Honolulu, Hawaiʻi · Est. 509(a)(1) Organization

Preserving the
Soul of Hawaiʻi
for generations.

Founded in 2003, by Laurie Dowsett, son of Herbert Dowsett, The H.M. Dowsett Foundation was established as an entity to gather, protect, restore and display family artifacts, primarily the Hawaiian canoe (wa’a), canoe paddles (hoe wa’a), the Hawaiian calabash (‘umeke), Hawaiian stones (pohaku), wood surfboards (papa he’e nalu) and other related family artifacts. The Foundation’s efforts have expanded to also acquire similar artifacts beyond the Dowsett family.

malolo
H.M Dowsett with canoe "Malolo"
Discover Our Mission
Our Purpose

A living archive of
Hawaiian culture
and identity.

The Dowsett Foundation is dedicated to the acquisition of Hawaiian artifacts and antiquities of historical and cultural significance — through donation, purchase, exchange, or trade. Each piece we steward carries within it the memory of a people, a place, and a way of life that deserves to endure.

Beyond collection, we are committed to education and awareness — ensuring these treasures are not locked away, but shared, studied, and celebrated by all who wish to understand Hawaiʻi's extraordinary heritage.

509
Classification (a)(1)
501
Tax Exempt (c)(3)
HNL
Based in Honolulu
What We Do

Three pillars of cultural stewardship

01
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Acquisition and Donations

We actively seek Hawaiian artifacts and antiquities

Donations have been received from individuals, corporations, museums and other non-profits. The wa’a has been the most “offered” artifact because it is the most difficult to store, restore and display. The Foundation is most interested in the wa’a that has historical references, design influences, and wa’a for particular uses such as fishing and transportation. Wa’a and hoe wa’a from as far away as the Brooklyn Museum of Arts and Sciences and here on Oahu have been repatriated, donated or acquired. The Dowsett family was the custodian of the historical Prince Kuhio Wa’a for over 70 years. The A’a is debatably the most significant wa’a still in existence. The initial family custodian of the A'a was Herbert M. Dowsett, and the responsibility passed down through three family generations to ensure this royal artifact would not be lost to neglect. In 2024, the family’s time of custodianship of the A’a ended as the Bishiop Museum reestablished their ability to properly restore and display the A’a.

02
📚
Restoration

Restorations have been done by Herbert Dowsett, Wright Bowman Sr., Wright Bowman Jr., Phillip Naone, all esteemed wa’a experts. Family members have learned the art of wa’a restoration, and that continues today. Other artifacts restorations are done by experts in those particular fields.

kiholo

03
🌺
Preservation

Every artifact entrusted to our care is preserved with the highest standards, ensuring that the objects that carry Hawaiian memory are protected and accessible to future generations. Display of the items, primarily the wa’a, in secure public locations allows many to view, learn about and simply enjoy.

kiholo

prince_kuhio

"Prince Kuhio is the father of International Hawaiian Canoe racing"
Prince Kuhio

and the A'a

The fastest Hawaiian outrigger canoe won many races between 1906-1910.

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1871 Prince Kuhio was Born
Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole (March 26, 1871 – January 7, 1922) was a prince of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi until it was overthrown by a coalition of American and European businessmen in 1893. He later went on to become a representative in the Territory of Hawaii as delegate to the United States Congress, and as such is the only person ever elected to that body who had been born into royalty.
1902
In 1902, Prince Kuhio had a racing canoe commissioned and built in Kona, named the A‘a (pronounced AH or AH‘AH). Prince Kuhio wanted the fastest racing canoe in the islands, and the A`a won many races between 1906 and 1910. In 1906, he sent the canoe from Kona to Honolulu, where its crew beat the competition and returned to win again the following year, in front of a crowd of 10,000 people, according to Tommy Holmes. This was the first canoe specifically designed to be a 6-man racing canoe and opinioned, Prince Kuhio is the father of International Hawaiian Canoe racing as Duke Kahanamoku is the father of Surfing.
1922-Present
After the passing of Prince Kuhio in 1922, the A’a was donated in 1923 from the Prince Kuhio Estate to the Bishop Museum. It remained in Waikiki at the Outrigger Canoe Club, occasionally used, until it eventually found its way to the Bishop Museum in 1931, where it lay in poor storage for 21 years. In 1952 the canoe was put under the custodianship of Herbert M. Dowsett who restored the canoe to all its racing glory. Dowsett established the Lanikai Canoe Club the same year, which was housed at Dowsett’s house at 1442 Mokulua Drive, Lanikai. The A’a was key to establishing the new Club and was actively raced thru the mid 1960’s. The A’a has been restored several times over the past 70+ years by the Dowsett family who remained its custodian up through 2024, over 72 years of custodianship.

Join in our work

Help us protect and celebrate the irreplaceable cultural heritage of Hawaiʻi.

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Donate an Artifact

Do you have a Hawaiian artifact, heirloom, or antiquity that deserves thoughtful stewardship? We accept donations that contribute to our growing collection and broader mission.

Get in touch →
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Make a Gift

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, your financial contribution is tax-deductible. Every donation supports acquisition, preservation, and educational programming that honors Hawaiian culture.

Support our work →
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Share Knowledge

Researchers, historians, and community members are invited to share their expertise. If you know of artifacts or collections of significance to Hawaiian cultural aa_kuhio, we want to hear from you.

Connect with us →
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Spread Awareness

One of the most powerful things you can do is share the importance of Hawaiian cultural preservation with your community. Education begins with conversation.

Learn more →