Bringing Hawaii’s Royal Past to Life: Restoring a 19th-Century Scrapbook of High Society and Politics

A red-ink seal of the Hawaiian Kingdom's Coat of Arms from a historic scrapbook restoration project, preserving Hawaii’s royal history and cultural heritage.

Honoring King Kalākaua’s Legacy at Kuro’s Workshop

At Kuro’s Workshop, we don’t just restore items—we bring history back to life. A recent project took us on a journey to conserve a 19th-century scrapbook from the time of King Kalākaua, when Hawaii was a flourishing, sovereign kingdom filled with royal traditions and cultural exchanges.

This historical scrapbook, featuring an ornate blue cover with gold lettering and intricate detailing, is undergoing conservation to preserve its connection to the Hawaiian Monarchy. The delicate binding, worn edges, and aged materials highlight the importance of archival restoration in safeguarding rare documents and artifacts for future generations.


A Window to History: The Importance of a 19th-Century Scrapbook

This scrapbook holds over 100 precious pieces—invitation cards, letters, and more from the late 1800s. As we handled these historical treasures, we knew they told a powerful story that was best preserved together. Rather than separate the items, we chose a holistic preservation method to safeguard this irreplaceable piece of Hawaiian heritage.

Why This Scrapbook is a Piece of Living History

This collection is a direct link to Hawaii’s royal past, containing rare items like invitations to King Kalākaua’s 50th birthday jubilee dinner and letters from Japanese diplomats. Together, they capture a chapter of Hawaii’s history when it was an independent kingdom, culturally vibrant and diplomatically engaged.

King David Kalākaua

King David Kalākaua, The Merrie Monarch

Iolani Palace

ʻIolani Palace

King Kalākaua’s Legacy: A Cultural Renaissance

The reign of King Kalākaua marked a time of cultural revival and political tension. By conserving these documents, we’re preserving a snapshot of Hawaiian history, when the kingdom was fighting to maintain its sovereignty before Hawaii’s annexation in 1898.

The back of a paper document that is covered in dried glue

One of many pieces from the scrapbook ready to be cleaned

A close up view of the back of a paper document covered in dry glue with a brush above it that has been dipped in Methyl Cellulose, ready to begin cleaning off the old glue.

Cleaning has begun

The Art of Preservation: Meticulous Care for Every Detail

This scrapbook required thoughtful, careful restoration. Many items were adhered with hide glue that caused damage over time, so we took special care using precise tools to safely remove and clean each piece.

The back of a paper document that has been soaked in Methyl Cellulose. A specialized metal spatula has scraped some of the glue away.

Removing the hide glue

The back of the paper document that has been fully cleaned of all old glue.

All hide glue has been removed

Patience and Care: A Steady Approach to Conservation

Week by week, we dedicated time and care to restoring each item in the collection. Our deliberate pace allowed us to fully appreciate the historical significance of every piece we worked with.

An above shot of the scrapbook that has been opened to a random page before treatment.
Scrapbook Before
 The scrapbook after it has received treatment.
Scrapbook after





 

A New Life for a Historical Treasure

After nearly a year of restoration, the scrapbook has been fully preserved. Each piece is now mounted on acid-free paper and housed in archival-quality pages, creating a collection that will be enjoyed and studied for generations to come.

The new scrapbook, closed and on a table.

A new scrapbook 

The newly restored scrapbook in a slipcase standing on a table with a wooden wall background.

Protective slipcase covering

Why Physical History Matters

In a digital world, conserving physical items can sometimes be overlooked. But by restoring this collection, we’re preserving more than just objects—we’re preserving the tangible connections that future generations will have to their past.

Connecting Hawaii’s Past with Its Future

At Kuro’s Workshop, our mission is to keep history alive. By preserving items like this scrapbook, we’re ensuring that Hawaii’s rich past continues to inspire and inform future generations.

Have Something to Preserve? Let’s Work Together!

Do you have a cherished book, a family album, or personal letters you want to preserve? We’re here to help protect those special memories. Get in touch with us anytime—we’d love to chat about how we can keep your history safe for generations to come."