Japan's first theme park opened in Iwaki in Jan. 1966, (Courtesy, Joban Kosan Co.)

The original 'hula girls' for the theme park were coal miners' daughters, (Courtesy, Joban Kosan Co.)

An aerial view of the original Hawaiian Center complex in Iwaki, (Courtesy, Joban Kosan Co.)

The Joban coalfield in Iwaki was one of Japan's largest, (Courtesy, Joban Kosan Co.)

The resorts, 52 kilometers south of the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant, has gradually expanded since opening in 1966, October 25, 2012. (Steve Herman/VOA)

The resort runs its own complimentary bus to bring guests from Tokyo, a three-hour drive, October 25, 2012. (Steve Herman/VOA)

The majority of the third generation of hula dancers still come from Iwaki, October 25, 2012. (Steve Herman/VOA)

Only about one third of those auditioning to join the hula troupe annually are accepted, October 25, 2012. (Steve Herman/VOA)

Resort guests join dancers on stage for a hula lesson, October 25, 2012. (Steve Herman/VOA)

Mutsumi Kudo says after the 2011 disaster she and the rest of the hula dancers no longer take for granted having an audience, October 25, 2012. (Steve Herman/VOA)

A performer eating fire on stage at Spa Resorts Hawaiian in Fukushima prefecture, October 25, 2012. (Steve Herman/VOA)

Besides hula dancers the resort's Polynesian-themed shows also feature local young men trained to perform with fire, (Steve Herman/VOA)

Line forms prior to the 10 a.m. daily opening of the water park, October 25, 2012. (Steve Herman/VOA)

A giant dome maintains the air temperature at 28 degrees Celsius inside the water park, October 25, 2012. (Steve Herman/VOA)

Water slides are a major attraction at the 46-year-old resort, October 25, 2012. (Steve Herman/VOA)

A young woman comes to the end of her ride on a water slide, October 25, 2012. (Steve Herman/VOA)

Resort safety director Takeshi Namatame is on the grounds daily with a geiger counter, (Steve Herman/VOA)

A reading of 0.11 microsieverts per hour on the grounds of the resort is around the level prior to the March 2011 reactor meltdowns, October 25, 2012. (Steve Herman/VOA)

Preparing a food sample for radiation testing at the Iwaki resort, October 25, 2012. (Steve Herman/VOA)