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MEMORIAL DAY 2016 Every year, the stack of invitations requesting
that we send a representative from the 100th
Infantry Battalion Veterans to attend a Memorial
Day observation seems to grow taller and taller
while our list of volunteers willing and able to
attend these events grows smaller and smaller.
This year, several members of the Club braved the
hot sun to do our 100th veterans proud by
attending various Memorial Day ceremonies
across Oahu.
100th veteran Mitsuo “Ted” Hamasu (Rural
Chapter, father of 100th Treasurer Tsurumi
Hamasu) and his family attended the annual
Waialua Lions Club Memorial Day Ceremony at
Haleiwa Beach Park where he presented a wreath
on behalf of both the 100th and the 442nd
Veterans Club. Mr. Hamasu has served at the
100th representative at many events on the North
Shore and this year, he was the sole veteran from
the 100th and 442nd at the Ceremony. (Photos on
this page courtesy of Carole Saito).
If you subscribe to the Honolulu Star
Advertiser, you know that 100th President Lloyd
Kitaoka was front and center during the wreath
presentation portion of the 67th Mayor’s Memorial
Day Ceremony at the National Memorial
Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. (If you
missed seeing the photo of President Kitaoka that
was the cover photo for the Advertiser’s special
Memorial Day section, it is posted on the bulletin
Continued on page 4
IN APPRECIATION
Doomo Arigatoo Gozaimasu for the following
generous donations which were received from
May 17 to June 20:
Education Center $48 Donation Box in Lobby
$25 Helen M. Nakashima in memory of
Osamu “Sam” Fujikawa
$40 Helen M. Nakashima in memory of
Raymond and Akiko Nosaka
$500 Joy Teraoka in memory of
Dr. Denis Teraoka
$20 Jayne Hirata in memory of Tokuji Ono
$500 James and Janine Nogawa in memory of
James M. Iwasa
General Operating Fund
$500 Joy Teraoka in memory of
Dr. Denis Teraoka
$25 George Hirose in memory of Tokuji Ono
$100 Lynn and Mark Yamada
$100 Yuri and James Ogawa (California) in
memory of Osamu “Sam” Fujikawa
$100 Yuri and James Ogawa (California) in
memory of Akiko Nosaka
$500 James and Janine Nogawa in memory of
James M. Iwasa
$100 Robin T. and Margaret Mizuta in memory
of Richard K. Mizuta
74th Anniversary Banquet Aloha Shoyu - gift in kind
Central Pacific Bank - gift in kind
Baker Chapter $20 Mary Ann Tanabe in memory of Tokuji Ono
$25 Gregg and Judith Nakamura in memory of
Ray and Akiko Nosaka
Our sincere apologies if any donations were
inadvertently omitted or are listed incorrectly.
Please let the Office know if your donation
was not listed or if there are any corrections
needed. Mahalo!
In Memoriam
HARRY SHIGERU ASATO
(Able Company)
passed away on March 1, 2016
SHUJI AKIYAMA
(Able Company)
passed away on March 25, 2016
EDWARD MATAO FUJIMORI
(Fox Company)
passed away on May 20, 2016
Our deepest sympathy
to their families
PUKA-PUKA PARADE COLLATING
NEWS by Arlene Sato
Mahalo to the following hard working volunteers
who helped to collate the Puka-Puka Parade on
Saturday, May 28: Laverne Choy with her son,
Steven Choy, and her brother, Paul Nishida,
Matsue Furushima, Jean Imada, Velma
Nakahara, Ralph and Yasuko Steensen, Michiko
Takashige, Dot Tamashiro and her son Glenn
Tamashiro, Jill Thalman, and Bert Hamakado.
Please let the Office know if you can help to help
save a tree by receiving the newsletter by e-mail
instead. Send your e-mail address to
[email protected] or call 946-0272. Every
little bit helps.
There are some changes to the Puka-Puka
Parade and collating that are currently being
discussed by the Board of Directors so if you were
planning to come
to the Clubhouse
to volunteer in
July, please
contact the Office
first for updated
information.
Mahalo for
your support.
74TH ANNIVERSARY BANQUET ALMOST HERE
Thank you to everyone who sent in their Registration Forms and have
signed up to attend the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans 74th
Anniversary Banquet on Sunday, July 10 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at
the Pomaikai Ballrooms at Dole Cannery in Iwilei.
We wanted to answer some questions that have been coming up
frequently as the July 10th date gets closer.
IS THERE GOING TO BE 100TH STUFF FOR SALE?
Yes, during the Hospitality Hour from 10:00 am until 11:00 am and
when the Banquet is over at 2:00 pm, the Descendants Chapter and the
Education Center will be selling a variety of 100th logo items. The
Descendants Chapter will have t-shirts and polo shirts available and the
Education Center will have chicco bags in two sizes and two colors.
Please bring cash or check as neither group takes credit cards. There
is an ATM machine across the street at Dole Cannery Mall.
IS PARKING FREE?
No, parking with validation will still cost you $6.
