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Hawaii Historic Arms Association
Karen Rapoza, as a World War II technical specialist, and
Tory Laitila, as a 1790s naval officer, show uniforms
associated with the military.

Costumes,
reenactments part
of military’s ‘Day’

By Burl Burlingame
Star-Bulletin

You can read about wearing wool in the tropics, but until you've experienced it yourself, it's impossible to describe. However, you can ask the military reenactors who are making history come alive this weekend at the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii to try.

"Living History Day" running 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, will feature ancient Hawaiian warriors, a Civil War encampment, U.S. Army reenactors from several long-gone conflicts, a Korean War MASH tent, restored military vehicles, modern soldiers and equipment, insignia and militaria displays and even bagpipers.

The free event caps Military Appreciation Week. It is also a kind of flight test for a planned general-interest history event called the Pacific History Festival.

The event is sponsored by the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii, the most-visited army display in the United States, and situated in the historic Battery Randolph coast-artillery fortress in Fort DeRussy.

"It certainly seemed like an appropriate thing to do on what is considered Armed Forces Day," said museum director Tom Fairfull. "It's a way of serving the educational needs of the community and the military, and having some fun at the same time."

Parking is available across the street.

Participants include the Hawaii Civil War Roundtable, Hawaii Army National Guard, the Hawaii Historic Arms Association, the Hawaii Military Vehicle Preservation Association, the Hawaiian Thistle Pipe Band and Pakuiaholo, a Hawaiian fighting-arts organization that also helped dedicate the Kukalepa memorial sculpture at the museum entrance last year.

For information, call 955-9552 or 438-2825, or go online at http://www.pacifichistory.com/PHFFILE/LHD.HTML

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