#martin luther king jr.

The 28 photographs — half of which had never been seen before — offer a rare visual account of Hawaiʻi’s participation in the march in Alabama led by Martin Luther King Jr., honoring the role of the islands in the United States civil rights movement.

The contributions to the nationwide initiative are 111 World War II letters corresponding with Lt. Col. Farrant L. Turner, first commanding officer of the historic U.S. Army 100th Infantry Battalion, and 28 photos memorializing Hawaiʻi’s role in the famous 1965 Selma to Montgomery March led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The community is invited to celebrate the life and vision of Martin Luther King Jr. on Sunday at the 39th Annual Kona Community Celebration at the Maka’eo Pavilion at Old Kona Airport.

“Today, we honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, a mortal man with an immortal dream.”