Maui Veterans Hiroshi Arisumi and Hideo Takahashi Interviewed for Daniel K. Inouye History Project

By Patsy Y. Iwasaki

Patsy Y. Iwasaki (left), faculty member of the University of Hawai’i at Hilo, and Filmmaker Danny Miller (right) with the Daniel K. Inouye Institute, interviewed 442nd RCT veteran Hideo “Pakala” Takahashi at the NVMC last October. Photo: Baron Sekiya.

Volume 23, Issue 1, April 2016

B E C A U S E O F Y O U I A M . . .

Kazuichi Hamasaki received France’s highest decoration, the Legion of Honor award,

at a special ceremony held after the worship service at the Wailuku Hongwanji Mission on Oct. 4, 2015. The award was presented to Hamasaki in recognition of his service in the liberation of France during World War II.

Hamasaki joined 18 other 442nd veterans from Maui who

were also honored with the award in January 2015.

Hamasaki fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during the Battle of the Lost Battalion, where he assisted in transporting the wounded 442nd soldiers as well as soldiers from the rescued Texas Battalion down the dark treacherous slopes of the Vosges Mountains.

“Kazu felt that it was important to join his fellow

Kazu Hamasaki ReceivesLegion of Honor Award

(Left to right) Daughter Teri Hamasaki, wife Grace Hamasaki, Legion of Honor award recipient Kazuichi Hamasaki and Leonard Oka. Photo: Kyle Watanabe

Continued on page 13

“Well, I figured, somebody’s got to go, and I thought to myself, ‘I go.’ You know, volunteering for the 442nd was just like

a one-way ticket,” said Nisei Veterans Memorial Center President Emeritus Hiroshi Arisumi in an interview last October at his home in Kula, Maui.

“Those of us that came back, you know, lucky we came back… Gee, how in the world I didn’t get hit,” wondered Arisumi, who was a general carpenter in the 232nd Engineer Combat Company of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT).

Hideo “Pakala” Takahashi of Company E, 2nd Battalion of the 442nd RCT, was also interviewed and filmed last year at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center (NVMC) for the Daniel K. Inouye Institute (DKII) oral history project.

Like all of the young, enthusiastic men volunteering for service when the United States entered WWII after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Arisumi and Takahashi courageously put their lives on the line and were sent to battle in Europe.

Continued on page 12

2 – April 2016

Okage Sama de ...The Okage Sama de… newsletter is a free publication issued by the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center.Articles, questions and comments may be sent to Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, P.O. Box 216, Kahului, HI 96733-6716.We encourage family and friends to submit information and photos to our “Lest We Forget” column.

The NVMC Mission:The NVMC ignites human potential by inspiring people to find the hero in themselves through the legacy of the Nisei veterans.

The NVMC Vision:We envision a community where all people act selflessly for the greater good.

The NVMC Values:Being selfless for the greater good.Leading by example.Living in gratitude.Inspiring courage in adversity.Doing the right thing, always.

Board of DirectorsBrian T. Moto, President Roy Katsuda, Vice President Beryl Bal, Secretary Paul Mizoguchi, TreasurerDirectorsDavid FukudaGlenn GoyaHideo KawaharaMark MizunoDwight MuraokaNelson OkumuraSaedene OtaScott SakakiharaYuki Lei Sugimura

Hiroshi Arisumi, President Emeritus Leonard Oka, Director Emeritus

Melanie Agrabante, Office ManagerKyle Watanabe, Historical Preservation & Education Program Coordinator

Nisei Veterans Memorial Center Address: 1 Go For Broke Place, Wailuku Hours: Noon to 4 p.m. weekdays Phone: (808) 244-NVMC (6862)

Website: www.nvmc.org

As president, I am pleased to announce the completion of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center's (NVMC) Strategic Plan

2016-20 by its board of directors. Developed with the able assistance of consultant Linda Morgan, the plan sets our organization on a thoughtful path for the future.

Our refreshed mission, vision and core values are inspirational and challenging. These organizational principles are intended to make our work relevant and meaningful to generations that have little or no memory of World War II or Nisei history. They will guide us as we seek to serve and inspire all people.

In coming years, you will hear more about how the NVMC ignites human potential by inspiring people to find the hero in themselves through the legacy of the Nisei veterans. You will also witness the development of programs and events

that create a community where all people act selflessly for the greater good.

In the early implementation stages of the strategic plan, the NVMC will focus on four primary goals:

• Recruitment and emplacement of a new executive director;

• Expansion of board capacity by analyzing needs and developing a board recruitment plan;

• Begin research and development of values-based curricula and programs consistent with “Finding the Hero in You” and “Ignite the Human Potential;”

• Research and pursue grant opportunities to fund education and outreach programs.To help achieve these goals, the

board has retained the services of another person of enormous talent, energy and imagination—Barbara Watanabe, former NVMC executive director. Barbara has already begun work on this ambitious enterprise. We look forward to new programs, events and accomplishments.

a message from the president of our board | Brian T. Moto

Finding the Hero in You

“Honoring the Hero in You!” is the theme for the 13th Annual Nisei Veterans Memorial Center dinner on Friday, Nov. 4, at the King Kamehameha Golf Club. Nisei Veterans and their wives (or widows) can purchase tickets for the special price of $25 each. General admission tickets are $125 per person for adults and $20 for children 6 to 11 years of age. Corporate tables are $1,750 each. At this year’s dinner, NVMC will honor our young heroes for the work they achieve in the community. A nominating committee is spearheaded by Ashley Takitani Leahy, Grant Nakama and Royce Fukuroku. This year’s dinner will reflect NVMC’s new mission statement: To ignite human potential by inspiring people to find the hero in themselves through the legacy of the Nisei veterans.

Annual NVMC Fundraiser

3 – April 2016

Earl Tanaka, a veteran of the 522nd Field Artillery, was the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center’s (NVMC) first

newsletter editor. In 1991, Leonard Oka asked the retired editor of The Maui News to assist with the launching of “Okage Sama De” in October 1991. The original four-page publication was printed on 8½-by-14-inch paper.

Tanaka was hired as a cub reporter for The Maui News fresh out of high school based, in part, on the paper’s familiarity with his submittals about the Paia Boys Athletic League activities. He rose quickly to sports editor.

In 1943, he left The Maui News and volunteered for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Assigned to the 522 Field Artillery Battalion, Tanaka served as radioman in HQ Company throughout the war.

At the war’s end, he offered to put together “High Angle,” the 522nd’s weekly newsletter.

One of his goals was to mention the names of all 522 members of the unit in the newsletter—something

he accomplished by September 1945, when the men were sent back to the U.S.

Once back on Maui, Tanaka returned to his job at The Maui News as its sports editor. He was soon promoted to news editor, then to managing editor.

Tanaka passed away at age 74 in 1997.

Earl’s son, Roy, carried on his father’s work, helping to publish “Okage Sama De” through 2015.

“My dad’s last issue was June 1996 (V5, issue 1),” said Roy.

Roy’s published his first OSD in October 1997 (V6, issue 1).

The NVMC thanks the Tanakas for their invaluable contributions over these past 23 years, gathering and disseminating information about the veterans and the center to our family of supporters.

