Nisei Veterans Memorial Center

Nisei Veterans Memorial Center A Hawaii Nonprofit Corporation

In hope that his service would aid in getting his father released from internment, Henry T. Takitani enlisted in the U.S...
06/13/2026

In hope that his service would aid in getting his father released from internment, Henry T. Takitani enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after he graduated from H.P. Baldwin High School in 1944. As fate would have it, his unit, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, K Company, landed in Naples, Italy on the day that Germany surrendered. He would downplay his service in his later years, always mentioning that he had never seen combat. At the urging of his 442RCT comrades, he ran for and was elected to the Hawaii state House of Representatives in 1968 and served as a state Senator
from 1970 to 1980.

The NVMC is honored to be the repository of over 200 special collections of Maui’s Nisei Veterans. We thank the veterans and families for entrusting us with these precious items to share with current and future generations.

If you have any questions about the archives or are considering a donation of items to the Center, please contact Archive Director Melanie Agrabante at (808) 244-6862. Mahalo for your support.

We had an exciting visit from the Fukuyama Chamber of Commerce and Industry last week. Chaiman Komaru brought a delegati...
06/12/2026

We had an exciting visit from the Fukuyama Chamber of Commerce and Industry last week. Chaiman Komaru brought a delegation of fourteen members including Mr. Toyoei Shigeeda, former Consul General of Japan in Honolulu, as well as Mr. Isao Iijima, Special Advisor to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. A huge mahalo to Council Chair Alice Lee and Councilmembers Gabe Johnson, Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Yuki Lei Sugimura, Shane Sinenci, Tom Cook and their staff, as well as representatives from the Mayor’s Office -Josiah Nish*ta, Laks Abraham and Katie Austin - for creating a very special morning in Council Chambers for the everyone.

After the Council visit, the group visited the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, UH Maui College and finished with a delicious lunch at Seascape Restaurant before returning to the airport.

NVMC was so thankful to have the assistance of Chrysanthemum Ambassador Abigail Tamayose and Chrysanthemum Liaison Rylee Ota for the entire day. The young ladies presented gifts on behalf of the NVMC to the visitors and had some interesting conversations over lunch with everyone.

Monthly Movie Matinee happening this Saturday, June 13 at 1:30pm (Doors Open at 1:00pm). Departures (Okuribito) is a pro...
06/10/2026

Monthly Movie Matinee happening this Saturday, June 13 at 1:30pm (Doors Open at 1:00pm).

Departures (Okuribito) is a profoundly moving Japanese drama that follows Daigo Kobayashi, a cellist whose orchestra disbands, forcing him to return to his rural hometown in Yamagata. Searching for work, he mistakenly applies to a job labeled “Departures,” only to discover it involves becoming a nōkanshi — a traditional encoffiner who prepares the deceased for their final journey.

As Daigo learns the precise, graceful rituals of the profession, he confronts the stigma surrounding death in Japanese society, the strain it places on his marriage, and the unresolved grief tied to his estranged father. Through each ceremony, the film reveals how honoring the dead can heal the living.

Winner of the 2009 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Departures is celebrated for its quiet emotional power, Joe Hisaishi’s luminous score, and its tender exploration of dignity, reconciliation, and the universal search for meaning.

Rated PG-13
Runtime: 130 minutes

Register your spot today, check the link in our bio, see you there 👋

We want to thank all our quiet volunteers who ensure that our campus grounds are always taken care of and that there are...
06/09/2026

We want to thank all our quiet volunteers who ensure that our campus grounds are always taken care of and that there are fresh flowers in front of the KIA wall. While you have asked not to me named, we just want you to know how incredibly appreciative we are of you. Thank you.

