Hawaii War Records Depository

The Hawaii War Records Depository (HWRD) is an extensive collection of archival materials that document life in Hawaii during World War II.

The bombing of Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, was a pivotal event in World War II, prompting America to enter the war. The bombing and its aftermath dramatically altered the fabric of life in Hawaii, which was placed under martial law and served as the hub for the war in the Pacific.

Showing great foresight, the Territorial Legislature of 1943 passed a resolution authorizing the University of Hawaii to collect materials documenting Hawaii's wartime experiences. The legislature appropriated $10,000 as start-up funds and shortly thereafter, the Hawaii War Records Depository was established at the University Library. Over a five year period, individuals, organizations and agencies throughout the state donated, or loaned for microfilming, correspondence, personal accounts, reports, photographs, scrapbooks, phonograph discs, maps, posters, artwork, pamphlets, newspapers, clippings, memorabilia and other materials.

The Hawaii War Records Depository contains photographs documenting various aspects of life in Hawaii during World War II. The photographs depict military activities in Hawaii and the military's relationship with Hawaii's civilian population during the war. They include photos of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor; military facilities, personnel, and training; civilian defense; civilian and military recreation activities; the USO, RedCross, and other service organizations; the Governor's Work to Win Campaign; ceremonies, parades, and memorials; and life on the homefront, including war bond sales, victory gardens, and salvage drives. Also included are photographs depicting Hawaii's Japanese American veterans, including members of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The HWRD photographs include approximately 1,330 wartime photos from Hawaii's two leading newspapers, the Honolulu Advertiser and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, and over 880 photographs from the U.S. Army Signal Corps and the U.S. Navy, as well as photos from private photographers in Hawaii.

With its diverse range of primary source materials, the HWRD is a significant resource for scholars, students, educators and the general public researching World War II and its impact on Hawaii and the American homefront. World War II remains a popular research topic, and the HWRD is one of the Library's most heavily used and cited archival collections.