Information about Earl Tanaka was taken from his oral history interview ( July 12, 1995), which is on file at the center.

My former boss, Charles

Keyes, would repeatedly ask me, “What’s the plan for this client?” Being new to the Nisei Veterans Memeorial Center (NVMC) board, I also

asked, “What’s the plan? Do we have one?”

Having proposed the question, I was assigned chair of the strategic planning committee by NVMC President Brian Moto. As part of the strategic planning

process, the board will review our mission, vision and values, as well as chart out our organization’s path over the next four years.

We started by seeking out stakeholders within and outside the organization to give us honest feedback on where we were and where we might go as an organization. After weeks of individual interviews and surveys, a clearer picture began to emerge.

Those familiar with the NVMC said that the Americans of Japanese ancestory (AJA) WWII experience was a great story of selfless courage. Some NVMC participants cited its service with the collaboration of the Maui Adult Day Care Center and the Kansha Preschool. Others held up the completion of the

educational-archival center.There were also challenges. While we

have a great story, it was not reaching the general public. Many outsiders knew of our existence, but didn’t know what exactly we did. Other respondents politely questioned our relevance in the community.

One of the largest issues facing NVMC is the aging of our veterans. The passage of time threatens to encapsulate the stories of the veterans into pages of a history book or a vault. And a significant segment of our financial support might disappear along with the veterans.

How do we continue to be of service and remain relevant in the community that the veterans fought to preserve?

Mrs. Irene Inouye, the wife of the late

NVMC’s New Strategic PlanningBy Scott K. Sakakihara

Scott SakakiharaPhoto: Nagamine Photo Studio

Earl Tanaka was the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center’s first newsletter editor. Photo: Earl Tanaka family

Mahalo to Okage Sama De’s Editors

Continued on page 4

4 – April 2016

Logo Refresh

New board member Saedene Ota presented the Nisei Veterans Memeorial Center

(NVMC) board with the phrase “to find the hero within ourselves,” which inspired a new mission statement and an update of the NVMC logo.The new mission statement uses the

concept of courage and heroism that would be forward looking and resonate

beyond the Americans of Japanese ancestory community. The new mission statement is: “The NVMC ignites

human potential by inspiring people to find the hero within themselvest hrough the legacy of the Nisei Veterans.”

The updated logo is an expanded version of the original logo

that better represents the many facets of the NVMC. The center is not only a memorial, but also an active,

productive and nurturing environment. With the partnership of Maui Adult Day Care, Kansha Preschool, and now, the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust Peace Park, NVMC is truly about bridging generations.

We honor the past, learn from our respected elders and create a promising future through an integrated synergy of multiple generations.

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, suggested that we might best honor the legacy of the using the experiences of the veterans.

One of our newest initiatives is about creating a leadership program using their experiences.

The Army taught its officers to lead from behind where it was safe, but men like Inouye led their troops from the front. We want to inspire young people to lead by example, to be courageous, to do the right thing and to be selfless for the greater good.

New board member Saedene Ota presented us with the phrase “to find the hero within ourselves,” which inspired a new mission statement around the concept of courage and heroism that would be forward-looking and resonate beyond the AJA community.

Our new mission statement is: The NVMC ignites human potential by inspiring people to find the hero within themselves through the legacy of the Nisei Veterans.

We want to help future generations find the hero within themselves. In this way, the stories of the veterans and their sacrifices will remain relevant for generations to come.

On Sunday afternoon, Sept. 27, 2015, veterans, families and friends attended the annual Joint Memorial

Service at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center (NVMC). In the largest gathering in several years, over 100 attendees paid tribute to the Maui soldiers who never returned from the World War II European campaign over 70 years ago.

The Joint Memorial Service, organized by Jill Ross, included music by the Kahului Union Church Chancel Choir led by Pearl Nishino. Elizabeth Fellows and Scott Sato also performed. The invocation and benediction was conducted by Pastor Robb Finberg. A tribute to Katsuyoshi Hamamoto, who was killed in action, was presented by David Fukuda.

Hamamoto was NVMC board member Scott Sakakihara’s uncle.

Floyd Nagoshi served as the master of ceremonies.

Guest Speaker Scott Fisher, director of conservation of the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, spoke of his kama‘āina roots, his love of the community and his deep appreciation for what the Maui Nisei contributed to Hawai‘i—both in battle

and after the war. This appreciation began at age 10

years, when his fascination with World War II led to a special bond with Suguru Takahashi, who was a member of the 442nd and worked with Scott’s dad at HC&S.

Years later, while serving in the

Joint Memorial Service Honors WWII Veterans

Saedene OtaPhoto: Nagamine Photo Studio

Scott Fisher, director of conservation of the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, was a former marine and had close relationships with veterans as a child. Land adjacent to the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center was given to HILT to preserve and develop into a Peace Park. Photo: Melanie Agrabante

Continued on page 16

Strategic PlanningContinued from Page 3

5 – April 2016

The Maui’s Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans (MSDNV) wanted to start off 2016 with a bang!

Realizing that there were many Sansei on Maui who could contribute their skills, knowledge and time to perpetuating the story of the Nisei soldier, the board wondered how they could capture this enthusiasm.

Issei are born in Japan, their children born in the new country are Nisei (second generation) and their grandchildren are Sansei (third generation).

Many sons and daughters, grandchildren, relatives and friends have shown their love and respect for the veterans’ military contribution by attending special events, most notably the Congressional Gold Medal award ceremony in 2012 and the French Legion of Honor presentation in 2015.

The MSDNV board of directors asked, “Why are a lot of these younger children, grandchildren and relatives not currently involved in the MSDNV as active members?”

In response to that question, plans began for a special membership event that might generate interest within this large pool of potential members; the membership workshop was held on Jan. 23, 2016, at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center (NVMC) Education Center.

The event started with a welcome by MSDNV President Leonard Oka and NVMC Historical Preservation and Education Program Coordinator Kyle Watanabe.

First on the program was a short documentary by David Ono called Unknown Warriors. It provided both an educational and emotional beginning to a great session.

Next on the program was a veterans' forum featuring Harold Okumura of the Military Intelligence Service and Hiroshi Arisumi of the 442nd Regimental

Combat Team’s 232nd Combat Engineer Company.

Sansei Kyle Watanabe and David Fukuda led the discussion with the veterans.

With sadness, Okumura reminisced about his duties as an interpreter during the Battle of Okinawa. Although it was a painful experience for him, he was willing to tell his story so that others could understand the bitter pain of war.

Arisumi focused on the accomplishments of the 232nd, an engineering company responsible for providing infantry units with continued access to important fields of battle.

The next speaker was 2014 Chrysanthemum

Festival Queen Devynn Leigh Kochi. Devynn shared the history of the

Nisei generation through her senior project at King Kekaulike High School.

