Hall beautification project with the Kūikapiko Anthropology ClubKūikapiko Anthropology Club members in front of the newly painted wall in Edith Kanakaʻole Hall

The Kūikapiko Anthropology Club is a vibrant Registered Independent Student Organization (RISO) that embraces the application of anthropological knowledge in an effort to directly contribute to the well-being of communities on Hawaiʻi Island. Kūikapiko means “standing rooted (kū) in our origins (i ka piko).” The name is fitting for the mission of the club and by extension the UH Hilo Department of Anthropology and the broader discipline—it is being “here” in the present and knowing your sense of place, and doing work that is grounded in our origins and histories to embrace the future.

Several times each semester the club organizes service projects with various community organizations (which means getting your hands dirty!), such as taro cultivation in Waipiʻo, a heiau clean-up in Keaukaha, and maintenance of cultural sites in Keauhou. The club also meets each month with fun, engaging activities such as games, guest talks, film screenings, and parties. Other activities include educational field trips such as a tour of the Lyman Museum in Hilo and hosting guest speakers on current anthropological topics. Club members also regularly volunteer at and participate in academic conferences, such as the Society for Hawaiian Archaeology (SHA) and the Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania (ASAO) . Perhaps the favorite on-campus event is the annual dunking of professors in a dunk tank!

Recent Events

Completed Mural Project!

A wide shot of one of the walls in the Anthropology Hall, with a border made of designs along the top and bottom of the wallA wide view of the new Anthropology Hall mural. Mahalo to all those who contributed their designs and time!

Participate

Join us at 4:30 pm every other Wednesday in K277 for club meetings! Our next meeting is on Wednesday, January 24th.

To become a member of the Kūikapiko Anthropology Club or for more information, please send an email to kpac@hawaii.edu.