The Makawao History Museum lost a true friend, loyal worker, and big supporter when Gail Ainsworth passed away February 21, 2020.
Gail was one of the original creators of the idea of a Makawao History Museum back in 2014 when it was still a “project” on Makawao Avenue. Her expertise in local, particularly Makawao history was invaluable in creating stories from the artifacts the Community brought forth for loan or gift for the Project.
She lived in the area for 50 years, worked as a reference librarian at what was then the Maui Community College and truly loved living in Makawao. In the late 1980’s Gail wrote a history of Makawao School to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the school. She spent many hours researching and verifying the history of the school up to that time.
Gail’s most notable accomplishment while she working as a librarian was her three year project to index the Maui News’ articles. A three-volume index of three periods from 1900 through 1973 is the result of hundreds of hours she spent pouring through microfilm of Maui News articles. This 3-volume index is still a definitive research tool for historians of those periods and indispensable tool in our Museum.
Most treasured of Gail’s work for the Museum is the Walking Tour brochure and related bronze plaques affixed to certain buildings around Makawao Town. Gail, after considering many aspects of Makawao’s history, decided to focus on certain buildings that would tell the story of the town between the 1920’s and 50’s. The brochure so impressed the Historic Hawaii Foundation that the Museum was awarded a Preservation Award in 2015, along with an award for the founding of the Museum. When Gail led a Walking Tour, it was a delight to go along with her and get many treasured story tidbits in addition to what she had written in the brochure.
Gail co-authored two books, Maui Remembers and What Maui Likes to Eat. These popular books are sold in the Museum but sadly, we are running low on copies.
Gail’s laughter was infectious as was her enthusiasm and creativity. She is missed and loved by many, many people.