As a Chrysanthemum Festival contestant, she wrote a short essay about the Nisei soldiers’ values and was awarded the first place. Continuing her interest in the Nisei story, her senior project included two information panels and a video from her interviews with

Maui’s Sons & Daughters of the Nisei Veterans Hold Educational Workshop and Luncheon By Leonard Oka

Nelson Kina (left) and Kyle Watanabe (right) display KIA Shomatsu Kina’s burial flag. The flag has 48 stars representing the 48 states in existence when Nelson's uncle was killed in action during WWII. Photo: Melanie Agrabant

Charles “Chuck” Hirata- displays 442nd RCT unit colors. Photo: Melanie Agrabante

Continued on page 6

6– April 2016

men and women with varied experiences during WWII. (For more about Devynn and her project, read “Chrysanthemum Festival Sparks Idea for Senior Project” on page 9.)

The highlight of the workshop was the “Share and Tell” session. MSDNV members and guests were asked to bring items of interest from their personal collections.

They brought photos, medals, army accessories, equipment and other souvenirs—their keepsakes and memories from a very important time, usually from a very special person in their lives.

Also found in their collections are books, documents, video documentaries and recorded oral histories—many by men who have already passed from this world, but not from the memories of their friends and family members.

It is very important that members of the MSDNV leave their

own legacy of the Nisei soldiers’ story by encouraging their own generation and future generations seek and share the stories of their fathers.

The NVMC’s archival storage serves as a repository for many more items donated by veterans and their families to assure security for memorabilia so that the NVMC Education

Center can continue to “Share and Tell” the Nisei story for many years to come.

The day ended with a light lunch, a “name” bingo game, and a quiz on the history of the NVMC put together by Wataabe.

Those who attended left with a new and inspired appreciation for our Nisei father’s legacy and the understanding that the responsibility of our generation is to add value to that legacy.

Those wishing to become a member of the MSDNV are encouraged to contact Oka at (808) 249-2163, (808) 385-7670 or via email to leonard@mutualunderwriters.com.

Floyd Nagoshi shared the collection of his father,

Noboru Nagoshi, Company E, 442nd RCT.

Photo: Melanie Agrabante

Educational WorkshopContinued from Page 5

Nelson Kina holds the burial flag presented to the family of his uncle, KIA Shomatsu Kina. Kyle Watanabe, historical preservation and education program coordinator at the NVMC Education Center, holds a framed photo of Sho-matsu Kina. Photo: Melanie Agrabante

7 – April 2016

The queen of the 63rd Chrysanthemum Festival is Jaelyn Domingo, 16, of Kula, a junior at King Kekaulike

High School and the daughter of Jasmine and Rolyn Domingo.

She was crowned at the Japanese cultural event held on Dec. 5, 2015, at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center in Wailuku.

The princesses are Aimee Nathan, 16, of Kahului, a junior at Maui High School and the daughter of Wendy K. Nathan; Mealani T. Nako, 16, of Kula, a junior at Seabury Hall and the daughter of Sidney and Diane Nako; and Dayna Tamiko McGinnis, 16, of Wailuku, a junior at Baldwin High School and the daughter of Kelly and Joni McGinnis.

Essay ContestQueen Jaelyn was escorted by Thomas

Hayashi, a Seabury Hall senior. They also were the winners of the girls and boys categories of the annual essay competition for contestants and their escorts.

This year’s essay topic was the Japanese value of on. “On” means obligation, being indebted to someone for kindness, favor, care and help. It connotes a lifelong debt of gratitude.

Essays addressed each writer’s understanding of the concept of on, how on played a role in the lives of Nisei men as they entered and fought in World War II, and how on could be a useful value to adopt in the writer’s life.

Cash prizes were awarded to the entrants, who also received the Go For Broke! Memories of Hawaii Japanese Niseis DVD.

The documentary was made by Hiroyuki Matsumoto of Kyushu, Japan. He is a supporter of the Kansha Preschool, which partners with the Maui Adult Day Care Center in the Intergenerational Center at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center (NVMC).

Contestants Raise FundsThe queen of the annual festival is the

contestant who raises the most money,

through ticket sales and donations, for Maui’s Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans (MSDNV).

MSDNV co-sponsored the 2015 event with the County of Maui.

Proceeds support MSDNV’s historical preservation projects, which are conducted with the NVMC, and scholarships, given in partnership with Maui Americans of Japanese Ancestry Veterans Inc. Last year, $1,000 scholarships were awarded to 11 graduates of high schools on Maui.

Contestants also represent MSDNV and the NVMC at various events throughout the year.

Coronation, PerformanceThe feature of the annual event is the

coronation and the court’s traditional ballroom dance performance. The festival also offers exhibits, demonstrations, entertainment and dinner.

Princesses Aimee, Mealani and Dayna were escorted by Dyllen-Jaye “DJ”

The court of the 63rd Chrysanthemum Festival included (from left) escort Chayse Tamaki and Princess Dayna Tamiko McGinnis, escort Dyllen-Jaye “DJ” Caoile and Princess Aimee Nathan, Queen Jaelyn Domingo and escort Thomas Hayashi, Princess Mealani Nako and escort Tom Shuster. Photo: Nagamine Photo Studio

Chrysanthemum Festival Queen Crowned

Continued on page 8

8 – April 2016

Caoile, Tom Shuster and Chayse Tamaki, respectively. Along with Queen Jaelyn and her escort, Hayashi, the couples attended weekly sessions with ballroom dance instructors Jeffrey and Lydia Dela Cruz to prepare for the performance.

The festival was created as the Chrysanthemum Ball, a ballroom-dance affair, by the Maui AJA Veterans Inc. as a way to fund its community service in areas such as youth sports and scholarships. The veterans group was formed as soldiers returned from Europe and the Asia-Pacific areas after World War II.

In 2007, the event name was changed to Chrysanthemum Festival to reflect its focus on Japanese culture. The following year, the veterans group turned the event over to the MSDNV.

Attendees were invited to participate in the festival’s opening odori dance.

Entertainment at the 2015 festival included Kumu Hula and Nā Hōkū Hanohano winner Uluwehi Guerrero, singing his Nani Kamakura for a performance by one his dancers, Pauline Brown, and Japanese dancer Lynn Araki-Regan.

Mika Yamazaki performed Edo Kotobuki Jishi, a lion dance of Old Tokyo. Karaoke singer Yumi Takedatsu and Zenshin Daiko, led by Anthony Jones, also entertained at the event.

Cultural activities included the Rev. Shuju Inamura of Pā‘ia Mantokuji Mission demonstrating calligraphy, the Mokichi Okada Association presenting mini-flower arrangements and the King Kekaulike High School Japanese Club’s fan decorating activity.

Background InformationThe MSDNV has sponsored the event

since 2008. The first 55 editions were presented by Maui AJA Veterans Inc., which was formed in 1947 as soldiers returned from military service during World War II.

Nisei refers to the second generation of Japanese-Americans; most of the veterans are Nisei.

The veterans wanted to continue their camaraderie, serve their community and honor fallen comrades of the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team and Military Intelligence Service.

Over the years, the veterans group contributed in numerous ways to the community, including through Pony League baseball and swim meets.

It continues to support the NVMC and provide scholarships to students of all ethnic backgrounds.

As the core group of veterans aged and became less able to present events such as the Chrysanthemum Festival, the Maui AJA Veterans Inc. turned over the event to the MSDNV, so the younger group could use its proceeds for historical preservation work and scholarships.

