Hidden deep within an overgrown gulch in Kunia, Oahu, on land that was later donated by Bayer, lay the remains of the Hono‘uli‘uli Internment Camp, one of Hawaii’s largest World War II internment camps.

Once known as jigoku dani or “Hell Valley” by its inhabitants, the internment camp was unique in having detained both prisoners of war and a diverse group of U.S. citizens and resident aliens, including those of Japanese, Korean and European descent. After the war, the camp was bulldozed, leaving historic artifacts and remnants nearly untouched for 60 years.

In 2007, Bayer’s predecessor purchased approximately 2,300 acres of agricultural-zoned land in Kunia, with the knowledge that the remnants of the Hono‘uli‘uli WWII Internment Camp site were located in a gulch on the land parcel. At that time, the company pledged to collaborate with interested community organizations to preserve the historic camp. Together with local community partners, like the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i and the University of Hawai‘i West O‘ahu, Bayer worked towards achieving the highest level of preservation, in hopes of donating the land and establishing the site as a U.S. National Park.

On February 19, 2015, President Barack Obama announced the site would be designated as a new national monument for historic protection, to be preserved in perpetuity as part of the U.S. National Park System. Transferring ownership of the land to the Federal Government was a significant milestone and was the result of years of hard work by numerous individuals and organizations who had been diligently and patiently working, step by step, to make this vision a reality.

Today, Bayer Hawaii continues to work in collaboration with the U.S. National Park Service and community members to honor and preserve the Hono‘uli‘uli National Historic Site for future generations.

Bayer recently featured Carole Hayashino, president emerita of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii (JCCH) and JCCH volunteers, Jane Kurahara and Karen Murashige, on its bi-weekly radio program, Sustaining Hawaii, to discuss the history of Hono‘uli‘uli and share their fascinating personal connections to it.

“The conversation we’re having today is so important for us to reflect on our history. This is exactly what we wanted. This is exactly our goal in preserving Hono‘uli‘uli ,” said Carole Hayashino. “It's having conversations about history and to not be afraid of the mistakes that were made in history, and to learn from the mistakes, and find ways to make amends.”

To listen to the interview in its entirety, please visit https://www.bayer.com/en/us/hawaii-on-air and click on Episode 36: Hono‘uli‘uli National Historic Site.