THE WAR, directed and produced by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, tells the story of World War II through the personal accounts of a handful of men and women. Intimate human dimensions of the worldwide catastrophe that touched the lives of every family on every street in every town in America are explored — demonstrating that in extraordinary times, there are no ordinary lives.

PBS Hawaii proudly presents the Hawaii Legacy to honor the past and salute the generation of men and women that made the sacrifice for the promise of Hawaii's future.

"The Second World War was so massive, catastrophic and complex, it is almost beyond the mind's and the heart's capacity to process everything that happened and more important, what it meant on a human level." —Ken Burns

By Arnold Hiura
Special to PBS Hawaii

Simply put, none of us who were born after World War II will ever be able to fully embrace the enormity of that event. While all wars are horrific and any loss of life great, no event since World War II has so totally involved the world in as much chaos and bloodshed — from Europe to Asia and throughout the Pacific — as did "The War." So massive was the devastation that we will never know exactly how many, but historians estimate that some 60 million people died in The War —including about 20 million soldiers and 40 million civilians — 60 million.

In addition to the destruction, suffering and loss of human life, The War profoundly impacted the American way of life. Besides having loved ones who were either drafted or who volunteered for active duty, nothing was normal for those who remained at home. Imagine all of our prized civil liberties stripped away and replaced by strict military rule; imagine civilian jobs being frozen, schools closed, goods rationed, and blackout policies and curfews enforced — not for weeks or months, but for four long years.

The totality in which the war enveloped our country is what inspired filmmaker Ken Burns to take as bold and unconventional an approach to this documentary series as he does, featuring almost at random the stories of people from four prototypical mainland American towns. Predictably, Burns' strategy has drawn some criticism for its omissions. Honolulu, for example, is not amongst the four towns.

"How can you attempt to tell the story of World War II and not start in Hawaii?" many will say. Others, however, will argue that Burns should be credited for so deftly challenging us to find someone, anyone, who was alive in America at the time who was not profoundly affected by the War.

Perhaps the truest measure of The War's magnitude is how it so dramatically transformed the nation and world. Here in Hawaii, The War shaped the social, economic and political landscape of the Hawaii that we know today.

Consider, for example, that the 1940 census recorded a population of 245,135 males in Hawaii. Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, tens of thousands of young men from Hawaii enlisted and were shipped out to bases on the U.S. mainland and to fight in Europe and the Pacific. In their absence, over 500,000 soldiers from the outside of Hawaii were based in the Islands at the height of the war. Hawaii would never be the same again.

Following the war, local men and women who had never left their rural plantation towns prior to The War returned from far-flung points on the globe as worldly veterans and in some cases even national heroes. Educational opportunities made available by the G.I. Bill of Rights opened doors that had been previously closed to most. The rise of organized labor, bold entrepreneurs, and a shift in political power were all outcomes of The War.

While the generations born after The War can never understand or appreciate it completely, this film event provides what may be the last best opportunity for Boomers, Gen. X-ers and Gen. Y-ers to better learn and embrace the lessons of The War — without having to repeat the horrors of it.

Share your story with others on the PBS Hawaii Story-Sharing Site.

Locally Sponsored By:

In conjunction with THE WAR, PBS Hawaii is proud to present these related productions:

• The First Battle
  September 13, 8:30 p.m.
• Most Honorable Son
  September 17, 9:00 p.m.
• In Time of War: The Japanese-American Experience in World War II
  September 23, 7:00 p.m.
• Journey of Honor
  October 4, 8:30 p.m.
• An Untold Triumph
  November 1, 8:30 p.m.

PBS Hawaii will ensure that local stories are told and perspectives are represented by:

• dedicating two Island Insights to the subject,
• airing related locally produced documentaries
• featuring an engaging series of video segments,
• and hosting community outreach events:



Arizona Memorial Museum Association. September 8.



USS Missouri Overnight Encampment (a sleepover) for 6th and 8th grade classes from Nanakuli, Molokai and Parker Schools. September 15.