The MSDNV's historical preservation efforts include the collection of memorabilia, documents, photographs, etc., and an oral history project, all of which are housed at NVMC. The MSDNV's other programs include sponsorship of NVMC exhibits, support for and participation in the national Go For Broke Education Center’s Hanashi oral/video history project and organizing events such as the annual 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team Joint Memorial Service.

In 2007, when the name of the Chrysanthemum Ball was changed to Chrysanthemum Festival to reflect its focus on Japanese culture, the event retained its ballroom dancing element, a tradition of the event.

The court members and their escorts perform during the coronation portion of the program.

MSDNV and Maui AJA Veterans Inc. are nonprofit entities, as is the NVMC, which is on Go For Broke Place at the intersection of Kahului Beach Road and Waiehu Beach Road.

The center is a living memorial to the AJAs who served in World War II.

Its first phase opened in summer 2006, housing an intergenerational center that includes the Kansha Preschool and the Maui Adult Day Care Centers Ocean View Facility.

The final phase—the Education Center—opened in April 2013. It includes an archives and facilities to allow educational and research activities.

For the past five years, the Chrysanthemum Festival committee has offered contestants—and more recently, their escorts—the opportunity to write an essay based on one of the core values that guided the Nisei soldiers throughout their lives.

Nisei values previously offered as essay topics included (in Japanese) gaman (perseverance), ganbari (persistence), sekinin (responsibility) and kansha (gratitude).

“We have asked the contestants and their escorts to submit essays in the hopes that they will attain an understanding and appreciation for the values that guided the Nisei generation,”

said Gary Nakama, co-chairman of the Chrysanthemum Festival.

For the most recent Chrysanthemum Festival, held on Dec. 5, 2015, the Japanese word “on” was selected. “On” means obligation; being indebted to someone for their kindness, favor,

Chrysanthemum Festival Essays Explore Nisei Value: Obligation

“The work the Nisei soldiers put in for our country is a debt that can never be repaid.”

Continued on page 17

Chrysanthemum FestivalContinued from Page 7

9 – April 2016

Devynn Leigh Kochi’s new passion is learning and preserving the history of the Japanese-Americans during World War II.

Devynn Leigh Kochi, a senior at King Kekaulike High School, created a transcript, banners and video as part

of her senior project, “Forget-Me-Not,” that focuses on the experiences of nine Maui residents during World War II, including two veterans.

Devynn chose her project after participating in the Chrysanthemum Festival in 2014; she was selected to be the festival queen. That experience sparked her interest in learning more about World War II.

One of her interviewees was her grandmother, Ethel Asato, who gave Devynn a deeper understanding of her family history.

Devynn said that all the interviewees had stories that were interesting and educational.

“I have gained a passion to learn and preserve the history of the Japanese-Americans during World War II,” Devynn said.

She also wants to educate the community and youth about constitutional rights in America.

Her banners and video were displayed in the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center Education Center from Jan. 23 to 28, 2016. During this period, she received comments from the exhibit’s visitors, later incorporating them into her project.

She also presented her project during an educational workshop and social sponsored by the Maui Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans. Several attendees commented that Devynn’s presentation was refreshing and inspiring.

“I’m very proud of Devynn Leigh,” said Wendy Arisumi Higa. “She did an

excellent job on her senior project. She showed the different perspectives by interviewing civilians who lived through World War II and veterans who fought in the war.”

Kyle Watanabe, historical preservation and education program coordinator, assisted Devynn with her banner

and video presentation in the Education Center.

“It was a pleasure working with Devynn,” Watanabe said. “Through her efforts, several more stories of Maui residents were revealed and documented for future generations.”

She will donate the transcript, banners and video to the Education Center after her senior project has been reviewed and accepted.

Her plans for the future include attending college on the

mainland and majoring in Asian studies with a minor in Japanese and Korean languages.

She is considering a career as an interpreter in business, hospitality, education or government fields.

Devynn’s parents are Kevin and Cindy Kochi of Pukalani.

Chrysanthemum Festival Sparks Idea for Senior ProjectBy Kyle Watanabe

Devynn Leigh Kochi at a Maui's Sons & Daughters of the Nisei Veterans event. Photo: Devynn Leigh Kochi.

Interviewees for Devynn Leigh Kochi’s senior project included her grandmother, Ethel Asato, seen here with Devynn. Photo: Kyle Watanabe.

10 – April 2016

In the last issue of “Okage Sama De,” I mentioned that Judy and I visited U.S. cemeteries in France and Italy. In this issue, I am writing about a gravesite we had visited—probably the

most visited European plot of a 100th/442nd member—that of Major John “Jack” Johnson. Johnson is buried in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy, south of Rome.

When Susan Muroshige was putting together the 100th Infantry Battalion Veteran Education Center website (www.100thbattalion.org), she asked the veterans which officers they would like her to include. Major Johnson’s name was mentioned most often. It is likely that many 442nd veterans are unfamiliar with Johnson’s name, as he was a KIA (killed in action) well before the 100th and 442nd joined forces in Italy. Neighbor Island students who attended the University of Hawai‘i (UH) may have heard of Johnson and may have even been residents of the campus’ Johnson Hall. But most know little about the 100th Infantry officer for whom the hall is named.

Johnson was born in Los Angeles, California, on June 9, 1914. His family moved to Hawai‘i, where he attended Punahou School from elementary through high school and continued his education at UH, where he became known for

his athletic prowess. He captained the Hawai‘i Rainbows football team as a halfback and punter, leading the team to a perfect 6-0 season, including a victory over the University of California, Berkeley, in the New Year’s Day Classic. He was also the ROTC commandant in his senior year.

When Pearl Harbor was bombed, Lt. Johnson was activated and assigned to Kaua‘i before being shipped off with the 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate) to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. The local boys in the unit all knew of the UH football player who could punt a football 70 yards. Comfortable and friendly with the Nisei soldiers, he and his new bride, the

former Elizabeth Sinclair Knudsen of Koloa, Kaua‘i, would host social gatherings at Camp McCoy and Camp Shelby.

Elizabeth recalled a comment made by a Nisei officer who asked her to dance. He said it was the first time he had ever danced with a Caucasian, to which she responded, it was her first dance with an Asian (Markrich -100th website).

While in combat in Italy, the lieutenant was promoted to the rank of captain, temporarily taking command of the 100th Battalion when Gen. Gillespie took ill from stomach ulcers. He was promoted to major before he was wounded in Pozzilli on Nov. 5, 1943.

Major Johnson returned to the unit a month later, as they approached Cassino. On Jan. 25, 1944, Major Johnson and the 100th Battalion commander, Major Duey, requested that Capt. Mitsuyoshi Fukuda (my father) return from the front line to battalion command post (CP) to lead them to the battlefront to assess the situation. On route, Major Duey and Johnson encountered mines and were hit by machine gun fire.

