Pacific Historic Parks

TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND HAWAII'S DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, THROUGH RESEARCH, PRESERVATION, RESTORATION, FUND DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS OF WORLD WAR II IN THE PACIFIC AND OTHER PACIFIC HISTORIC SITES.

PEARL HARBOR NATIONAL MEMORIAL (PHNM)AT PEARL HARBOR (OAHU, HI), ONE OF OUR NATION'S MOST SACRED SITES, SERVES AS A CONSTANT REMINDER OF THE VALOR, COURAGE, AND SACRIFICES OF THE "GREATEST GENERATION" THAT FOREVER CHANGED THE COURSE OF OUR NATION AND THE WORLD. THE SITE IS ENTRUSTED TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ("NPS"), AND IN COLLABORATION WITH PACIFIC HISTORIC PARKS ("PHP"), WE ARE DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL HONOR AND BE INSPIRED BY ALL THAT OCCURRED IN THIS HALLOWED PLACE. OUR ONSITE EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM PROVIDED TO SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN FROM AROUND THE WORLD IS COMPLIMENTED BY OUR FOCUS ON PROGRAMS THAT ARE PLACE-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES, VIRTUAL TECHNOLOGY, AND WORKSHOPS, ALL OF WHICH SUPPORT OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. WE ALSO SUPPORT ONGOING RESEARCH, RESTORATION, PRESERVATION, AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. PHP OPERATES MUSEUM STORES AT ALL OF OUR LOCATIONS AND OFFERS INTERPRETIVE MERCHANDISE THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE MANY WORLD WAR II EVENTS THAT FOREVER CHANGED OUR HISTORY. ALL PROGRAM STAFF ARE TRAINED TO LEAD AND ASSIST IN EDUCATION AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, TECHNOLOGY, AND VOLUNTEER STEWARDSHIP, PHP WAS ABLE TO OFFER UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING ABOUT THE PAST. OUR PROGRAMS REFLECT THE STORIES FOUND AT THE HISTORICAL SITES, WHICH SERVE AS REMINDERS OF ENDURING PEACE AND THE HEALING THAT IS STILL ONGOING. PHP PROGRAMS HAVE ENABLED PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD TO LEARN ABOUT THE PACIFIC THEATER CAMPAIGNS IN WORLD WAR II AT THEIR NATIONAL PARKS. PHP OFFERS AUDIO, VIRTUAL REALITY, AND DIGITAL INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS AT THE USS ARIZONA MEMORIAL. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE AN IN-DEPTH EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE FORM OF VARIOUS NARRATIONS, TEXT, IMAGES, AND VIDEOS. THE PROGRAMS INCLUDE MORE THAN 20 POINTS OF INTEREST AROUND THE PARK AND ON THE USS ARIZONA MEMORIAL. THEY ARE AVAILABLE IN NUMEROUS LANGUAGES THAT SERVE AS A VIRTUAL RANGER, PROVIDING INTERNATIONAL VISITORS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE AND LEARN ABOUT PEARL HARBOR IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE. THIS INCLUDES INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS AVAILABLE ONSITE, ONLINE, AND THROUGH MOBILE DEVICES, AS WELL AS A MIGRATION TO AN INTERACTIVE, GUIDED TOUR. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING A SMART SEARCHABLE ONLINE NATIONAL DATABASE. THIS WILL PROVIDE THE FOUNDATION FOR CONTENT MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC ACCESS, AND ONGOING RESEARCH SOURCES FOR THOSE SEEKING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. IN PAST YEARS, THE ANNUAL VISITOR COUNT AT PHNM AVERAGED 1.8 MILLION. BUT IN 2020, THE PEARL HARBOR NATIONAL MEMORIAL WAS CLOSED FOUR OF THE TWELVE MONTHS DUE TO COVID-19. THAT TRIGGERED A DROP IN ATTENDANCE BY OVER A MILLION PEOPLE. THIS FISCAL YEAR PHNM WAS OPEN ALL 12 MONTHS AND VISITOR COUNTS REBOUNDED, BUT NOT AT THE PRIOR LEVELS. WITH THESE STILL LOWER VISITOR COUNTS THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE FOCUSED ON BUILDING AN UPGRADED VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) PROGRAM. THIS VR UPGRADE HELPED LEVERAGE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES TO FURTHER ALIGN WITH CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. PHP ALSO SUPPORTS THE CURATORIAL PROGRAM AT PEARL HARBOR NATIONAL MEMORIAL. IN ADDITION TO CATALOGING AND PROTECTING DOCUMENTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND OBJECTS IN THE PARK'S COLLECTION, PHP HAS A CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN PLACE THAT SERVES AS A GATEWAY TO HISTORY. IN THE FUTURE THIS TECHNOLOGY WILL ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO SEE SOME OF WHAT EXISTS IN THE ARCHIVES OF THE PARK. DIAMOND HEAD STATE MONUMENT (DHSM), LOCATED IN HAWAII, IS A PHP PARTNER PARK. IT IS AMONG ONE OF THE MOST VISITED SITES IN THE STATE, WITH OVER 1 MILLION VISITORS EACH YEAR. BUT AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS PLUMMETED LAST YEAR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. THE PARK SHUT DOWN IN MARCH 2020 AND REOPENED NINE MONTHS LATER IN MID-DECEMBER 2020. PHP PROVIDES INFORMATION TO VISITORS AND A NARRATED TOUR IN ENGLISH, JAPANESE, CHINESE, KOREAN, GERMAN, FRENCH, SPANISH, AND HAWAIIAN. OUR RETAIL KIOSK PROVIDES INFORMATIONAL MERCHANDISE THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE MANY INTERPRETIVE POINTS WITHIN THE PARK. PHP SUPPORTS KALAUPAPA NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK BY PROVIDING SUPPORT TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO MAKE A DEEPER CONNECTION TO KALAUPAPA AS A SPECIAL AND SACRED PLACE THROUGH HANDS ON WORK, INCLUDING THE CLEANING OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS, REMOVING INVASIVE SPECIES, CLEARING AND MAINTAINING HISTORIC SITES, AND BEACH CLEAN UPS. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THESE OPPORTUNITIES WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR MOST OF THE YEAR BUT ARE READY TO BE REACTIVATED WHEN THE PARK REOPENS. PHP CONSERVES CRITICAL RESOURCES, SUCH AS THE PRESERVATION OF GRAVE MARKERS FOR THE THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS WHO LIVED IN KALAUPAPA, THROUGH REHABILITATION OF THE PALI TRAIL, AND BY PROVIDING A SHELTER TO BE USED AS AN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM FOR STUDENTS UNABLE TO VISIT THE SETTLEMENT. KALAUPAPA CLOSED DOWN IN MID-MARCH 2020 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND IS NOT EXPECTED TO REOPEN AS A VISITOR ATTRACTION UNTIL AFTER THE PANDEMIC IS OVER.

