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.
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, The Merrie Monarch
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.
One of many pieces from the scrapbook ready to be cleaned
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.
Removing the hide 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.
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.
A new scrapbook
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."