HVNP to Screen Free ‘Sister Park’ Films

Photo of Kalaupapa peninsula, Kalaupapa National Historical Park, courtesy of Tylor Tanaka.

Sister park movies will be shown at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park beginning this month as part of the park’s centennial year, along with 100 years of the National Park Service.

The films will be shown for free to raise awareness of other national parks in the state and throughout the Pacific Islands.

Below, you will find a list of films and their scheduled show dates. All shows will play at the Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium:

The Soul of Kalaupapa: Voices of Exile

Friday, March 18 at 7 p.m.

The 52-minute film by Fred E. Woods shows what life was like for the patients and residents of Kalaupapa, removed from their families because of the fear and stigma of leprosy (Hansen’s disease). Today, Kalaupapa National Historical Park on Molokai shares the history and culture of the people and places of Kalaupapa’s past.

Note: The Soul of Kalaupapa will also be shown for free at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo on Wed., March 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Science and Technology Building (STB) 108.

Liberating Guam: The U.S. Comes Back

Friday, May 20 at 7 p.m.

Learn the significance of the War in the Pacific National Historical Park in Guam, established in 1978 as a tribute to those who fought and died during the Pacific Theater of World War II. The 30-minute film reveals the aggressive Japanese expansion into the Pacific region during the war, and due to its graphic nature, may not be suitable for younger audiences.

Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau: Place of Refuge and HiStory: Hawai‘i Island’s National Parks

Friday, June 17 at 7 p.m.

Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau is where ancient Hawaiian lawbreakers and defeated warriors once found sanctuary. Today, the park provides a sanctuary for Hawaiian culture. HVNP invites everyone to watch two films that highlight Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park: John Grabowska’s 16-minute film Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau: Place of Refuge and Brad Watanabe’s 12-minute documentary HiStory: Hawai‘i Island’s National Parks.

The showing takes place on the eve of the Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park festival.

Haleakalā: House of the Sun

Friday, August 5 at 7 p.m.

Maui’s Haleakalā and Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes on Hawai‘i Island were once the same park: Hawai‘i National Park. Discover Haleakalā National Park in the 51-minute film. Meet the dedicated rangers who share their knowledge and respect for Haleakalā National Park, which was established in 1961, its natural treasures, and the deep connection to Hawaiian culture perpetuated here.