PHP'S RESOURCES, STAFF, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ARE SPENT ON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT PEARL HARBOR NATIONAL MEMORIAL (OAHU), WAR IN THE PACIFIC NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK (GUAM), AMERICAN MEMORIAL PARK (SAIPAN), KALAUPAPA NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK (MOLOKAI), AND DIAMOND HEAD STATE MONUMENT (OAHU). PHP ACCOMPLISHES ITS MISSION THROUGH HOSTING EDUCATION AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT HISTORICAL SITES IN THE PACIFIC FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE PERPETUATE THE HISTORY AND MEMORY OF EVENTS AND PEOPLE WHO LIVED THROUGH AND DIED DURING WORLD WAR II IN THE PACIFIC BY OFFERING GUIDED TOURS, PLACE-BASED LEARNING PROGRAMS, OUTREACH PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS, AND CONFERENCES. ONE SUCH PROGRAM WAS SACRIFICE FOR FREEDOM: WORLD WAR II IN THE PACIFIC STUDENT AND TEACHER INSTITUTE. COORDINATED BY NATIONAL HISTORY DAY, THE PROGRAM IS SPONSORED BY PACIFIC HISTORIC PARKS, PEARL HARBOR AVIATION MUSEUM, PACFIC FLEET SUBMARINE MUSEUM AND THE USS MISSOURI MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION. THIS PROGRAM SELECTED 16 TEAMS FROM 129 THAT APPLIED FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR THE DISTINCTIVE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY, CONSIDER AND REFLECT UPON WORLD WAR II IN A WAY THAT FEW HAVE DONE BEFORE. THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS READ BOOKS, ENGAGE IN ONLINE DISCUSSIONS AND RESEARCH A MILITARY SERVICE MEMBER WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II AND IS BURIED OR MEMORIALIZED AT THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF THE PACIFIC (KNOWN AS PUNCHBOWL) IN HONOLULU. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES AN ALL EXPENSES PAID TRIP TO HAWAII WHERE THEY VISIT PEARL HARBOR AND OTHER SITES ATTACKED ON DECEMBER 7, 1941. IT CULMINATES WITH THE PRESENTATION OF THE TEAMS SILENT HERO EULOGIES AND PROFILES AT PUNCHBOWL CEMETERY. "WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BE WORKING AGAIN WITH OUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS FROM THE PEARL HARBOR HISTORIC SITES TO OFFER THIS EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY," SAID NATIONAL HISTORY DAY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DR. CATHY GORN. "THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS SELECTED FOR THIS YEAR'S INSTITUTE REPRESENT MANY DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. THROUGH THIS INVALUABLE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE, I HOPE PARTICIPANTS GAIN A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THOSE WHO SERVED AND SACRIFICED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF WORLD WAR II, AS WELL AS A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE ESSENATIAL ROLE HAWAII PLAYED IN THOSE OPERATIONS." AN OVERVIEW REPORT ON THE PROGRAM AND THE STUDENT EULOGIES OF THE SELECTED SILENT HEROES ARE FEATURED ON OUR WEBSITE, WWW.PACIFICHISTORICPARKS.ORG. PHP ALSO SUPPORTS THE ANNUAL COMMEMORATION OF THE DECEMBER 7,1941 ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR. ANNUAL EVENTS INCLUDE MEMORIAL CEREMONIES, LECTURES, GATHERINGS HONORING SURVIVORS, AND WORLD WAR II VETERANS. THE DECEMBER 7, 2020 EVENT COMMEMORATING THE 79TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACK WAS VIRTUAL, INCLUDING AN ONLINE FILM FESTIVAL IN THE WEEK LEADING UP TO THE EVENT. PLANNING FOR THE 80TH COMMEMORATION BEGIN THIS FISCAL YEAR WITH A SERIES OF MEETINGS FOR THE MORE EXTENSIVE CEREMONY DUE TO IT BEING THE 80TH. PHP ALSO