We recently attended the Japanese American Society of Hawaii’s (JASH) Sister City Summit in Honolulu with Board Chair Ky...
06/06/2026

We recently attended the Japanese American Society of Hawaii’s (JASH) Sister City Summit in Honolulu with Board Chair Kyoko Kimura. It was a very informative conference with one of the highlights being that Okayama Prefecture is now a Sister-State with Hawai`i. Senator Troy Hashimoto, his colleagues and the Maui County Sister Cities Foundation have been working on this partnership for a few years now and the official paperwork was signed by Hawaii`i Governor Green and Okayama Governor Ibaragi at the Summit. It is particularly exciting because our NVMC Spring Tour spent some time in Okayama last month at Kurashiki and Korakuen. We look forward to more time in Okayama on our 2027 tour!

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Graduation Season continues! Congratulations to Chrysanthemum Liaison Keala Rodriguez who graduated from Seabury this pa...
06/05/2026

Graduation Season continues! Congratulations to Chrysanthemum Liaison Keala Rodriguez who graduated from Seabury this past weekend. It was a lovely day for a lovely graduate and graduation. Keala wasn’t the only one who graduated, Malu`ihikea Williams Dewilde was one of six graduates from Kansha Preschool last week. We can’t wait to see what lies ahead for all our graduating NVMC Ohana!

Hoichi "Bob" Kubo. Compiled by Melanie Agrabante sponsored by The Maui News. The NVMC is honored to be the repository of...
06/02/2026

Hoichi "Bob" Kubo. Compiled by Melanie Agrabante sponsored by The Maui News. The NVMC is honored to be the repository of over 200 special collections of Maui's Nisei Veterans. We thank the veterans and families for entrusting us with these precious items to share with current and future generations.

If you have any questions about the archives or are considering a donation of items to the Center, please contact Archive Director Melanie Agrabante at (808) 244-6862. Mahalo for your support.

It's graduation season and while we weren't able to attend all of the ceremonies, we want to give big "Congratulations" ...
06/01/2026

It's graduation season and while we weren't able to attend all of the ceremonies, we want to give big "Congratulations" to Chrysanthemum Liaison Rylee Ota who graduated from Maui High and Jaelynn Fukuda who graduated from Baldwin (Jaelynn did her senior project with the NVMC last year). We know that both young ladies are going to go on and do great things!

Abigail Tamayose, Chrysanthemum Ambassador did a phenomenal job representing the NVMC during the official meeting with F...
05/29/2026

Abigail Tamayose, Chrysanthemum Ambassador did a phenomenal job representing the NVMC during the official meeting with Fukuyama Mayor Edahiro. In the meeting, she talked about the trip including how she felt hanging the Peace Cranes at Sadako's Memorial. Abigail also shared the impact Fukuyama's history personally had on her, "the history of Fukuyama is so meaningful and inspiring. I love how Fukuyama created peace and happiness out of such a devastating event".

[After being bombed during WWII, the Fukuyama government and citizens came together with a goal to plant one millions roses across the city. Today, Fukuyama is known as "Rose City". Additionally, Fukuyama believes in having "Rose Mind" which is a cultural and civic concept born from the city’s postwar recovery and its transformation into the “City of Roses.” It represents the spirit of compassion, kindness, and mutual cooperation that emerged when citizens, businesses, and local groups came together to rebuild after the devastation of the 1945 air raids.]

We thank everyone who made this trip so special for our Chrysanthemum Ambassador and all of us. Mahalo to Karen Mahoe who made us each beautiful lei to wear in the parade. "Thank you" to Maui Specialty Chocolates, as well, for ensuring we had tasty omiyage for all of our meetings!

We wanted to share some photos from the Makawao Memorial Day Service. This year, NVMC Board Member and "Service Above Se...
05/29/2026

We wanted to share some photos from the Makawao Memorial Day Service. This year, NVMC Board Member and "Service Above Service" award recipient Cummins Bo Mahoe was the keynote speaker, giving a very personal, moving and inspirational address on Monday. It was an extremely special morning of honor and remembrance that will continue to live in our hearts.

Address

1 Go For Broke Place
Kahului, HI
96732

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 4pm
Tuesday 12pm - 4pm
Wednesday 12pm - 4pm
Thursday 12pm - 4pm
Friday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

(808) 244-6862

Website

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