Roosevelt’s “Tree Army” Takes Root in Hawai‘i: The Story of the Civilian Conservation Corps and Hawai‘i National Park

When:
July 29, 2019 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
2019-07-29T19:00:00-10:00
2019-07-29T20:30:00-10:00
Where:
Lyman Museum
276 Haili St. Hilo
HI 96720

Evening Presentation:

In the early years of our nation’s Great Depression, presidential candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt promised a “new deal” to help put Americans back to work.  In 1933, President Roosevelt initiated a series of programs to spur relief, recovery, and reform of the national economy.  One of the first programs established was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which focused on engaging unemployed young men in agricultural and conservation projects.  Known as the “Tree Army,” the CCC provided young men with jobs on public lands across the country.  The National Park Service was charged with developing such projects, which ranged from fire prevention to erosion and insect control, trash cleanup, reforestation, landscape maintenance, and construction.  The CCC reached the Hawaiian Islands in January 1934 with the establishment of two camps in Hawai‘i National Park, the main one at the Kīlauea Section and a smaller one at Haleakalā.  In exchange for their participation, enrollees were housed, fed, clothed, given medical care, and paid $30.00 per month.  Over a period of seven years the CCC built or reinforced much of the park’s infrastructure.  In 1941 and 1942 these efforts were especially important, as many of the emergency war projects needed by the military were completed.  The legacy of the CCC lives on, since many of the facilities built by these men are still used by park visitors and staff today!  Join Dr. Jadelyn Moniz Nakamura, HVNP Integrated Resources Manager and Science Advisor, to learn more about this fascinating piece of local and national history, on two occasions:  Monday evening, July 29, and the following afternoon, July 30.

Admission to these wonderful programs is free to Museum members, and $3.00 for nonmembers.  Please support the Museum by becoming a member, and enjoy all Saigo Series programs, all year round, at no charge!  Seating is limited; first come, first seated.  ON MONDAY EVENINGS ONLY, additional parking is available next door at Hilo Union School, Kapiolani St. entrance; park, then walk through our green gate in the rock wall

On Monday evenings, doors open at 6:30PM.  E komo mai!

 

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