FUNDED THE TRAVEL AND ACCOMODATIONS FOR THE FAMILY OF A USS ARIZONA SURVIVOR WHO WAS INTERRED ON THE BATTLESHIP DECEMBER 7, 2021. PHP ALSO SUPPORTED THE TRIP FOR TWO ORIGINAL ROSIE THE RIVETERS WHO ATTENDED THE 80TH COMMEMORATION. PHP'S PROGRAMS ALSO INCLUDE THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE MAKE A WISH PROGRAM. FULFILLING THE ONE TRUE WISH OF A CHILD WITH LIFE THREATENING MEDICAL CONDITIONS BY PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN OF THE HISTORY THAT TOOK PLACE AT PEARL HARBOR IS AN IMPORTANT INTERPRETATIVE PROGRAM THAT WE RUN. THROUGH OUR RELATIONHIP WITH MAKE A WISH HAWAII AND OTHER SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS, WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO FULFILL THE WISHES OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE REQUESTED A VISIT TO ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST ICONIC AND HISTORIC LANDMARKS. THE PRESERVATION OF THE PERSONAL STORIES AND EXPERIENCES OF THE WORLD WAR II GENERATION, THROUGH THE ACQUISITION OF ORAL HISTORIES, IS AN INTEGRAL ELEMENT OF PHP'S DEDICATED PROGRAM FUNDING. AS THE NUMBERS OF PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS, MILITARY AND CIVILIAN WITNESSES, AND WORLD WAR II VETERANS DECREASE EACH YEAR, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CAPTURING THEIR VOICES TO ENSURE THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL FOREVER REMEMBER IS CRITICAL. PHP'S MISSION IN GUAM IS TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL EDUCATION AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS FOR THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ON THE ISLAND OF GUAM. OUR PROGRAMS COMMEMORATE THE BRAVERY, COURAGE, AND SACRIFICE OF THOSE PARTICIPATING IN THE CAMPAIGNS OF THE PACIFIC THEATER OF WORLD WAR II. EDUCATION PROGRAMS HOSTED BY PHP TOOK PLACE IN THE FORM OF PLACE-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES, BOOKS, VIRTUAL TECHNOLOGY, WORKSHOPS, AND CONFERENCES. PHP ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATION AND INTERPRETIVE MERCHANDISE IN THE MUSEUM BOOKSTORE. THE MERCHANDISE FURTHER COMPLIMENTS THE MUSEUM EXHIBITS AND 10-MINUTE INTRODUCTORY FILM. PHP GENERATES PROGRAMS AND RESOURCE MATERIAL THAT REACH LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES, AS THE WORLD MOVED INTO A MORE VIRTUAL AND DIGITAL FORMAT DUE TO COVID-19. PHP RECEIVED A 235,000 GRANT FOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THESE FUNDS ARE BEING USED TO ENHANCE THE DIGITAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR GUAM STUDENTS. ONE PROGRAM IS "STORIES OF THE WAR", WHICH BEGAN IN 2020, HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MORE SHORT FILM VIGNETTES PRODUCED FEATURING CHILDREN RECOUNTING THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE ON GUAM DURING WORLD WAR II. THESE SHORT FILMS OFFER INSIGHT INTO THE LIVES OF CHAMORRO PEOPLE DURING THE WAR, PROVIDE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF WORLD WAR II IN THE PACIFIC, AND HIGHLIGHT THE STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF GUAM. PACIFIC HISTORIC PARKS PRODUCED A COLORING ACTIVITY BOOK FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS TITLED, "THE STORY OF WORLD WAR II IN GUAM COLOR AND LEARN BOOK." THE BOOK TEACHES KIDS THE EVENTS ON GUAM DURING WORLD WAR II, ITS LEGACIES, AND HOW THE PEOPLE OF GUAM WORKED TO PRESERVE THEIR PAST, WHICH HAVE CONTINUED TO EMBODY MESSAGES OF SACRIFICE, STRENGTH, HOPE, AND PEACE FOR GUAM'S FUTURE GENERATIONS. WITH GRANT FUNDS, THIS BOOK WAS TRANSLATED INTO THE INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE OF GUAM, CHAMORRO. IT