A Pomaikai Ballroom employee will handle parking validation in the
Lobby during the Hospitality Hour and after the Banquet ends. The
employee will collect $6 from you and then stamp your ticket. You do not
pay as you exit.
I FORGOT TO SIGN UP! CAN I STILL COME?
While the RSVP deadline for the Banquet closed on June 20, please
contact the Office at 946-0272 or [email protected] to see if we
can arrange to add you to the attendee list. Please do not just send in a
Registration Form and payment.
Please be advised that it is unlikely we will be able to add anyone the
week of the Banquet and we cannot accept any “walk-in” requests on the
date of the Banquet.
SEE EVERYONE SOON!!!
74th ANNIVERSARY
BANQUET
Sunday, July 10, 2016
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Pomaikai Ballrooms at
Dole Cannery
SCHEDULE FOR THE
DAY
(subject to change)
10:00 am
Registration Opens
Hospitality Hour begins in
Ballroom Lobby
10:30 am
100th WWII Veterans Picture
Taking in Lobby
(veterans should remain in
Lobby after picture taking
until the “Parade of 100th
Veterans”)
10:45 am
Doors to Ballroom Open
11:00 am
Program Begins
“Parade of 100th Veterans”
(veterans will be individually
introduced as they enter the
room)
2:00 pm
Program and Banquet Ends
QUESTIONS?
Contact the Office at
946-0272 or
HEADQUARTERS CHAPTER NEWS
by Janice Sakoda, daughter of Gary Uchida
Hope you’ve signed up to attend our Anniversary Banquet, coming up
soon on July 10. Many thanks to those who worked so hard to make this
happen.
Even though Ukichi Wozumi is not with Headquarters, I know Ed
Ikuma would be happy to learn that Mr. Wozumi received his French
Legion of Honor medal recently. A few years back (maybe 2?) Mr.
Ikuma and Mr. Wozumi met at the Clubhouse after not seeing each other
for decades, maybe since Italy. It was a grand reunion and heartening to
see old friendships renewed. (Editor’s note: Ukichi Wozumi is a Baker
Company veteran who now lives in California).
MEMORIAL DAY 2016 Continued from page 1
board in the Lounge at the Clubhouse.) According to
Clyde Sugimoto who was one of the volunteer 100th
photographers for the day (and who provided all of the
photos on this page), the bright pink anthuriums and
mums in the 100th wreath were a hit with attendees
with one woman even moving the other wreaths on the
side after the presentation so that the 100th one could
be more readily seen.
In the afternoon, Bert Hamakado (Descendants
Chapter President), Gary Hayakawa (Able Chapter
Representative to the BOD Meetings), and Warren
Yamamoto (Charlie Chapter President) represented the
100th at the Governor’s Memorial Day Ceremony at
the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe where
Gary and Warren presented a lei on the Club’s behalf.
Mahalo to all of you who volunteered to pay
homage to the fallen warriors honored on Memorial
Day. Thanks go to Ann Kabasawa (Baker Chapter
President) and Pat Thomson who also served as
volunteer photographers for the day.
If these photos have inspired you to help out next
year, please let the Office know. Memorial ceremonies
are all over the State for many different organizations.
President Lloyd Kitaoka prepares
to present the 100th wreath at
Punchbowl
Gary Hayakawa and Warren Yamamoto
honor those iat the Hawaii
State Cemetery
Bert Hamakado smiles for the camera at
the Hawaii State Cemetery
DESCENDANTS CHAPTER NEWS
After over a month delay, the Descendants
Chapter finally presented
its second Turner Hall
Theater at the Clubhouse
on Saturday, May 18th. A
crowd of about 40 people
including 100th
descendants, wives,
widows and one veteran,
Don Matsuda of Able
Company, enjoyed an afternoon of food, fun,
festivities and flicks!
A snippet from the black and white movie “One
Puka Puka” started the day off and as expected, was a
big hit with everyone. The portion of the film that
was shown featured the singing and dancing of the
talented Ponce Ponce as well as some pretty heavy
duty Pidgin English dialect. The clip was so popular
that many movie goers asked that it be shown in its
entirety at the next Turner Hall Theater so we are
hoping to do so.
For the second film, Richard Ching who is an
expert on Japanese movie, asked the group to choose
between an exciting samurai movie and a scary obake
movie. The vote wasn’t even close...it was
unanimously the samurai one which featured a cameo
by a very young 100th Honorary Member Misora
Hibari.
Descendants Chapter President Bert Hamakado
announced that he would like to have a Turner Hall
Theater movie afternoon at least once every quarter.
Watch the PPP for the next show time!
GREEN THUMB CLUB by Jan Sakoda
On Saturday, August 6, the Green Thumbers will
be visiting the Annual Halawa Xeriscape Garden Open
House and Unthirsty Plant Sale (website at http://
www.boardofwatersupply.com/cssweb/display.cfm?
sid=2128). Xerixcape helps conserve water through
landscaping with unthirsty-plants, which results in
(hopefully) less time spent maintaining your garden.
