The Kauai Museum is one of the island’s treasure. It has, for more than 50 years, showcased the history that tells the story of this island’s people, culture and traditions. It is a place filled with aloha. There are pictures, paintings, tales and precious pieces of the past that reveal what Kauai once was, and the path that led it to where it is today. It is, for locals and visitors, a must-see if you want to know just how special Kauai is and how its people endured, through the good times and the bad. The constant was, they were together, as one.
Since 2009, the Kauai Museum has been led by the wonderful Jane Kamahaokalani Gray. With her huge heart and even bigger smile and hug, Gray led the museum and guided its growth to become one of this community’s cherished assets. If you ever attended an event at the museum, you were sure to be greeted warmly by this kind, spirited woman who clearly took her task to heart. She has been a driving force behind the success of the Kauai Museum and we owe her our gratitude for all she has done, not for herself, but for Kauai. It was never just a job for Jane Gray. It was a passion and it showed.
Which is why we’re sorry that Jane Gray stepped down as museum director. This week, she moved to the Big Island, where she will take on new adventures and challenges. She deserves the best and the chance to enjoy island life surrounded by her friends and family. She will absolutely be missed.
But there is good news.
In her place, Chucky Boy Chock has been named director of the Kauai Museum. If you don’t know him, you should. But it seems almost everyone on Kauai knows Chucky Boy Chock, such is his reach and influence around the island. Here are a few things you might want to know about this man, a Native Hawaiian, who will now lead the museum:
w He is a man full of joy, life and laughter. His smile is one all its own. He is a man of heart and passion and true to his word.
w He is a gifted musician and songwriter and actor. He is a husband and a father. He is a minister and owner of The Pineapple Store.
w He is one of the men responsible, along with our good friends Dickie Chang and Paul Horner, for bringing the full Royal Hawaiian Band to Kauai in 2015 for the first time in many decades.
w He received the Ambassador of Aloha Award as part of the 39th annual Waimea Town Celebration.
w Before becoming museum director, he was a volunteer extraordinaire there. His duties included director of events and director of exhibits.
w Together with Kathleen Dahill, wrote “Hokulea is for Children,” a song decided to the legendary voyaging canoe from Hawaii. They also formed a youth choir with keiki from 12 different schools across the island to record the song.
w To raise funds for Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage, Chock wrote “Na Ho’okele Opoipio (The Young Navigators)” and recorded it with friends Jack Johnson and Paula Fuga. The song was offered at RallySong.com in an online campaign launched by the Polynesian Voyaging Society.
We could go on about Chock’s achievements. We could say more about his dedication to Kauai or about his passion for whatever is before him. But we won’t. His accomplishments speak for themselves.
We will say, the Kauai Museum, and this community, is fortunate to have him at the helm of one of our island’s most precious places.
