Cahill, who joined the National Park Service in 1966, served as ranger Yosemite, Glacier Bay, Katmai and Haleakala National Parks and was later director of the Alaska and California State Park Systems, as well as the Deputy Director of Washington’s State Parks.

He also will speak about the origin of the National Park idea (during the administration of Abraham Lincoln!) and about the origin of State Parks in Washington.

Cahill, who is of Native Hawaiian ancestry, also writes fiction about the people of Hawaii and Western North America. He and his wife reside in Olympia.

A question and answer session will follow his program.