Lauren Kinkade Wong sang the national anthem and the 100th Battalion/442nd Infantry Regiment Honor Guard posted the colors.
Over 550 guests gathered at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in Downtown Los Angeles on Sept. 27 for Go For Broke National Education Center’s 24th annual Evening of Aloha Gala, celebrating the courage and sacrifice of the Japanese American soldiers who valiantly served during World War II.
The hallmark community event, emceed by ABC7 news anchor David Ono, a member of GFBNEC’s Board of Directors, brought together veterans, their families, and supporters of all backgrounds, united in their commitment to preserving this essential American story for future generations.
Honoring Living Heroes
Three centenarian veterans, accompanied by family and friends, were honored in person during the traditional on-stage Nisei Veteran Roll Call:
Edward Nakamura, 100, served in the Military Intelligence Service and earned his wings with the 11th Airborne Division in post-war Japan. While his family was incarcerated at Minidoka, he became a star basketball player in Weiser, Idaho, where classmates gave him a rousing send-off with the high school marching band when he was drafted at 18. Today, he continues his service through public appearances.
Tokuji “Toke” Yoshihashi, 102, a 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team member, earned two Bronze Star Medals, the Sharpshooters Medal, the Congressional Medal of Honor, a Presidential Unit Citation, and France’s Legion of Honor. Drafted from Gila River concentration camp in Arizona, he treasures the memory of marching down Constitution Avenue before President Harry Truman in June 1946.
Mary Tamura, 101, making her second gala appearance, represented the nearly 500 Japanese American women who served in the Women’s Army Corps, Army Nurse Corps, and Cadet Nurse Corps. After her service, she earned her BA in nursing and has continued her love of helping people throughout her life.
The sixth annual Living Nisei WWII Veteran Photo Tribute honored 32 living veterans nationwide, a testament to the strength and vitality of this remarkable generation.
A Legacy That Inspires Action
George Tanaka, chair of GFBNEC’s Board of Directors, welcomed the community’s growing support: “I remain hopeful as I see this ballroom filled with not only veterans and their families, but others who also believe that this history should always be remembered.”
He also acknowledged the representation of the lone Soldier’s Table set at every Evening of Aloha Gala and led the audience with a toast to honor the soldiers’ ultimate sacrifice and service.
GFBNEC President and CEO Mitch Maki delivered a poignant and inspiring “Restoring America’s Promise” presentation that connected the veterans’ courage to today’s opportunities for service. He posed a question: “Imagine you are 20 years old, imprisoned behind barbed wire. Your family has lost their home, their constitutional rights. And the Army says, ‘We want you to fight for liberty halfway around the world.’ How many of you would say, ‘Send me’?”
In total, 33,000 young Japanese Americans answered that call, sharing the conviction of Sgt. Kazuo Masuda, who said: “This is the only way that I know that my family can have a chance in America.”
Maki concluded with a call to carry forward their legacy: “As they served for a better tomorrow, we have the responsibility to work for a better future. Okage sama de. Because of them, we are.”
Performances, Progress, and Growing Impact
The evening featured performances by National Heritage Fellow June Kuramoto on koto, hip-hop lyricist Kaze Jones, singer Lauren Kinkade-Wong, and actress/singer Kendyl Sayuri Yokoyama, fresh off the national “Hamilton” tour. Staci Kanani Toji from Hālau Hula Kealiʻi o Nālani performed Queen Liliʻuokalani’s “Aloha Oe” during the “In Memoriam” tribute.
A year-in-review video showcased GFBNEC’s impact, including exciting progress on the new Go For Broke Plaza building, the traveling “Courage and Compassion” exhibition’s 11-month run in Idaho, the dynamic Go For Broke Journalism Institute, now in its fourth year, and the flourishing national Torchbearer program connecting young leaders across six regions.
Los Angeles Torchbearer Chair Melanie Ramirez embodied the program’s inclusive spirit: “When I first came to the Torchbearers, I had always thought of it as a Japanese American story. And as you might be able to tell, I am not Japanese American. But being a Torchbearer has changed my perspective. I am proud to say that I consider the Nisei veterans story to be a part of my heritage — my heritage as an American.”
GFBNEC Board Vice Chair Jeff Koji Maloney and National Torchbearer Chair Kendra Motoyasu energized the crowd as they launched the annual “Fund the Future” campaign with a goal of $100,000.
“Together, we can ensure the Go For Broke spirit burns brighter than ever,” Maloney declared, while Motoyasu emphasized that every contribution “is fuel to keep our programs alive, fuel to help the next generation pick up the torch.”
A Community Celebration
In keeping with tradition and popularity, guests savored a three-course menu created by Chef Roy Yamaguchi, founder of Roy’s Restaurants Worldwide and member of GFBNEC’s Board of Directors, and Westin Bonaventure Chef Andreas Nieto, with a specialty dessert by King’s Hawaiian Bakery & Restaurant Chef Heather Campbell.
From left: Alhambra City Councilmember Jeff Koji Maloney (also GFBNEC Board vice chair), Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside), Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles Kosei Murota, and Japan House Los Angeles President Yuko Kaifu.
Distinguished guests included Rep. Mark Takano, Alhambra City Councilmember Jeff Maloney, former Los Angeles City Councilmember Jan Perry, and Consul General Kosei Murota and Deputy Consul Naoko Kamitani from the Japanese Consulate in Los Angeles.
The evening also recognized 12 students from LAUSD’s Downtown Business Magnets School who participated in this summer’s GFBNEC Journalism Institute.
The event was made possible by generous sponsors, including Ruby Sponsor U.S. Bank; Emerald Sponsors MUFG Bank, Bill & Christy Seki and Dennis & Lorraine Kimura, Shinto Family Foundation, and the Sugimoto Family Foundation; along with numerous other sponsors and over 100 auction donors.
As the evening drew to a close, the 100th Battalion/442nd Infantry Regiment Honor Guard from Hawaii retired the colors with precision and pride, followed by a soaring rendition of “America the Beautiful” performed by Kendyl Yokoyama and June Kuramoto.
The Evening of Aloha Gala demonstrated that the legacy of the Nisei veterans lives on — not just in memory, but in the growing movement of people from all backgrounds committed to courage, service, and equality for all.
For more information about Go For Broke National Education Center, visit goforbroke.org.