Dr. Jaggar returns to Volcano

Dick Hershberger appears as Dr. Thomas Jaggar in KDEN’s Living History Program at HVNP “A Walk into the Past.” (Courtesy photo/Special to West Hawaii Today)
Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

After a two-year hiatus, Kilauea Drama and Entertainment Network (KDEN) is pleased to announce that the Living History Program “A Walk into the Past” with Dr. Jaggar is returning to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park starting today.

“A Walk into the Past” features local actor Dick Hershberger as Dr. Thomas Jaggar the founder of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. The nationally acclaimed program takes place near the Whitney Vault just below the Volcano House in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The year is 1939, and after 27 years as founder and director of Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Jaggar is forced to retire and is moving to Oahu to be on the faculty of University of Hawaii. Jaggar explains why his mission is to save lives through the study of volcanoes around the world.

This program was started in 2005 by the late writer/actor/director Peter Charlot. In 2012 the program was revamped and Hershberger took over as Jaggar. The show has evolved from the original setting in 1912 just before the Bosch-Omori seismograph was installed in Whitney Vault to where it is today. Hershberger’s knowledge of Jaggar’s story and the geology of the volcano make the program engaging as well as informative.

“A Walk into the Past” takes place on Fridays at 10 a.m., and noon, through most of May and will appear on a regular basis starting on June 10. Those interested can pick up free tickets at the Kilauea Visitor Center on the day of the event.

For more information, call KDEN at (808) 982-7344