Bishop Museum Collections

[Neal Evenhuis]

Dear Colleagues:

In late February of this year we advised colleagues throughout the world
that due to the Bishop Museum receiving less than anticipated support from
the State government of Hawaii and other sources, we implemented a
Museum-wide cost-reduction plan that involved staff layoffs, reduced access
to collections, and a temporary moratorium on loan transactions.

We are pleased to report that recent support for the Bishop Museum approved
by our State Legislature has doubled over last year's appropriation.
Additional development and grant activities have resulted in an enhancement
of the Museum's endowment by more than $1 million.  This additional revenue
has allowed us to increase Museum support to collections -- and we have
been able to raise several part-time collections management positions to
full time.

We are pleased to report that we will be reopening all collections on 1
July 1999 and continuing normal loan activity.

We thank you all for your patience and understanding and for your strong
support of Bishop Museum - it really made a difference!


Allen Allison, Vice President                   Neal Evenhuis, Chair
Science                                         Natural Sciences