A description of what transpired was included in Capt. Fukuda’s letter to Col. Farrant Turner, the original commanding officer of the 100th Battalion. Dad had returned to the continental United States on leave from the war front in March, 1944 (seeing me for the first time), when he penned this letter which is posted on the 100th Battalion website):

“As soon as it got dark, I started back for the CP to get some information and give them the situation. Was told that... was in command and Marshall had ordered him to go up front to look over the situation personally. He ordered Jack to go with him, plus a wire crew, and an aid man and two litters.

When Pearl Harbor was bombed, Lt. Jack Johnson was activated and assigned to Kaua‘i before being shipped off with the 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate) to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.

Major Jack Johnson A 100th Battalion Hero...By David Fukuda

Continued on next page

11 – April 2016

The Unlikely Liberators, on exhibit at the Nisei Veterans Memorial

Center's Education Center from Nov. 10, 2015, to Jan. 30, 2016, attracted over 700 visitors. It was the Education Center’s fifth special exhibit since it opened in 2013.

The exhibit, curated by Eric Saul, former curator of the Army Museum at the Presidio, featured the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, an all-Nisei unit formed with the 442nd

Regimental Combat Team during World War II, and its role in freeing Jewish prisoners from the Nazi concentration camps at Dachau, Germany.

Also featured was a four-century-old Torah scroll from Czechoslovakia loaned to the center by the Maui synagogue in Kīhei.

Particularly gratifying was the number of students who were able to view the exhibit.

Visitors included 25 students and faculty members

from Hui Malama, 59 students and faculty members from Seabury Hall, eight students and faculty members from King Kekaulike High School and 22 members of the Punahou JROTC unit who visited Maui for Maui Madness. (See “Punahou JROTC Members Participate in Maui Madness” on page 14)

Comments included:“An important message

U.S. citizens need to know and understand.”

“Very touching and educational.”

The exhibit was also seen by 16 Korean War veterans.

“A good number of visitors knew about the Dachau concentration camps and sub-camps, but did not realize that the 522 Field Artillery Battalion was part of that story,” said Kyle Watanabe, historical preservation and education program coordinator at the Education Center.

Unlikely Liberators Exhibit Viewed by Over 700 Visitors

Following were listed on the exhibit’s “Mahalo and Acknowledgement Poster” Eric Saul, Visas for LifeNisei Veterans Memorial CenterHiroshi ArisumiDavid and Judy FukudaGlenn E. GoyaDiane OrikasaKitty YeeYuki-Lei SugimuraLyman MorikawaMaui Sons and Daughters of the Nisei VeteransJewish Congregation of Maui

Wendie M. SchwabRabbi David GlickmanNisei Veterans Legacy CenterWes DeguchiPhyllis HironakaVIP FoodserviceNelson OkumuraSae DesignSaedene OtaLeeAnn Nomura MatsuiHawaii Air CargoBrian SuzukiAlaska AirlinesMaui No Ka Oi MagazineRita GoldmanAce PrintingLloyd Komoda

The NVMC would like to express its gratitude to those who helped make this exhibit a success:Eric SaulBrian Suzuki, Hawaiian Air CargoNelson Okumura, VIP FoodservicePhyllis Hironaka, Nisei Veterans Legacy Center, HonoluluWes Deguchi, Nisei Veterans Legacy Center, HonoluluAlaska Airlines Maui Beach Hotel

Rabbi David Glickman & Wendie Schwab of the Jewish Congregation of MauiDiane Orikasa, Maui Sons and Daughters of the Nisei VeteransStaff and board members of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center and Maui Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans

Arigato gozaimasu!

Jack JohnsonContinued from previous page

“We started off in the pitch black night to my position, wad-ing through mud and ditches until we hit the minefield. I told the others to hold it while I looked for the path that Shimogaki had made. Just then, a burst of machine guns swept us and hit Jack and Dewey. Koda of the wire crew ran and hit a mine. Jack called me, saying he was hit pretty badly. I called the aid man and told him to work on Jack while I looked for the others. Couldn’t find Dewey.

“Found the path and went up to the company to get another aid man and a litter crew to take Jack out. Sakae and his gang were ready to pull back, so I asked them to help as litter bearers. They managed to evacuate everyone except Jack.

“Sent another crew out to get Jack and one of the boys hit a mine about a yard away from Jack, which must have hit Jack again. It must have been around midnight when the aid man finished and finally got Jack on the litter. Took four hours to go through 400 yards of mud and hit the forward aid. He was still alive then, but from the forward aid to the rear aid was another mile of mud and water, and he died when he got to the rear aid.”

Prior to being deployed overseas, Johnson had made a request—should he be killed in combat, he asked his wife to have his body buried where he died.

John Alexander Johnson Jr. was laid to rest at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy, Plot G Row 15, Grave 30, at the age of 29.

12 – April 2016

Takahashi and Arisumi are both recipients of the distinguished Legion of Honor medal, the highest decoration given by the country of France.

As a combat engineer, Arisumi’s job was to clear enemy blockades and minefields, build roads and

bridges, and lend assistance on other construction projects by rebuilding what had been destroyed by the Germans.

The 232nd Engineer Company was the only non-infantry unit of the 442nd to earn a Distinguished Unit Citation for building a supply road during the Lost Battalion Campaign in the Vosges.

Takahashi, a senior at Lahainaluna High School when he volunteered, was assigned to the 3rd Platoon, Company E of the 2nd Battalion. Takahashi’s unit was also awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its heroic actions during the rescue of the Lost Battalion. Armed with an M1 rifle and a handful of grenades, Takahashi bravely charged forward with his platoon and captured the entire enemy force.

Takahashi has also received a Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Silver Star Medal.

Although Takahashi’s memory is fading, he still remembers Officer Dan Inouye during the height of a battle in France.

“Well, when he came into our old platoon, he told me he knew me already because he was from second platoon, but now he’s in third platoon as an officer, as a leader… so he told me, ‘Pakala, you take your squad. I want you to lead your platoon down to the village,’” Takahashi recalled. “On the way down to the village, when I hit the wooded area, the Germans threw the mortar barrage and I think five of my men—five of us—got wounded and landed in the hospital. When I came back, he [Inouye] wasn’t in the platoon any more… he had been wounded and had already gone to the hospital.”

Under the direction of DKII Executive Director Jennifer Sabas, Arisumi and Takahashi were among a number of veterans interviewed because of their close association with the late senator. The institute was established several months after Sen. Inouye’s passing to support the telling of his story and honoring of his legacy in order to inspire the next generation of leaders.

The oral history initiative will be a complement to the archiving of Sen. Inouye’s papers and will help tell the senator’s story via his family, friends and colleagues in Hawai‘i, the nation and the world.

The DKII is committed to an honest discussion of issues and stories, especially those related to the 442nd RCT, which was such an important and vital part of the senator’s life and provided direction for his career.

Arisumi grew close to Inouye after the war when he settled back on Maui.

“After the war was over, I got to know him,” Arisumi said. “We became real good friends and whenever he came this way,

he used to drop in.”“We also talked to him at all the 442nd functions in

Honolulu—at annual meetings and all that,” said Arisumi, who kept a box of articles and memorabilia about Inouye.

Arisumi kept this collection because, “I thought he was a great man,” he said.

Arisumi followed Inouye's political career after the war, cutting and keeping articles about him— even if they were just one paragraph long.

