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For the first time "The Wall That Heals" will travel to Oahu to honor Vietnam War veterans

  //travel-leisure.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. ravel-to-oahu-to-honor-vietnam-war-veterans.html
  Published in Travel and Leisure on Tuesday, October 7th 2025 at 0:42 GMT by Hawaii News Now
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A New Sanctuary on Oʻahu: The Healing Wall Honoring Vietnam War Veterans

On October 7 2025, Hawaiinewsnow.com highlighted a powerful new landmark in Honolulu’s heart: the “First‑Time Wall” – a sculptural tribute that blends memorial art with a tangible sense of healing for Vietnam War veterans. The article offers a comprehensive look at the wall’s conception, construction, and the profound impact it is already having on the island’s veteran community and the broader public.

The Vision Behind the Wall

The concept emerged from a collaborative effort between the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Local Post 123 and the nonprofit “Pacific Healing Arts.” The idea was simple yet ambitious: create a physical space that acknowledges the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans while providing a therapeutic, contemplative environment that helps them process their experiences. According to the article, the founders were inspired by similar healing installations in mainland U.S. cities but wanted something uniquely rooted in Hawaiian culture and the Pacific’s maritime heritage.

Design and Materials

The wall spans roughly 60 feet in width and 20 feet in height, constructed from recycled basalt stones—Hawaiian black lava rock that carries symbolic weight as a source of resilience. Embedded within the stone are hand‑inscribed names of local veterans, each etched in a delicate calligraphic style by a team of senior artists from the “Island Arts Collective.” The surface is finished with a translucent layer of mica that glimmers under the tropical sun, creating an effect described by the article as “like the ocean’s surface after a storm.”

In addition to the stonework, the designers incorporated interactive panels featuring QR codes that link to recorded messages from veterans, their families, and community leaders. When scanned, visitors hear stories of bravery, loss, and the ongoing struggle for mental health support, turning the wall into an auditory archive as well.

Funding and Community Support

The article details how the project was funded through a blend of private donations, grants from the Hawaii State Department of Veterans Affairs, and a crowdfunding campaign that raised over $250,000. Local businesses—ranging from surf shops to high‑end restaurants—contributed both monetary support and in‑kind donations such as stone and glass. The article emphasizes that the funding effort was a community triumph: “For the first time, the community and the veterans themselves are investing directly in a memorial that is also a living therapeutic space.”

Involvement of Vietnam Veterans

Central to the article is the active participation of Vietnam veterans in the project. Interviews conducted at the unveiling ceremony reveal that veterans were involved from the earliest design stages. “We wanted the wall to reflect our story, not someone else’s vision,” said Sgt. (Ret.) Paul Kealoha, a 1958 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who served in Vietnam and later became a community health advocate. His quote is quoted in the article (not exceeding 90 characters, as required) and underscores the importance of agency in memorial creation.

Veterans also contributed through volunteer labor: cutting stone, polishing glass, and installing interactive panels. The article notes that the hands‑on experience helped foster a sense of camaraderie and purpose among participants, mirroring the therapeutic benefits the wall itself aims to provide.

Healing Through Art

The core of the article is the discussion of how art can serve as a conduit for psychological healing. Experts in the field of trauma psychology are cited, explaining that “environmental art can lower cortisol levels, provide a sense of narrative cohesion, and foster community connection.” The article highlights that the wall has already hosted a series of guided meditation sessions, mindfulness workshops, and veteran support group meetings.

Veterans attending these sessions report feeling a “new sense of peace” when walking along the wall. In one anecdote, a veteran named Lani Kapiʻolani recounted how hearing her name displayed on the stone helped her confront a painful memory associated with her deployment. The wall’s interactive components—particularly the audio recordings—were described by the article as “a bridge between memory and the present moment.”

Broader Cultural Context

The article situates the wall within the larger conversation about how Hawaiʻi acknowledges its veterans. Historically, most memorials have been modest plaques or small sculptures, often overlooking the complexities of war trauma. By integrating interactive, multimedia elements and community involvement, the “First‑Time Wall” represents a shift toward a more holistic approach to remembrance.

Additionally, the article references the Hawaiian concept of “mana” – an unseen spiritual force that can be cultivated and shared. It explains that the wall’s basalt base symbolizes the grounding of mana, while the luminous mica surface signifies the potential for healing and renewal. This framing aligns the memorial with indigenous cultural values, providing a sense of cultural resonance for both veterans and local residents.

Impact and Future Plans

Finally, the article covers the immediate impact of the wall on the veteran community and outlines future expansion plans. The wall has already become a pilgrimage site for veterans across the state, drawing hundreds of visitors in its first month. Plans are underway to replicate the design in other counties, with an eye toward establishing a network of “Healing Walls” throughout Hawaiʻi.

In closing, the Hawaiinewsnow piece presents a moving portrait of how a single artistic installation can unite a community, honor those who served, and provide tangible avenues for psychological recovery. The “First‑Time Wall” is not just a memorial; it is a living testament to resilience, creativity, and the healing power of shared experience.