Stories of culture, history and identity from across Southeast Asia and the Pacific are now on display at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补’s .
Highlighting regional perspectives
The Ocean That Remembers, an exhibition at the Hamilton Library Bridge Gallery, features stories selected by 13 museum professionals to represent their communities and connections to their homes.
The physical exhibition expands on a digital exhibit created through the Asia-Pacific Museum Exchange, a program of the 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补
The Ocean That Remembers opened August 24 at Hamilton Library’s Bridge Gallery. 糖心视频ors can also explore the full digital exhibition through the .
Each story centers on a cultural object or practice selected by an exchange participant. Together, they highlight the role museums play not only in preserving collections, but also in protecting the stories, traditions and knowledge connected to them.
“Our goal was to bring the project full circle by connecting the digital exhibit with an in-person experience,” said Teri Skillman, associate director of CSEAS. “By transforming the stories into a physical exhibition, we hope they can reach new audiences in Hawaiʻi and eventually be shared in museums and other spaces across the region.”
Collective approach to exhibit
The exhibition grew out of a 16-day Asia-Pacific Museum Exchange held in Hawaiʻi in 2025. Museum professionals from across the region worked with Hawaiʻi experts on topics including exhibition development, disaster planning and digital preservation.
The Hamilton Library installation also highlights the relationships and professional network built through the exchange, bringing perspectives from across the Asia-Pacific together in Hawaiʻi.
The program is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Cultural Heritage Center in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and conducted through the Hawaiʻi-Pacific Islands Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit TA# P24AC000688.
— Teaghan Carruth