38th Annual SHA Conference – Call for Papers and Registration Information

Aloha mai kākou,

The Conference Planning Committee and the Board of Directors for the Society for Hawaiian Archaeology (SHA) invite you to join our annual gathering:

Hahai nō ka ua i ka ululāʻau, the rain follows the forest

38^th Annual SHA Conference

September 11 – 13, 2026

Atherton Hālau, Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, Kapālama, O‘ahu

The SHA conference will be the capstone event for Archaeology Week in Hawaiʻi, which will take place from September 7-13^th this year.

Lead a Huaka‘i for Hawaiʻi Archaeology Week!

Hawaiʻi Archaeology Week is just around the corner, and we are currently looking for passionate individuals to lead a huakaʻi on Oʻahu on Friday, September 11th.

If you would like to share your knowledge and lead a site visit, please email  posters@hawaiianarchaeology.org by July 17th. Mahalo for supporting SHA and helping us share the history of Hawai‘i.

Call for Submissions

This year’s conference theme, Hahai nō ka ua i ka ululāʻau  “The rain follows the forest”, an ʻōlelo noʻeau emphasizing the relationship between forests and the systems they sustain. With this theme, we are reminded that growth and abundance follow where care, foundation, and stewardship already exist, and this year’s conference theme speaks to the relationship between preservation and innovation in archaeology.

A call for submissions is now open.  Please submit your abstracts (no more than 250 words) by August 1, 2026 via email to conferences@hawaiianarchaeology.org. Individuals submitting abstracts must be current SHA members in good standing. If your abstract is selected for inclusion in the program, you’ll receive a confirmation email from the conference committee in early August. We welcome proposals for presentations in the following formats:

• Paper Presentations:  Standard 15-minute paper on a relevant topic. Submissions should include the paper title, abstract, name(s) of author(s), and author affiliation(s).
• Panel Discussions:  One-hour panel discussions.  We welcome panels on a variety of topics, especially related to our conference theme.
• Experiential Workshops and Engagement Sessions:  Half-hour, one-hour, and two-hour experiential workshops and engagement sessions.  We invite analytical archaeologists, experimental archaeologists, archivists, cultural practitioners, and others to engage the conference attendees with their research, techniques, skills, and knowledge.

Conference Registration is Now Open!

SHA Conference 2026 | ClickBid Event Fundraising    

Membership Renewal

A link and instructions to renew your SHA membership is available via the Conference Registration Website.

Student Travel Grants

Grants of up to $500 are available for student members of SHA engaged in research relevant to the archaeology of Hawai‘i, enrolled in an accredited college or university, and in good academic standing. Applicants must be presenting their research at the 2026 SHA Conference and must be travelling to the conference from off-island. The deadline for applications is August 31, 2026. Awardees will be selected based on research relevance and rigor. Applications for travel grants will be available shortly.

More information on award nominations and registration for Archaeology Week events is forthcoming. 

We look forward to seeing you in Honolulu in September!

Conference Committee