For years, Maile Melrose contributed her memories and stories of Kona with the Kona Historical Society community through a variety of programs, lectures and experiences. She was one of Kona’s most dedicated advocates as an author, historian, and president of the Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden. She dedicated her life and work to the preservation of Kona’s history, the appreciation of the historic places and monuments throughout the North Kona and South Kona Districts, and the stories of Kona’s people, places and plants. Melrose contributed countless hours to local history with her online publication “Maile’s Meanderings” on the Kona Historical Society website, and by guiding tours that are immersive journeys into Kona’s history. Melrose was one of the honorees for the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation’s 2020 Historic Preservation Honor Awards.
Presented by Kona Historical Society and Melrose, Mondays with Maile is a virtual talk story program that started in April 2020. It is live streamed on the Society's Facebook page, where Melrose shares Kona history, answers viewers’ questions and often highlights resources found in the Society’s collections.
Maile takes viewers back to the hot August of 1867 as she tells the true tale of “Horrible Suffering at Sea off the Hawai‘i Coast” and when Mr. Rogers built a boat on the sands of Napoʻopoʻo Beach. He had hoped carrying passengers and cargo up and down the Kona Coast from Kealakekua Bay to Kaʻu could be profitable.
Maile gives a brief history of alcohol in Hawaiʻi. She also explores the current popularity of alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as discusses various alcohols popular at one time or another here in Hawai’i.
Maile focuses her discussion on approximately 200 years of history along the shores of historic Kailua Village. She also talks about the Hawaiian seat of government, first wave of missionaries landing there, building Mokuaikaua church, events at Kailua Bay and Kamakahonu, and the changing times.
Maile focuses her discussion on approximately 200 years of history along the shores of historic Kailua Village. She also talks about the Hawaiian seat of government, first wave of missionaries landing there, building Mokuaikaua church, events at Kailua Bay and Kamakahonu, and the changing times.
Maile expands her discussion on approximately 200 years of history along the shores of historic Kailua Village, exploring the visible changes that can still be seen along one of our busiest throughfares.
Maile shares the impact of the 1918 Flu Pandemic, also known as Spanish Influenza, on Kona's community, including stories from her own family.