Arisumi was instrumental in the creation and operation of the NVMC on Maui, having served as board president for 23 years.

“I wanted to be sure that Maui would have something like this,” said Arisumi of the impressive complex that today focuses on the legacy of Nisei veterans with its education center, and serves the needs of the community with its preschool and adult day care facility.

Thank you to both Arisumi and Takahashi for the interviews that will be digitally available in the Inouye video and media collection at the Henry Guigni Archives at the University of Hawai‘i West O‘ahu.

NVCM President Emeritus Hiroshi Arisumi was interviewed and filmed for the Daniel K. Inouye Institute by Patsy Y. Iwasaki, faculty member of the University of Hawai’i at Hilo and Filmmaker Danny Miller. Photo: Baron Sekiya.

Interviews: Arisumi and TakahashiContinued from Page 1

13 – April 2016

Visitors and Japanese Consul General Yasushi Misawa and his wife, Yoko, (right) view the Unlikely Liberators exhibit. Photo: Melanie Agrabante

Japanese Consul Gen. Yasushi Misawa and his wife, Yoko (cen-ter), are seen here with NVMC board members Beryl Bal (left) and (right) Paul Mizoguch. Photo: Melanie Agrabante

veterans in obtaining this award,” said Hamasaki’s wife, Grace. “He was really touched when he received the medal in the mail.”

The program was officiated by David Fukuda and Howard Ikeda, co-chairmen of the

Legion of Honor exhibit recently displayed at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center's Education Center.

Daughter Teri Hamasaki shared a touching letter written for the occasion by Kazu’s only granddaughter, Ashley.

Also participating in the

ceremony were Leonard Oka, president of Maui’s Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans, who presented the award to Hamasaki; Wes Wong, who unveiled the Legion of Honor poster of Hamasaki; and Rev. Shinkai Murakami, who offered the blessing.

Note: Nisei Veterans Memorial Center will assist any WWII veteran who served in France with the French Legion of Honor application. Call the office at 244-6862.

Kazu HamasakiContinued from Page 1

Japanese Consul General Yasushi Misawa and his wife, Yoko, view the Unlikely Liberators exhibit. Photo: Melanie Agrabante

Japanese Consul Gen. Yasushi Misawa and his wife, Yoko, flew to Maui from Honolulu for a visit to the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center (NVMC) on Nov. 5, 2015. He said the trip came together after he received an email from NVMC and the latest issue of “Okage Sama De” on the same day. Consul Gen.

Misawa and his wife, who has worked with young children, were quite impressed with Kansha Preschool.

They also visited with Tom Yamada, honoring his 101st birthday. Yamada was in the 100th Battalion, then selected to be in the Military Intelligence Service in WWII.

Japanese Consul General Visits NVMC

14 – April 2016

An excited group of youngsters from Kansha Preschool entered Jan Matsushita’s King Kekaulike High

School classroom on Jan. 21, 2016.The 13 keiki were there to thank King Kekaulike’s Advancement Through Individual Determination (AVID ) students and members of the school’s Japanese Club for their volunteer work in

making a $5,000 Weinberg Foundation grant to Kansha possible.

Though their Educating the Heart program, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation provides grants to participating high school students who contribute more than 100 hours of volunteer work to nonprofit agencies in their community.

Kansha hosted a pizza lunch for the students, followed by the preschoolers delighting the King Kekaulike audience by singing Happy Birthday in Filipino and the ABC song. The children also distributed gift packs to each of the King Kekaulike students, thanking them for their contribution.

Kansha Pre-Schoolers Thank King Kekaulike High School Students

King Kekaulike High School Advancement Through Individual Determination students and Kansha preschool students. Photo: David Fukuda

Nineteen members of the Punahou JROTC were overnight guests at the Maui Adult Day Care Center's Ocean View facility when they participated in Baldwin High School’s Maui Madness on Nov. 21, 2015. The event included 30 teams from 12 Hawai‘i schools.

Led by Lt. Col. Robert Takao and three adults, the participants competed in various individual and team events promoting physical fitness, esprit de corps, teamwork and self-confidence.

During downtime, the Punahou

students also participated in work projects around the center, including touching up donor plaques and polishing the railings around the adult care center.

Before leaving on Sunday morning, the young men and women had the opportunity to visit the Education Center, where they received an orientation of the Nisei veteran story and viewed the Unlikely Liberators exhibit.

Punahou JROTC Members Participate in Maui Madness

Continued on page 16

Punahou JROTC cadets (left to right)Lindsey Young, Tiana Li and Ann Yoshimura. Photo: David Fukuda

The Kansha Preschool board of directors has selected Charlene Drose as its new director/teacher

beginning with the 2015-16 school year. A lifelong Maui resident, Drose has been a member of Kansha’s staff since December 2014.

The daughter of a Korean War Marine veteran, she is married to Daniel Drose, a Hale Mahaolu grounds supervisor who is frequently called upon to assist in the numerous projects that Kansha initiated since the beginning of the school year.

Drose had previously worked for the MEO Headstart program. She has earned an associates degree in hospitality and tourism, a child development achievement certificate and is in the process of completing a degree in early childhood education.

“My educational philosophy for preschool aged children is that children learn through play and discovery,” said Drose.

“The learning environment that provides opportunities for children to develop and grow in all areas of development, such as social-emotional, cognitive and physical domains, helps them to become confident and successful adults.”

The preschool, part of Maui’s only intergenerational program, features regular interaction and activities with Maui Adult Day Care clients. The program is operating at full capacity, with 16 children and three staff members. The school is fully booked for the 2016-17 school year.

Kansha Welcomes New Director

On Sept. 24, 2015, Kansha preschoolers and Maui Adult Day Care clients replaced an old American flag. The keiki helped raise, lower and fold the flag, and recited the “Pledge of Allegiance.” Photos, left and above: Charlene Drose

INTERGENERATIONAL CENTERThe NVMC ignites human potential by inspiring people to find the hero in themselves through the legacy of the Nisei veterans.At the NVMC Intergenerational Center, Kansha Preschool children and their “grandpas and grandmas” at Maui Adult Day Care Centers’ Ocean View facility maintain a loving connection as they share the courtyard and other facilities.

15 – April 2016

Kansha Preschool Director/Teacher Charlene Drose (left) receives a check from Advancement Through Individual Determination Vice President Daejah Freitas and Japanese Club President Victoria Hunt-Borowiec. Photo: David Fukuda

16 – April 2016

Children from Kansha distributed gift packs to each of the attendees, thanking them for their contribution. Photo: David Fukuda

King Kekaulike students also assisted on two work days at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center and provided manpower at the Maui’s Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans Chrysanthemum Festival in December.

This marks the sixth year in which Matsushita’s students have helped the preschool obtain this vital grant.

U.S. Marine Corps in Saudi Arabia, he wrote home mentioning that because of their quick departure from the states, the members of his battalion were short on basic supplies, such as paper and pencils with which to write home.

A month later, 16 massive boxes of these supplies were delivered by helicopter to Fisher’s base camp, courtesy of Takahashi and HC&S employees.

