Adrienne was a stalwart of the Pacific Arts Association and was one of its founding members. She was awarded our association’s highest accolade, the Manu Daula Award in 2003. Adrienne spent more than forty years working at the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian, prior to her retirement at the end of 2021.

Throughout her distinguished career, Adrienne carried out research in many Pacific nations, in particular Tonga, Samoa, Hawai’i and Rapa Nui, focusing on a wide range of art forms including visual arts, poetry, dance and music. She published more than 300 peer-reviewed publications. Her scholarship was unsurpassed and her position within the communities of Pacific Anthropology and Arts, unequalled. Some of her greatest attributes were her kindness and willingness to take young scholars under her wing. With this tutelage, not only did many acquire knowledge, they were able to expand the field to which she dedicated her life.

Her legacy and our memories will live forever.

Adrienne L. Kaeppler 1935-2022 – an inspiring journey of discovery into Tongan culture, art, society Matangi Tonga Online