The Wall That Heals, a three‑quarter‑scale traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, is rolling back onto Oʻahu this week, setting up at the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu in Kapolei from Jan. 14–19. The exhibit is designed to bring names and stories closer to home for families and veterans, and it will be open around the clock, with a public ceremony planned in the middle of the week.
Organizers say the replica is expected to arrive in Kapolei around 1 p.m. on Jan. 12 for a public preview. An opening ceremony featuring a military flyover and speeches is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Local volunteers and veteran groups will staff the mobile Education Center while the exhibit is open.
What The Wall That Heals Is All About
The Wall That Heals is a 375‑foot, three‑quarter‑scale replica made of synthetic granite that carries the names of the 58,281 Americans who died in the Vietnam War, according to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Traveling with the Wall is a 53‑foot mobile Education Center that features digital "Hometown Heroes" displays, In Memory tributes and exhibits outlining the war’s timeline and its impact on communities.
When And Where To Visit
Per the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System, the exhibit will be on display Jan. 14–19, with VA staff on-site Jan. 14–18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to help veterans with enrollment and benefits information. The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu newsroom reports that the Wall will rise on the Great Lawn and remain open 24 hours a day until it is dismantled on Jan. 19, giving both early birds and night owls a chance to visit.
Local Veterans And Stories
Clarence "Eddie" Freeman, a Marine who served in both North and South Vietnam and co‑chaired the Oʻahu effort, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser the visit "opened up memories and could help veterans get help." The paper notes that Freeman counted 276 Hawaiʻi names on the Wall and singled out James "Kimo" Gabriel as the first soldier from Hawaiʻi listed. Army records cited in the article say Gabriel was killed in April 1962 near Da Nang and was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Education Center And What To Expect
Visitors can make rubbings of names, view locally sourced photo exhibits and explore displays about the war and its aftermath, according to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Schools and community groups are encouraged to set up tours, and partner organizations including AARP Hawaiʻi and local veterans’ groups will host programming while the Wall is on Oʻahu.
How To Visit And Volunteer
Volunteer sign‑ups, group‑tour scheduling and the full slate of events are available through local listings and the event committee’s online pages, according to Hawaiʻi Public Radio. Admission is free, and visitors are advised to check UH West Oʻahu guidance for parking and campus access details during the exhibit’s run.