Fifty years after being in the Army, Suguru knew and remembered that “community is what brings us together.”

After his military service, Fisher resumed his education and earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in peace and community development studies.

As the Nisei veterans a generation before, his dream has been to create a strong, caring community. To this end, he expressed his gratitude to the NVMC for its land gift to the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust for the creation of a Peace Park.

The King Kekaulike AVID and Boy

Scout Troop 808 helped with projects

at a NVMC work day on Nov. 14, 2015. The AVID club assisted in

numerous painting and garden

projects, while the Boy Scouts

buried large tires into the sand box

for the Kansha preschoolers. Photos, top to bottom: David

Fukuda

Joint Memorial ServiceContinued from Page 4

Kansha preschoolers ‘thank you’Continued from Page 14

17 – April 2016

lest we forget | our departed comrades

Kiyoki KokiSeptember 7, 1922, to September 15, 2015Kiyoki Koki of Kahului died at Maui

Memorial Medical Center on Sept. 15, 2015, at the age of 93. Mr. Koki was born in Wailuku.

Mr. Koki was a WWII draftee inducted on Sept. 18, 1944. He completed his basic training at Camp Hood, Texas, then was sent to Marseille, France, in April 1945, where he was assigned as a replacement in Company I of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

He served in the North Apennines, Po Valley and Rhineland Campaigns. He was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the WWII Victory Medal.

Mr. Koki separated from military service as a Private First Class on Nov. 6, 1946, with over two years and one month of training and active duty.

Upon his return to Maui, he resumed his 41-year career as a house painter.

He was a member of the Maui 442nd Veterans Club.

Mr. Koki is survived by sisters Alma Y. Koki and Sumie (Walter) Sonoda, brother-in-law Robert Nishida, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mitsunobu “Mit” KawaharaMarch 18, 1923, to December 23, 2015

Mitsunobu “Mit” Kawahara of Lahaina passed away at Hale Makua in Kahului on Dec. 23, 2015, at the age of 92.

Mr. Kawahara enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 16, 1945. He completed his training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He served for six months before receiving an honorable discharge. On Jan. 2, 1946, he re-enlisted into the Military Intelligence Service and entered into language school at the Presidio of Monterey in California. He continued his service for another 11½ months and was honorably discharged as a Private on Jan. 10, 1947. He received the World War II Victory Medal.

Mr. Kawahara was the mechanic shop supervisor at Pioneer Mill Company when he retired in 1985.

Mit enjoyed karaoke singing, fishing on his boat and restoring old military jeeps.

Mr. Kawahara is survived by his wife, Mildred Tsuyuko Kawahara; daughters Valerie (Eddie) Murakami, Jean Ewing and Rene (David) Duey; and son Gary (Laura) Kawahara. He is also survived by seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sisters Machiyo Tanikawa, Tsugio Honda and Nobue Izutu; and brother Clayton Mamoru Kawahara.

Paul Toshiharu “Lefty” NishimuraJanuary 3, 1922, to January 1, 2016

Paul Toshiharu “Lefty” Nishimura of Lahaina passed away at his residence in Lahaina on Jan. 1, 2016, at the age of 93. Mr. Nishimura was born in Lahaina.

He volunteered and was inducted into the U.S. Army on March 23, 1943. After training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, he was sent to the battlefields of the European Theater where he served as a rifleman in the Rome-Arno and Rhineland Campaigns.

Mr. Nishimura received the American Campaign Service Medal, EAME (European-African-Middle Eastern) Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Bronze Star Medal, WWII Victory Medal and the Distinguished Unit Badge.

He served for a total of five years and was honorably discharged as a Private First Class.

He retired as an equipment operator foreman for the County of Maui.

In his younger years, he loved baseball and fishing. More recently, he would enjoy volunteering at the Lahaina Jodo Mission and working in his yard.

Mr. Nishimura was a proud member of the Maui 442nd Veterans Club and the West Maui AJA Veterans Club. He was a veteran of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Company K.

Mr. Nishimura is survived by his son, Carl Nishimura; daughter Paula Aono; grandson Jason Aono; brothers Carlito Flores and Manuel (Faye) Flores; sisters Asaye Nishimoto Yaeko (Louis Sr.) Olivera and Lucille Lee.

ChrysanthemumEssaysContinued from Page 8

care and help.” Contestants were asked to

reflect upon what role on played in the lives of the Nisei soldiers and how on could be a useful value to adopt in their own lives.

“We hope that passing these values to this younger generation will result in a better future for us all,” Nakama said.

Essay Excerpts“On has been passed down

generation to generation in my family and it is my job to keep it going. It is my obligation to share the stories and traditions of the past with my friends and family. For me, on is the obligation that I owe to the people who have granted me the vast opportunities that I have today through their sacrifices.”

“The Nisei soldiers proved the effectiveness of on and showed the world how having gratitude and helping each other made them all stronger.”

“In my perspective, ‘on’ means to show appreciation, respect and honor. It’s one thing to be thankful for an act of kindness, but to actually follow up on it and do something in return makes it so much more genuine and wholehearted. The work the Nisei soldiers put in for our country is a debt that can never be repaid.”

“When you use on in your own life, you put other people above yourself and you learn to become selfless. To me, on is a lifelong debt I feel obligated to fulfill because others have made huge sacrifices in order to help me succeed.”

18 – April 2016

Contributions to the NVMCFOR THE PERIOD AUGUST 1, 2015, THROUGH FEBRUARY 29, 2016

ArmyHiroshi ArisumiLloyd K. & Pauline Pui-Yu ArisumiPaul & Jessie MizoguchiRoy & Lorraine Okumura

Foundation Yokouchi Foundation

Division Baldwin High School

Class Of 1950 David T. & Judith FukudaJerry & Sheila Kawahara

in memory of Henry TakitaniMaui Toyota Maui’s Sons and Daughters

of The Nisei VeteransHoward & Janis Nakamura

Regiment Charles & Tamara Fujinaka

in memory of Makoto Fujinaka

Itsuyo Kusuda Nakama’s Plumbing

in memory of Richard and Nancy Aguinaldo

Tomoko Ohata Darrell M. & Esther T. OishiFrances OrtKen T. & Kelvyn C.T. Saito

in memory of Sue SaitoDaniel T. & Grace S. ShigetaChris & Lornna TakahashiJames & Susanne Takamiya

Battalion George & Joyce Akamine

in memory of Tsutomu Tom Nagata, 100th Infantry Battalion

Mits M. & Eleanor S. ArisumiFoodland Super Market, LtdJames & Takane Hashi

in memory of Kunio KikutaJames & Takane Hashi

in memory of Richard T. HashiHideo & Joyce Kawahara Gerald H. Kibe Carl Kobayashi William & Maureen MarrsAlbert & Julia Molina Morikawa & Associates Marion H. Morikawa Irene Nakagawa

in memory of Osamu Nakagawa, 100th Infantry Battalion

Aline Rolaff in memory of Howard Hamaguchi and Tamotsu Hamaguchi

Standard Furniture Brian & Helen Takaki

in memory of Susumu TakakiBruce & Dawn Ueki Elton & Sandra Wada

in memory of Raymond K. Iwamoto, 100th IFB

Susan Watanabe Catherine Yee Isami Yoshihara

Company Myrtle Agrabante Arthur & Ina Altman

in honor of Jeff & LeeAnn Kole, Steve & Ellen Milhiser, Jeff & Donna Altman, Don & Kay Kole

