A 6-strand Ni'ihau shell lei with a large shell pendant likely created between 1900 and 1960. According to Ni'ihau Cultural Heritage Foundation, the term 'Ni'ihau shell' legally refers only to shells gathered on the shores of the Forbidden Island, or Ni'ihau in Hawaii. Access to this island is highly restricted to preserve its unique culture and environment, making this style of lei both culturally significant and highly valuable.
There are three different shells that are commonly used to make Ni‘ihau shell lei: kahelelani, momi, and lāiki, as well as a fourth one, kāmoa, which is frequently used to add contrasting color.
This particular lei appears to be made primarily of momi or lāiki shells with a pōleholeho lenalena pendant.
Donated by Charlotte Phillips in honor of her mother.
"You Are Here" was commissioned by the University Cultural Collections Committee in 2024 for the entryway of Les AuCoin Hall. Created by Steph Littlebird, an artist, author, curator and enrolled member of Oregon’s Grand Ronde Confederated Tribes. Steph earned her B.F.A. in Painting and Printmaking from the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) in Portland, Oregon, she currently lives and works in Las Vegas.
Littlebird is known for her vibrant graphic imagery that combines traditional styles of her Indigenous ancestors with contemporary illustration aesthetics. Her work often examines issues related to Native identity, cultural resilience, and responsible land stewardship.
Littlebird's statement on "You Are Here": "This design combines a landscape and topographical view of the land Pacific University is situated on. Overlapping depictions of Indigenous plants and animals with maps of the local river systems remind viewers of where they are, focusing their awareness on the present with a mindful message 'You are here.'"
A very large mural-like painting on canvas, depicting the Goddess Hina of Moloka'i, a red and orange sky and swirling grey smoke, green taro leaves and water. Many handprints in a rainbow of colors appear in the sky, as well as arrow-shaped symbols. This piece was created on October 5, 2023 as a collaboration between the artist Kalae Tangonan and the staff of her visiting Molokai clothing business named Kupu A’e Molokai, along with students from Pacific University. They created the mural in response to the wildfires of 2023 that destroyed most of the historic town of Lahaina, Maui in Hawai'i. The medium appears to be spray paint and/or latex paint; it is applied to a plastic-backed canvas drop-cloth.
An article titled "An Ode to Home" (Avari Schumacher, Oct. 12, 2023) in the Pacific University Index newspaper describes its creation: "At first, it was just the members of the group Kupu A’e Molokai working on the mural. But soon others joined. 'I didn’t expect anybody to really show up because at the beginning, no one was really around,' said Tangonan. 'Then as the day went on, we had around 30 students show up.' With so many students wanting to join, Tongonan had them use their hand prints as the background of the mural. 'The handprints in the mural represent something we call Manamana Lima,' Tangonan passionately explained. 'This represents your fingers and then it connects to your hand which is transferring up with your energy. We call it mana or spirit.'"
A bronze statue that likely functioned as an incense burner, similar in appearance to Pacific University's qilin "Boxer" mascot. This statue appears to be a 19th or 20th century Chinese (or possibly Japanese?) work depicting an unknown mythological creature, possibly a "Denglong." Its features include: cone-shaped ears; fish-like scales on its back, chest and legs; clawed feet; a mane and tail; protruding black eyes on short stalks; a single horn with two branches on its forehead; a dog-like snout; a fish-like or frog-like mouth; and a dragon-like crest of scales running down its backbone. It is similar to a Qilin, except for the fact that its feet have claws rather than hooves, and it has no whiskers. The statue's head was connected to the body with a hinge (now broken), inside of which incense could be placed, so that the smoke would come out of its nose and mouth. The tail is removable, probably so that ash could be removed. One ear has become loose but still attaches to the body. The statue measures 8.5" high, 4" wide and 10" long.
The statue resembles the bronze qilin incense burner nicknamed "Boxer," which later became Pacific University's official mascot. In the 1950s, the Boxer statue was circulating among Pacific U. students, who would periodically bring out the statue for a brawl-like contest over its possession. This similar bronze statue was collected by Roger K. Smith (Pacific University Class of 1953), probably in October 1951. The Smith Family kept this statue for 71 years, alongside a letter that Roger sent to his parents on Oct. 22, 1951, which stated: "When the package [containing the statue] comes, take good care of the contents. Even Myron [Roger's brother, another Pacific U. student] doesn't know that I came up with the thing. The poor boy sure took a beating. Came up in four parts." The statue was donated to Pacific University by the Smith Family in November, 2022. The copy of the letter that accompanied the statue is kept in the Archives subject files. For other materials related to the Smith Family, see the LeRoy and Reatha Smith Papers (Pacific University Archives, MS.48).
A Japanese doll in a glass case. A gift to President Hallick from Fred Scheller, probably circa 2010. This was a gift bought in Japan by Fred's wife which Fred thought should be given to Pacific University.
