Dignitaries and Steve Sue at dedication of Daniel Inouye Piazza, San Terenzo Monte, Italy,
The premiere screening of the documentary “The 100th: Seeds of Aloha” will take place on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Faith United Methodist Church, 2115 W. 182nd St., Torrance.
The 100th Infantry Battalion, known as the “Purple Heart Battalion,” was formed from Americans of Japanese ancestry (AJAs) from Hawaii who were serving in the U.S. military when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Despite their loyalty being questioned, they chose to fight for a country that doubted them.
Their extraordinary performance led to formation of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, predominantly composed of AJAs, with most coming from Hawaii and others serving as volunteers and draftees from the continental U.S. — many with families incarcerated by their own government.
Together, the 100th/442nd fought across Italy and France, while the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion later detached and advanced into Germany. The 100th/442nd RCT became one of the most decorated units in U.S. military history.
But “The 100th: Seeds of Aloha” is not simply a story about war. These men stood at the center of an extraordinary contradiction: America fought tyranny abroad while struggling with racism and prejudice at home. Their story reminds us that a country can fall short of its ideals while its people still choose to embody them.
Known in Europe as “The Hawaiians,” the 100th/442nd RCT carried the spirit of aloha through war — and then brought it home. For the next 80 years, veterans and the generations they inspired became educators, community leaders, judges and elected officials. Some became part of the very government that had once doubted them, choosing not to abandon the system, but to help improve it.
Those are the “Seeds of Aloha”: courage and humanity planted during war, then cultivated through eight decades of service helping build a freer world.
The executive producer, producer, writer and director is Steve Sue, a Hawaii filmmaker, social entrepreneur and designer whose work explores how ideas, culture and storytelling can help people and communities flourish. This is his feature directorial debut.
Sue is the producer and writer of the award-winning “Shaka: A Story of Aloha.” Together, the films are part of an expanding series exploring the meaning and impact of the spirit of aloha.
Sue serves as chair of ID8, a Hawaii 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the producing organization behind “The 100th.” His work through ID8 also helped lead to the 2024 designation of the shaka as the official state gesture of Hawaii and the creation of Hawaii’s shaka license plate.
Born and raised in Oakland, Sue is a descendant of Chinese immigrants who passed through Angel Island in San Francisco Bay. He earned a BA in design from UCLA and a JD from UC Berkeley before eventually making Hawaii his home more than two decades ago.
The screening will be followed by Q&A with Sue and live music by Harold Payne, the film’s music director.
To RSVP, call (310) 217-7000 or visit faithtorrance.org.
“The 100th: Seeds of Aloha” will also be screened on Sunday, Nov. 29, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Venice Japanese Community Center, 12448 Braddock Dr., Los Angeles, followed by Q&A with Sue. Brian Yamamoto will perform songs from the movie with songwriters Payne and Dave Kopatz.
At both screenings, attendees will have the opportunity to experience the film while it is still in development and share their reactions and feedback with the filmmakers. Audience feedback is an important part of the filmmaking process and helps the production team continue refining the film ahead of its final release and film festival presentations.
For more information, call (310) 822-8885.
Visit the film’s website at https://100thfilm.org.