Ameritone Maui Alan & Carol Arai Tommy & Marilyn Araki Ken & Chieko Bleau Louise Corpuz Masao & Adeline Daida Shinichi & Nancy Endo

in memory of Toshio, Eichi, Neil & Ione Endo

Milton Fujii Alvin & Martha FukunagaSatsuki Fukunaga Ellen Furukawa

In memory of Charles Mizoguchi

Brian & Faith Griffith Howard & Sheryl Hamai Kazuichi & Grace I. HamasakiEdward Hashiro Masuye Hew Sam Hironaka Gerald Hiyakumoto Ted and Margaret Hori Joyce Horikawa Shoma Hotta Sharon Ikeda

in honor of Takeo Ikeda, 442nd Company F

Tadao Ishii Island Insurance FoundationMasaya Kametani Beverly Kamimoto

in memory of Kunio KikutaRonald Kawahara Tom & Marian KawamotoMasue Kimura Amelia Kurahara

in memory of Arthur KuraharaJean Kuwada Harvey & Charlene Makii Maui Distributors Inc. Howard & Frances Miyamoto

in memory of Akira & Tokiyo Miyamoto

Bernard & Merle MomitaKenneth Morikawa James M. Moriyasu Harold & Masue Okumura

Teruo Ozai Gordon & Betty Pefley Rubinstein/Hall Family FundLily Sanehira Stanley T. Sato George & Nobuko SeriguchiWarren & Joanne ShibuyaGeorge Shimada Clinton & Fumiko ShiraishiMichael & Miyoko Suda

in memory of Yukio & Itsuko Hayashi

Leroy & Diane Sueno Alice Sugimura Larry & Barbara TadakumaBurt & Betty Taira Tiffany Taira Susan Takamatsu

in memory of Tadayuki Takamatsu

Takamiya Market Inc. Lance Takamiya Charmaine Tavares Harriet Tavares William & Martha Tavares

in honor of Hiroshi ArisumiMarvin Tengan Walter & Ione Tokishi Tamayo Tokunaga Ronald Tomita

in memory of Kunio KikutaEthel T. Uyehara

& Douglas Keefe in memory of Suguru Takahashi, 442nd.

Louis & Jean Wada in memory of Raymond K. Iwamoto, 100th IFB

Brian & Janice Watanabe in memory of Kunio Kikuta

Randall & Susan Wilson Wayne Yamashige

in memory of Mr. & Mrs. Y. Yamashige

Larry S. & Joan C. YokoyamaRobert Yoshimori

Platoon Ethel Asato Michael & Adrienne AsatoJames & Linda Cornwell Jo Davidson Foodland Give Aloha Earl & Phyllis Fukami Wayne & Jill Gushiken Sam Y. & Dorothy K. HatanakaRichard & Eiko Hidani Walter & Joan Higashi Mark Hiyakumoto Carolyn H. Hozaki Takeko Inamasu James & Gladys Itamura Gail Iwamoto-Hamai Dennis Koyanagi

Amelia Kurahara & Alison Ordonez

Stella Kuwae Tom & Krystene Lam Edward & Jacklyn Linn Tony & Barbara Long Louise Maehara Harriet S. Matsuda

in memory of Sam I. YamaoZach Messitte

in honor of David FukudaMel & Magel Mukai Wilma Nakamura Susumu Nakasone Evelyn Nishiyama Tadashi & Tsuyono OtsuFred Rohlfing Ray & Gale Shimomura Alvin & Bernadine TagomoriRalph & Thelma Takata Gerald & Vernice TakumiAllan & Linda Tanaka Marvin Tanaka, DDS, MSCora Tasaki Hiroshi & Tomoko TokunagaNelly J. Uehara Linda Unemori John & Elsie Urauchi Gladys T. Ushijima Robert Weiner Elaine & Milton YamashitaDorothy Yamato Lester Yano & Estelle ChunYaemi Yogi Teresa Yokoi-Fong Tom & Sharon Yonamine

Squad Herb & Rayene Higashi Ken Hirakawa Francis & Jean MiyazonoJoe Ozaki Ken Seno

Legacy Fund Leonard & Laurel Oka

in memory of Clarence H. & Jenny S. Oka

Mark and Frances Oka in memory of Clarence H. & Jenny S. Oka

Stanley and Debbie Oka in memory of Clarence H. & Jenny S. Oka

SGM (Ret) Michael Y. & Sombat Otake in memory of Clarence H. & Jenny S. Oka

John & JoAnn Sinton in memory of Clarence H. & Jenny S. Oka

Herbert & Karen Tamanaha in memory of Clarence H. & Jenny S. Oka

DONATE TO NVMCPlease show your support for the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center

Your tax-deductible contribution will help the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center maintain the NVMC “Living Memorial” campus and fulfill its mission of promoting understanding about the history, values and culture of the Nisei veterans among our community’s children, families and visitors.

Donation Categories please indicate your support level by checking below:ARMY . . . . . . . $2,500 and over

DIVISION . . . . . $1,000 – $2,499

REGIMENT . . . $500 – $999

BATTALION . . . $250 – $499

COMPANY . . . $100 – $249

PLATOON . . . . $25 – $99

SQUAD . . . . . . Up to $24

Enclosed is a check for $_____________ , payable to NISEI VETERANS MEMORIAL CENTER, to support NVMC in its work to educate the community about the history, values and culture of the Nisei soldier. For other donation options, please visit our website, www.nvmc.org or call (808) 244-6862 with any questions you may have.

Please mail this form to:

_____________________________________________________NAME (MR./MRS./MS)

_____________________________________________________STREET ADDRESS

_____________________________________________________CITY

_____________________________________________________STATE ZIP CODE

_____________________________________________________E-MAIL

Please charge my donation of $__________________ to:

VISA MasterCard

____________ - ___________ - ____________ - ____________ ACCOUNT NUMBER

_______ / _______ EXPIRATION DATE

_____________________________________________________SIGNATURE DATE

Nisei Veterans Memorial Center P.O. Box 216Kahului, HI 96733-6716

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!19 – April 2016

n Kazu Hamasaki Receives Legion of Honor Award Hamasaki joined 18 other 442nd veterans from Maui who were also honored with the award last year. Page 1

n Major Jack Johnson A 100th Battalion Hero... Page 10

n Japanese Consul General Visits NVMC Misawa and his wife were impressed with Kansha Preschool. Page 13

n Kansha Preschool Welcomes New Director The Kansha Preschool board of directors has selected Charlene Drose as its new director/teacher. Page 15

(From left) Leonard Oka, Roy Katsuda, Kazu Hamasaki, Howard Ikedaand David Fukuda at Hamasaki's Legion of Honor Award presentation. Photo: Kyle Watanabe

The Nisei Veterans Memorial CenterP.O. Box 216Kahului, HI 96733-6716

Okage Sama de ...April 2016