Legacies - Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii

Mahalo Senator InouyeBy Carole HayashinoPresident and Executive Director, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘iMahalo, Senator Inouye.Senator Daniel K. Inouye was aninspiration to generations in Hawai‘i.We took pride in his distinguished WorldWar II military service with the 442ndRegimental Combat Team. We wereproud when he broke through racialbarriers in Washington D.C. and playeda leadership role during the SenateWatergate hearings and the Iran-ContraSenator Daniel Inouye and his wife Irene visitJCCH in September 2009.investigations. We areespecially proud and willbe forever grateful forSenator Inouye’s courageas a champion for justice.Senator Inouye gavea voice to Americansof Japanese ancestryinterned during WorldWar II. He advocated forthe federal investigationinto the mass roundupand incarceration ofJapanese Americans on the West Coastand called for the establishment of theCommission on Wartime Relocation andInternment of Civilians. Senator Inouye’sleadership led to the passage of theredress bill, HR442, The Civil LibertiesAct of 1988.More recently, Senator Inouye joinedwith JCCH to support the preservation ofHonouliuli, the longest operating WorldWar II confinement site in Hawai‘i. Hissupport contributed tothe first documentaryfilm on the internment ofJapanese in Hawai‘i andlater a special resourcestudy focused on thehistorical significance ofHonouliuli.“Justice is a matter ofcontinuing education,”he once stated whendiscussing the importanceof remembering theJapanese American internment.“If only to remind ourselves that itcould happen here in our democracy.”For his courage, leadership and all thathe accomplished in our community, ourstate, our country, we are truly grateful.Our hearts are broken, but may we findthe strength to re-commit ourselves tothe values that Senator Daniel K. Inouyerepresented and find comfort in knowingthat his legacy will continue.Nisei Congressional Gold MedalComing to Hawai‘iThe Congressional Gold Medal awardedin 2011 to Japanese American WorldWar II veterans in recognition of theirextraordinary accomplishments isscheduled for exhibition at the BernicePauahi Bishop Museum from March 9through April 14, 2013.Honolulu is one of seven cities on thenational planned tour organized bythe Smithsonian Institution TravelingExhibition Service (SITES) with theSmithsonian’s National Museum ofAmerican History and the NationalVeterans Network. At the conclusionof the tour, the Congressional GoldMedal will be on permanent display inThe Price of Freedomexhibition at the NationalMuseum of AmericanHistory in Washington, D.C.“We look forward to working with andsupporting the National Veterans Networkand the Bishop Museum on this very specialexhibition and to pay tribute to the Niseiveterans for their service and sacrifice toour nation and community,” said CaroleHayashino, president and executive directorof the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i.The Congressional Gold Medal wasawarded collectively to the 100th InfantryBattalion, the 442nd Regimental CombatTeam and the Military Intelligence Serviceveterans in recognition of the exceptionalservice and loyalty to America duringWorld War II. Known as the “Go ForBroke” regiments, the 100th/442nd isone of the most highly decorated unitsin U.S. military history. The highlyspecialized contributions of the MIS arecredited with helping to hasten the end ofWorld War II. The Gold Medal representsU.S. Congress’s highest expression ofnational appreciation for distinguishedachievements and contributions.9