President’s Message

Following a more than three-month shutdown due to COVID-19, the Pearl Harbor National Memorial reopened on June 19. The USS Arizona Memorial reopened July 10.

Like so many other nonprofits, Pacific Historic Parks saw its revenues plummet as a result of the shutdown and a shattered tourism market. Now that the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center has reopened, we encourage kama’aina and local military families to rediscover the history in your own backyard. This is the place where World War II began and home to one of our nation’s most iconic war graves. Due in part to social distancing requirements, and less visitors from out of state, the National Park Service has arranged for longer visits to the USS Arizona Memorial. Navy shuttles that used to transport 150 people to the Memorial are now transporting 50. And many weekdays the shuttles have far less than 50. Navy Lt. Eric Moore was among the first guests to visit the Memorial on reopening day. “As you can tell by the lower numbers of people that are being allowed on the Memorial, it’s a lot more personable experience, its safe, and the right precautions are being implemented, and it’s also to some degree more enjoyable as you are going to have more time and less crowded,” Lt. Moore said. At the Visitor Center, guests can rent audio headsets to explore the museums and take the Walk of Remembrance. Our staff reconfigured the bookstore and the audio and Virtual Reality Centers to make these areas safer in this era of a pandemic. We also hope you will become a PHP member and join those who will be listed as supporters on our new digital donor wall on the Visitor Center grounds. Your support in this new so-called normal is vital to our existence as a non-profit.

Due to the slumping travel numbers, we are actively working to bring the stories of World War II in the Pacific digitally to the safety of homes, schools and other museums both here in Hawaii, nationally and internationally. One such effort is our History Talks webinars, launched weeks after the pandemic shut down the five parks under the PHP umbrella. The program is profiled in this issue of Remembrance. Also in this edition, two of our History Talks presenters bring us up to date on historic Kalaupapa. And we will check in on what was done to prepare for the re-opening of Diamond Head State Monument. This issue’s cover focuses on Guam and two unique wartime stories. The first involves two widows of Japanese ancestry who took different paths during Japan’s occupation of Guam. The other is how a Chamorro family discovered a special recognition given to a relative who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. We will also report on the latest on the USS Nevada, dubbed the ”unsinkable” ship after surviving two world wars, including the attack on Pearl Harbor, D-Day, the battle at Iwo Jima, and later being a nuclear test target. We hope you enjoy this edition of Remembrance. Thank you for all your support as we continue to work hard in meeting our mission to Remember, Honor and Understand World War II in the Pacific.

A copy of the latest financial report, registration filed by this organization, and a description of our programs and activities may be obtained by contacting us at: 94-1187 Ka Uka Blvd., Waipahu, HI 96797, (808) 954-8777. Pacific Historic Parks was formed in Hawaii. If you are a resident of one of the following states, you may obtain financial information directly from the state agency:

Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-435-7352 (800-HELP-FLA), OR VISITING www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Florida Registration #CH17306 Georgia: A full and fair description of our programs and our financial statement summary is available upon request at our office and phone number indicated above. Maryland: For the cost of copies and postage, from the Office of the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401. Mississippi: The official registration and financial information of Pacific Historic Parks may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State's office by calling 1-888-236-6167. Registration by the Secretary of State does not imply endorsement. Nevada: Contributions may be tax deductible pursuant to the provisions of sec. 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. ¤170(c). New Jersey: INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CHARITY DURING THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY BY CALLING (973) 504-6215 AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/charfrm.htm. REGISTRATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT. New York:Upon request, from the Attorney General Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 1-919-814-5400. The license is not an endorsement by the state. Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of Pacific Historic Parks may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Virginia: From the State Office of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218. Washington: From the Secretary of State at 1-800-332-4483 or http://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/ West Virginia: West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. Wisconsin: A financial statement of the charitable organization disclosing assets, liabilities, fund balances, revenue and expenses for the preceding fiscal year will be provided to any person upon request. REGISTRATION WITH A STATE AGENCY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THAT STATE. More information about charity state disclosures and charitable solicitation registrations.