The Wall That Heals at UH West Oʻahu

The Wall That Heals (TWTH) will be at UH West Oʻahu from January 14-19, 2026. This exhibit features a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. and provides thousands of veterans who have been unable to cope with the prospect of facing The Wall to find the strength and courage to do so within their own communities, thus allowing the healing process to begin. 

This will be The Wall’s first visit to Oʻahu. In recognition of the special opportunity for reflection around the Vietnam War, and the broader impacts of war and conflict, the Library will be extending its hours during the exhibit’s visit. Community members are welcome to visit the Library to rest, reflect, and engage with materials that provide historical and local context.

Extended Library Hours

Our hours during the visit of TWTH will be:

  • Wed, January 14 | 8am – 7pm
  • Thu, January 15 | 8am – 7pm
  • Fri, January 16 | 8am – 7pm
  • Sat, January 17 | 10am – 7pm
  • Sun, January 18 | 10am – 7pm
  • Mon, January 19 | 10am – 2pm

The Library’s regular Spring hours are listed here. There will be limited circulation services during the special extended hours listed above (e.g., from 4:30-7pm on Wed, January 14). Items from our Loanable Technology Collection can only be loaned out during normal operating hours.

What You’ll Find in the Library

In collaboration with the Center for Labor Education and Research (CLEAR) and ʻUluʻulu: The Henry Kuʻualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive of Hawaiʻi, visitors can explore various stations throughout the Library while The Wall That Heals is here, and in the days preceding and following its visit. These may include:

  • Archival video highlights from ʻUluʻulu’s collections related to the Vietnam War and its broader context. [ʻUluʻulu Entryway]
  • An archival exhibit curated by CLEAR, “The Wall Called the Cold War,” which explores the forces of colonialism, capitalism, communism, and local working class labor movements. [Library Entryway, First Floor]
  • Guided prompts for reflection and conversation
  • Recommended reading lists (books available in the Library, plus electronic resources)

This is a trailer for the ʻUluʻulu clip reel.

Exploring Library Materials

We recommend that you start with a featured materials collection our librarians curated about Vietnam — including Vietnamese culture and history, as well as the Vietnam War. Electronic resources within the collection are limited to use by those affiliated with UH West Oʻahu. Print materials can only be borrowed by those affiliated with the UH System, though they can be viewed while inside the library.

View the Collection

Special Events

Listed below are campus events that complement The Wall That Heals exhibit and provide additional space for learning, dialogue, and reflection. All events are free and open to the public.

Ah Quon McElrath: The Struggle Never Ends

Friday, January 16, 2026 from 12:30 – 2:30 PM
ʻUluʻulu Theater Space

Join us for a film screening on AQ McElrath, a Chinese American woman, social worker, and organizer for Hawaiʻi’s International Longshore Worker’s Union (ILWU). Her story documents what was happening to Hawaiʻi’s working class during the time leading up to the Vietnam War, and what it took to organize a labor movement. Filmmakers Chris Conybeare and Joy Chong-Stannard will provide insight on the context of the film and its relevance to current events.

On the first floor of the UHWO Library, CLEAR will also present an archival exhibit, “The Wall Called the Cold War,” as commentary that bridges the film with The Wall That Heals. This supplementary exhibit will be available from Monday January 12-19, 2026.

Register to Attend | Event Flyer

The Weight of Memory: Native Veterans and Vietnamese Perspectives on War

Saturday, January 17, 2026 from 3 – 5 PM
ʻUluʻulu Theater Space

This screening and panel discussion centers on historical context, lived experience, and the importance of dialogue among communities shaped by war and its enduring consequences. The program features Hunting in Wartime, a documentary that profiles Tlingit veterans from Hoonah, Alaska who served during the Vietnam War and reflects on combat, trauma, relationships with Vietnamese civilians, and the complexities of serving a government that has long oppressed Indigenous peoples.

Through the film and facilitated discussion, this program creates space to consider how war reverberates long after it ends for individuals, families, and communities. It also explores how memory, survival, and responsibility are understood differently from Native and Vietnamese perspectives. Together, the screening and panel encourages reflection, conversation, and deeper understanding of war’s enduring human impact.

The filmmaker will share a preview of a new documentary currently in development, offering additional context about these themes and underscoring the importance of this ongoing work.

Register to Attend | Event Flyer

Planning Your Visit

  • Map
    • Campus Map | Link
      • TWTH will be on the Great Lawn.
      • The Library is B-Building, directly adjacent to the Great Lawn.
    • Library Maps | Link
  • Parking: Parking is free in any designated parking stall in the main parking lot.
  • Restrooms: Restrooms are located on the first floor, in the library lobby. Additional restrooms are on our second floor, on the same side of the building.

Campus Partners

Several UHWO units contributed to the planning and programming associated with The Wall That Heals visit to our campus. For visitors who would like to learn more about these units and their ongoing work, including public programs supported through UH Foundation accounts, additional information is available below.

TWTH Website

thewallthathealsoahu2026.org

Visit the official exhibit website for the latest information related to its visit to UH West Oʻahu, including volunteer opportunities and the exhibit sponsors.

Visit the Website

Updates

This page will be updated as additional information and program details are confirmed. Last updated: January 12, 2026

Jump to

© James & Abigail Campbell Library at the University of Hawaiʻi - West Oʻahu