War in the Pacific National Historical Park is located on the tropical island of Guam, approximately 13 degrees north of the equator and about 3,300 miles southwest of Hawaii. On Guam there is an embracing "hafa adai" attitude that welcomes visitors and makes the island a friendly travel destination and a unique place to live in the United States.
While Guam is only 212 square miles, the island is rich in history. Only hours after Pearl Harbor was attacked, the Japanese began aerial bombings on Guam. After two days of strafing, the Japanese came ashore and hours later the naval governor surrendered the American territory. The island remained under Japanese control for 31 months until July 21, 1944 when the United States returned and liberated the island. Many lives were lost and the suffering was great for all those involved in the battles on Guam and throughout the Pacific theater. In order to remember the United States' and Guam's involvement in World War II, War in the Pacific was established in 1978 to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of those participating in the campaigns of the Pacific Theater of World War II and to conserve and interpret outstanding natural, scenic, and historic values and objects of the island of Guam.
While the park is most noted for its historical resources, the warm climate, sandy beaches, and turquoise waters beckon visitors and residents to discover and rediscover the island's history, environment, and recreational opportunities.
As a result of the devastating effects of Supertyphoon Pongsona, War in the Pacific has been without a museum, contact facility, or administrative offices since December 2002. Management objectives for the upcoming year are to develop a new contact facility for park visitors, establish new administrative offices for park staff, and identify a curatorial facility.
The interpretation division is increasing its interpretive tours and outreach programs to schools, and is active in local and national events such as Earth Day and National Public Lands Day. The Cultural Resource Division will conduct a 200 acre archeology survey within the park, and will continue its commitment to maintaining and rehabilitating existing cultural resources--such as its monuments and historical structures. The park will complete a Cultural Landscape Inventory of Asan and Agat beaches, and finish its first Administrative History. The Natural Resources division is actively conducting studies to document sedimentation on the island's coral reefs and documenting the effects of wildfire on tropical savannah grasslands, so the park can establish best management practices for reducing erosion. As participants in a nation-wide coral reef monitoring program, the park is dedicated to long-term monitoring of Guam's coral reefs, and is committed to completing comprehensive inventories of the park's flora and fauna.
Together with the Government of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Arizona Memorial Museum Association, the National Park Service recently made it a priority to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Saipan and Liberation of Guam. Events occured on Saipan and Guam in 2004 to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of those who served and perished in the Pacific Theater of the war. Events included monthly educational programs, island-wide interpretational programs, exhibits, wreath laying ceremonies, and parades.