WILL BE USED IN THE CHAMORRO LANGUAGE CLASSES IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS. PHP IS DEVELOPING A GUAM VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) PROGRAM THAT BRINGS TO LIFE THE HISTORIC EVENTS OF THE BATTLE OF GUAM AND ITS IMPACT. THE PROGRAM INCORPORATES STORYTELLING AND AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE TO A BROADER AUDIENCE BY FEATURING STORIES OF CHAMORU PEOPLE. THE STORYBOARD FOUNDATION OF A VR EXPERIENCE THAT TAKES PLACE ON GUAM DURING THE YEARS 1941-1944 HAS BEEN BUILT. INTRODUCTION AND CHAPTER SUMMARIES HAVE BEEN WRITTEN, AND PERTINENT ORAL HISTORIES, PRIMARY SOURCES, PHOTOS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN COLLECTED TO SERVE AS TOOLS IN BUILDING THE VR PROGRAM. THE FRAMEWORK IS SET UP TO DO A VIRTUAL REALITY OF THREE PRIMARY AREAS IN WHICH THE GUAM STORIES WILL BE TOLD: APUTGUAN TO PLAZA DE ESPAA, ATTE, AND THE MALESSO RICE FIELDS. THE GOVERNOR'S YOUTH EMPOWERMENT GRANT WAS AWARDED IN AUGUST 2021 AND WILL BE USED TO CREATE GUAM'S FIRST VR AND BRING IT INTO THE HIGH SCHOOLS IN GUAM. THE "HISTORY TALKS SERIES" IS A VIRTUAL INTERPRETIVE PROGRAM THAT HIGHLIGHTS STORIES OF WORLD WAR II IN THE PACIFIC. HUMANITIES HISTORY SCHOLARS GIVE PRESENTATIONS THAT RELAY THE SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE IN THE MARIANAS DURING WORLD WAR II THROUGH AN ONLINE, INTERACTIVE PROGRAM THAT IS FREE AND AVAILABLE TO AUDIENCES AROUND THE GLOBE. THE SAME HISTORY SCHOLARS ALSO PRODUCE MEANINGFUL ARTICLES TO INCLUDE IN OUR MEMBERSHIP PUBLICATION, REMEMBRANCE. PACIFIC HISTORIC PARKS RECEIVED THE GUAM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY QUALIFYING CERTIFICATE COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF 6,739 TO PRODUCE AN INTERACTIVE DIGITAL PROJECT CALLED THE "GUAM GEOCACHING HAGTA ADVENTURE" USING THE MOBILE APP GEOCACHING ADVENTURE LAB. THE "GUAM GEOCACHING HAGTA ADVENTURE" IS A SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF SEVEN (7) HISTORIC SITES AND/OR MONUMENTS FOUND WITHIN THE CAPITOL OF GUAM. PLAYERS VISIT THE VARIOUS PLACES AND SOLVE A RIDDLE USING CLUES FOUND AT THE SITE. UPON DELIVERING THE CORRECT ANSWER, ACCESS TO A SHORT VIDEO VIGNETTE WILL BE GIVEN TO EXPLAIN IN FURTHER DETAIL WHAT AND WHY THE SITE IS SIGNIFICANT TO GUAM AND ITS PEOPLE. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, PACIFIC HISTORIC PARKS HELPS TO PRESERVE THE GUAM STORY OF WORLD WAR II THROUGH A MODERN, DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT SPEAKS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND TOURISTS/VISITORS TO OUR ISLAND. THROUGH THIS NEW VIRTUAL PLATFORM, PLAYERS DO NOT NEED TO TOUCH OR LEAVE BEHIND ANY PHYSICAL ITEM. THEY CAN PLAY AND LEARN SAFELY ABOUT GUAM'S HISTORY AND CULTURE WHILE ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS. PHP'S MISSION IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANAS ISLANDS (CNMI) IS TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL EDUCATION AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS FOR THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ON THE ISLANDS OF SAIPAN, TINIAN, AND ROTA. OUR PROGRAMS HONOR ALL THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES DURING THE MARIANAS CAMPAIGN OF WORLD WAR II. EDUCATION PROGRAMS HOSTED BY PHP TAKE PLACE IN THE FORM OF PLACE-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES, BOOKS, VIRTUAL TECHNOLOGY, WORKSHOPS, AND CONFERENCES. PHP ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATION AND INTERPRETIVE MERCHANDISE IN THE MUSEUM BOOKSTORE. THE MERCHANDISE FURTHER COMPLIMENTS THE MUSEUM EXHIBITS AND A 27-MINUTE INTRODUCTORY