In honor of the centennial of Kilauea Military Camp and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea Drama &Entertainment Network presents a look back at the people who were a part of the beginnings of both entities. “Kilauea 1916: A Centennial Celebration of KMC &HVNP” explores the unique partnership between KMC and HVNP that began 100 years ago.
In honor of the centennial of Kilauea Military Camp and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea Drama &Entertainment Network presents a look back at the people who were a part of the beginnings of both entities. “Kilauea 1916: A Centennial Celebration of KMC &HVNP” explores the unique partnership between KMC and HVNP that began 100 years ago.
A group of Hilo businessmen raised the necessary funds to build and operate a permanent camp in 1916 on land owned by Bishop Estate. The camp was to serve as a rest and relaxation facility for military troops as well as a training ground for the local National Guard members. Later that same year marked the establishment of HVNP in August 1916.
“Since the Kilauea Theater is our home, we were honored when KMC asked us to put together a show to commemorate their centennial. We were happy to oblige,” says KDEN Executive Director Suzi Bond.
“There is so much history in the area, we are taking a look at some of the people who were there when it all began — businessmen, politicians, buffalo soldiers and the local Japanese immigrants,” she said.
Dick Hershberger, who portrays Thomas Jaggar in KDEN’s living history program “A Walk Into the Past,” wrote an entertaining look at some of the characters who were a part of the Volcano community as the camp and park became a reality. The show is a series of vignettes where the characters tell their stories, narrated by a reporter having a conversation with Jaggar’s wife, Isabel, as she is preparing to board a ship in Honolulu to take her back to Hilo and her Volcano home. On the dock are musicians playing the music of the era.
Other characters in the show include Lorrin Thurston, Gov. Walter Frear, Cpl. Ovid Smith, George Lycurgus, Mitsue Tanaka, Shizuka Yasunaka and Hidechi Yasunaka. Members of the cast include Arlene Araki, Stephen Bond, Bill Chikasuye, Teresa Christian, Hershberger, Joel Kelley, Steve Peyton, Ray Ryan and Samantha Saiki.
Karl Halemano is coordinating the music with Hal Tredinnick, Jade Tredinnick and Mars Halemano
“Kilauea 1916: A Centennial Celebration of KMC &HVNP” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 28 at KMC’s Kilauea Theater, 99-252 Crater Rim Drive in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door.
For reservations or more information, call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com.