Bishop Museum’s new CEO, Kristofer Helgen, may be just what’s needed to navigate the turbulence of axed budgets and disappearing grants. With cultural institutions across the country facing massive federal cuts, it’s an unsettling time. About 7% of Bishop Museum’s operational budget now originates ​​from the U.S. government, and it remains unclear how much money it’s poised to lose.

Photo: Courtesy of Australian Museum

Yet, Helgen, who begins his role on Aug. 1, has extensive experience and connections that could help Bishop Museum withstand such blows. He most recently served as chief scientist and director of the Australian Museum Research Institute at the Australian Museum in Sydney. And he’s spent years working at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.; the American Museum of Natural History in New York; and other notable museums, universities and institutions across the world.

A big part of his job, he says, will be to communicate the important work that Bishop Museum is involved in and to seek support and resources both in Hawai‘i and beyond. For instance, in areas like marine biology, conservation and food security, the museum’s projects have significant global impact, he says. “Bishop Museum is a beacon that shines out of the Hawaiian Islands, especially in the Pacific, but even across the global world of museums. Now, it’s time to focus on efforts to effectively communicate why our institution is important, including how it works on conservation and environmental initiatives, and upkeeps Hawai‘i’s cultural heritage.”

Although the federal pullback isn’t likely to force draconian changes, Helgen says his deep connections both in the nation’s capital and in the broader world will help. “If we double down on other sources of support, we may be able to weather what’s happening,” he says. “And it’s not just to spare current programs, but to initiate new projects.”

“Bishop Museum is a beacon that shines out of the Hawaiian Islands, especially in the Pacific, but even across the global world of museums.”

The Scientist

Selected from some 50 candidates, Helgen’s career has been centered in the Pacific. And as a natural scientist, he has intersected with Bishop Museum many times, starting in 2002, when, as a student at Harvard University, he researched the museum’s mammal collection. Other research projects at the museum followed, all of which piqued an interest in returning to Hawai‘i to take over the top position formerly held by Dee Jay Mailer.

Initially, he plans to spend lots of time with his staff, diving deeply into understanding the museum, Hawaiian culture, the state’s history and issues affecting the Islands. For instance, Bishop Museum has been involved in the repatriation to Hawai‘i of iwi kūpuna, or ancestral remains, held in museums and other institutions outside the Islands. Although some iwi kūpuna have been returned, it’s a complicated and sensitive process that Helgen undoubtedly will have to delve into.

On this issue, he trusts the expertise of his staff, who have long been committed to preserving Hawai‘i’s cultural heritage. “I want to do a lot of listening before I know exactly where I want to take us,” he says.

And learning.

“Although I grew up in Minnesota, I’ve lived around the world and interacted a lot with cultures that are not mine. So, I know the importance of being humble, listening and learning, and making sure we’re prioritizing Hawaiian voices and Hawaiian interests and issues.”

bishopmuseum.org, @bishopmuseum

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Diane Seo is the editorial director of HONOLULU Magazine.