MEDIA RELEASE

UH-Hilo was a pre-service training site for Peace Corps volunteers, 1962—1972. Photo by John and Peggy Bromley

From 1962 to 1972, parts of the Hawaiian Islands (including remote locations on Moloka`i and the Big Island) became pre-departure training sites for some 7,500 Peace Corps volunteers, who would go on to provide assistance in villages throughout Asia and the Pacific region. “Sending Aloha Abroad” (an official selection for the 2013 Hawai`i International Film Festival) traces Hawai`i’s role in this iconic but often neglected American institution. It also tells the story of thousands of American volunteers who lived and trained in the Islands prior to their Peace Corps service, many of whom would return years later to settle in Hawai`i. On Monday, March 17 at the Lyman Museum, we celebrate the many contributions of Hawai`i residents to the work of the Peace Corps with a screening of this compelling documentary, followed by a Q&A session with the film’s director, Sean Aronson.

The Smithsonian-affiliated Lyman Museum at 276 Haili Street in Hilo showcases the natural and cultural history of Hawai`i. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for evening public programs. Cost is $3; free to Lyman Museum members. Additional parking is available at Hilo Union School. For more information, visit www.lymanmuseum.org.