On November 1st we opened submissions for the Winter 2020 issue of the Yellow Arrow Journal. We wanted our readers to become better acquainted with the journal’s wonderful Editor-in-Chief, Kapua Iao. Currently Kapua resides in Montréal, Québec where she does freelance editing for a variety of archaeological journals and manuscripts. Each summer she takes up residence on Crete, Greece where she works for the Gournia Excavation Project. Kapua originally hails from O’ahu, Hawai’i and holds two M.A.’s—one in Art History from the University at Buffalo, SUNY and another in Museum Studies from the University of Toronto.
We asked Kapua a few questions about her role with us and her life outside of Yellow Arrow.
YAP: How did you get involved with Yellow Arrow?
KI: I was in the Art History Department at the University at Buffalo, SUNY with Gwen’s sister from 2003 to 2005. In 2005, her sister and I participated on the Galatas Survey Project in Crete, Greece. Gwen came to visit for a couple of weeks and ended up working with us! Since then, I’ve stayed in touch with Gwen throughout the years. When she released her Follow that Arrow memoir, I became aware of Yellow Arrow and followed that arrow. Timing worked out perfectly when she started to look for volunteers, and the rest is history!
YAP: What is your role within Yellow Arrow?
KI: I am Editor-in-Chief and am incredibly blessed to find myself in such a position. I largely focus on the Journal and manuscript submission/publication, but as we have a small staff, I also help with branding, the website, and editing/designing other zines/books we publish. We are all learning as we go.
YAP: Who is your favorite writer and why?
KI: I sadly don’t have a favorite writer at the moment. Generally, I love to read nonfiction or science fiction—very different genres! At the moment, I read a tremendous amount of archaeological publications and nonfiction/poetry daily and don’t spend my downtime reading. Growing up, I absolutely loved to soak in books so it would be great to get back to reading for fun.
YAP: Can you tell us a bit about the work you do in Greece?
KI: I started working on archaeological projects in Greece in 2005 and have spent every summer since then on the island of Crete. At the moment, I am Registrar and Project Organizer of the Gournia Excavation Project for the archaeological site of Gournia in east Crete. The site was first dug in the early 1900s by Harriet Boyd-Hawes, a pioneer archaeologist and someone to read about if you get the chance. As Registrar and Project Organizer, I care for all objects and bulk finds (ceramics, lithics, mudbrick, plaster, flora and faunal remains, and so forth), both intellectually and physically, ensure that all publishers (including myself!) have access to the information they need, and do general day-to-day logistics every summer we work.
YAP: What do you love most about the work you do there?
KI: Besides the intellectual aspect of working on an archaeological project, the village we work and live in, Pacheia Ammos, has become a second home to me, and the villagers (as well as the people I work with) are all part of my extended family. I have learned so much from everyone over the years.
YAP: As someone who has spent time living, working, and traveling all around the world, what is one of your favorite places on the planet and why?
KI: Everywhere I travel holds a special place in my heart for different reasons. At the same time, however, no other place will ever compare to Hawai’i as it holds my history, all of my childhood memories, my oldest friends, and much of my family. I still call Hawai’i home no matter where I am living or visiting and always will.
To find out more about Kapua and the rest our staff please visit our about page. For information on submitting to the Yellow Arrow Journal please click here. Finally, if you would like to know more about the Gournia Excavation Project you can find their website here.