October events for Honouliuli National Historic Site 10th Anniversary Commemoration

WAIPAHU, Hawaii - Honouliuli National Historic Site, as part of its year-long 10th anniversary celebration, is hosting a series of events and activities every month through January 2026.

The park and its over 55 partners will honor and preserve this history by featuring different aspects of the park - past, present, and future - to connect and engage the community to this history. The park tells the story of incarceration, martial law, and prisoners of war in Hawaii during World War II. The incarceration site, opened in 1943, was the largest and longest used incarceration site in Hawaii where U.S. residents and citizens of Japanese and European ancestry were unjustly detained. The camp also held over 4,000 prisoners of war including Okinawans, Koreans, Japanese, and Italians.

Events and activities are a mix of virtual and in-person and includes a speaker series, special tours, book events, pop-up exhibits, film screenings, panel sessions, musical performances, youth and school initiatives, and a statewide art exhibit. Many events will be free through the park's partnership with its non-profit organization, Pacific Historic Parks.

The latest information on all events and activities are on the park's website, www.nps.gov/hono. Also visit the park's Facebook (www.facebook.com/honouliulinps) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/honouliulinps).

October events:

Virtual talk: Heavy Lifting History: Reflections on Resource Management and Creating a Preservation Landscape at Honouliuli National Historic Site. Generations of human inhabitants can modify and change landscapes over time. Jay Sturdevant, the former integrated resources management leader at Honouliuli National Historic Site, will present the long-term process of creating a preservation landscape that balances conservation of those landscapes with visitor access. Sturdevant currently serves as superintendent of Scotts Bluff and Agate Fossil Beds National Monuments in western Nebraska. He brings over 25 years of experience in archeology and heritage management in national park units from Hawaii to the Atlantic coast. Jay will contextualize Honouliuli National Historic Site within its historic landscape and explain the ways that the park is actively working to create a landscape focused on preserving the essential elements of history for future generations to engage and connect to the stories at Honouliuli.
When: Wednesday, October 15 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: This is a free virtual talk. However, registration is required to get the link for the talk.

Film screening: Removed by Force tells the unique story of 1,500 Japanese Americans in Hawai'i that were evicted from their homes, but not incarcerated, during World War II. The film screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Carole Hayashino, president emerita of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i, William Kaneko, the former past chapter president of the Honolulu Japanese American Citizens League, and writer-director Ryan Kawamoto of Kinetic Productions.
When: Sunday, October 19 at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Museum of Art (900 Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96814). Though free, ticket registration is required.

Virtual talk: Past, Present, and Future: The Role of Agriculture as part of Historic Preservation. Join current Superintendent Christine Ogura, former University of Hawaii West Oahu professor William Belcher who led archaeological work at the park, and Bayer Hawaii's Alan Takemoto who played a critical role to establish the park, as they share about the important role agriculture played in the creation of the camp, its establishment as a national park, and future preservation of the site.
When: Wednesday, October 29 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: This is a free virtual talk. However, registration is required to get the link for the talk.

Table Event at the Kahuli Festival. Honouliuli National Historic Site is joining the 4th annual Kahuli Festival to bring the community a table event opportunity to learn more about the connection to shells and those incarcerated at Honouliuli. The festival brings together the community of research and conservation partners, along with artists and cultural practitioners.
When: Saturday, October 25 from 3:00 p.m.
Where: Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, HI 96817

Honouliuli National Historic Site Traveling Pop-Up Exhibit: The Kahuku Public and School Library will be the home of Honouliuli National Historic Site's traveling exhibit. Visit their library to learn about the history of Honouliuli and what work has been done on the site since its discovery.
When: Entire month of October
Where: 56-490 Kamehameha Hwy, Kahuku, HI 96731

Photos and videos are available for download. The park and its partners are available for interviews and news segments.

Programs are subject to change or cancellation without notice.

-NPS-

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