History Museum opened at the university's Hamilton Library, featuring artifacts and stories from Hawaiʻi's Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. The exhibit aims to make Deaf culture and experiences more visible and show that it's part of Hawaiʻi history.

Opening ceremonies also featured special sign language performances and stories highlighting a history advocates say has too often been overlooked.

SOT (Super: Ed Chevy/Curator, UH Mānoa Deaf History Museum)

"The word 'Deaf' was a very uncomfortable word to be used because when you think of Deaf, that means, ʻOh, they can't hear, they can't do this.' But we're wonderful people. We have culture, we have sports, we even have theater, we have a language."

TAKE VO

Hawaiʻi faces a severe shortage of American Sign Language interpreters. UH Mānoa is responding by expanding coursework and interpreter training opportunities.