19-4074 Old Volcano Rd
Volcano, HI 96785
USA
Thursday Night at the Center: After the Attack: Life in Hawaiʻi Under Martial Law
Join Ben Hayes on Thursday, December 7, 2023 | 6pm, at VAC Niaulani Campus
December 7, 1941 is known throughout the world as a day of infamy but the Japanese attack on Oahu not only brought the U.S. into World War II, it began a series of sudden and unprecedented changes here, on the Island of Hawaiʻi, for its people and society. In response to the attack, the territorial government placed the Hawaiian Islands under martial law, a regime so restrictive and unconstitutional as to be unimaginable today. At the same time almost a million soldiers, sailors, and Marines arrived in Hawaiʻi to train and fight. The sudden and continuous arrival of so many young men triggered massive construction of military facilities and exposure of multiracial Hawaiʻi to the harsh realities of North American racial prejudices common in the 1940s.The Japanese attack on December 7, 1941 brought the United States into World War II but what happened next changed Hawaiʻi forever.
This evening is part of a once-a-month Thursday night series at the Volcano Art Center, focusing on art, Hawaiian culture, and our environment. The series is intended to inspire and enhance your appreciation of art and life experience while fostering community connections. This presentation is free, although a donation is greatly appreciated.