While at the Open House, you will be able to purchase
a variety of drought-tolerant and native Hawaiian
plants. In addition, there will be workshops and
classes on xeriscape plant crafts and native plant
propagation. You’ll also be able to tour the 3-acre
garden and get ideas for your own gardens at home.
If you are interested in going, please email Arlene
Sato at [email protected]. Unfortunately, I will
miss this as I’ll be off-island.
If you’re interested in being included in our email
group, please let me know at [email protected].
Dates and times may change so please email me if
you’re interested so we can keep you updated of any
last minute changes
BAKER CHAPTER NEWS
There were many Bakerites who were at the
Clubhouse to enjoy Turner Hall Theater but I was
particularly thrilled that Nancy Arakaki (widow of
Robert Arakaki) and her son, Roy Arakaki, were
able to join us. Nancy looked wonderful with a big
smile on her face and lots of spring in her step. We
heard that she is really enjoying life at the Plaza,
having made many friends and participating in lots of
activities there. We hope we will see Nancy and
family at the Clubhouse a lot more often in the future.
Doomo arigatoo gozaimasu to Mary Ann
Tanabe and Gregg and Judith Nakamura for their
very generous donations to Baker Company. Mary
Ann’s donation was in memory of Baker veteran
Tokuji Ono and the Nakamuras’ donation was in
memory of Ray and Aki Nosaka.
Hope to see all of the Baker ’ohana in July,
whether it be at our Chapter meeting on Saturday the
2nd at 1 pm or at the 74th Anniversary Banquet on
Sunday the 10th from 10 am to 2 pm. The very good
news is that we have several 100th veterans from
Baker Chapter signed up for the Banquet!
LAS VEGAS MINI-REUNION
by Ann Kabasawa
Hope you got your lucky frogs charged and ready
to go as the Las Vegas Mini-Reunion set for Sunday,
October 16 to Friday, October 21 at the California
Hotel and Casino will soon be here.
If you have already signed up, just a reminder that
there will be an informational meeting on Sunday,
August 7 from 10:00 am at the Clubhouse. You will
need to make your final payment on your travel
package at this meeting. Please RSVP with me at 781
-8540 or e-mail [email protected].
FROM DA OFFICE
OFFICE CLOSED
The Office will be closed on Monday, July 4 in
observation of the Fourth of July holiday.
VETERANS NEEDED FOR ‘IOLANI PARADE
There’s still time for 100th veterans to sign up to be
special invited guests at the annual ‘Iolani School Fourth of
July Parade on Friday, July 1 from 9 am to
10 am. Veterans will not walk or ride in
the Parade but will sit under a VIP tent to
watch the performances.
Veterans should meet at the
Clubhouse at 8:30 am. Golf cart
transportation will be provided to those
who need assistance. Spouses and family
members of veterans are welcome to accompany the veteran.
Mahalo to the 100th/442d Color Guard and 100th vet Don
Matsuda who will be participating in this fun event. Please
contact the Office at 946-0272 or [email protected] if
you would like to join them.
JOIN US FOR DOG TAG PRESENTATION
Earlier this year, I received a private message on the Wine
Gang Facebook page that I set up from someone named
Stefano Fusco asking for my help. Stefano explained that he
had been walking in a forest near his home in
Italy when he found some dog tags belonging
to Yoshito Morita of the 100th. Stefano
belongs to a group that reunites veterans and
their families with wartime items left in Italy
and wanted to return Mr. Morita’s dog tags to
their rightful owner.
My hunt for Mr. Morita took me to the Big Island, to
several Buddhist temples, to Punchbowl, to two funeral
parlors and to the obituary archives of several local
newspapers, only to discover that he had passed away in 1980.
The journey finally ended with a Google search for his
surviving relatives which resulted in a phone call to his sister
who lived less than 5 minutes from the Clubhouse.
On Saturday, July 16th at 11:00 am at the Clubhouse, we
will be returning Mr. Morita’s dog tags to his family and
would like to invite any 100th members to attend, especially
those in the Charlie Chapter ‘ohana. Please let me know if
you would like to join us for what promises to be a “chicken
skin” moment.
PUNCHBOWL EXPANSION
CONTINUES by Mark Matsunaga
(Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from an
article that appeared in the June 2016 MIS Veterans
newsletter. Mahalo to Mark Matsunaga for giving us
permission include it in the PPP.)
The National Memorial Cemetery of the
Pacific is adding space for thousands of niches
for cremated remains, including 6,000 in a new
columbarium complex where the cemetery
office used to be.
Jim Horton, superintendent of the
Punchbowl cemetery, recently met with some
relatives of veterans (Editor’s note: 100th
President Lloyd Kitaoka and Past-President
Pauline Sato participated in this meeting).
Horton said work on the new columbarium, on
the right side of the park entrance, is underway,
and niches there should be available next year.
More columbaria will be added to the Makai
wall of the crater, near the beginning of the
path to the lookout.
Horton said the type of covers for the new
niches have not been selected. Older niches at
Punchbowl have bronze plaques whose
mounting screws allow for installation of
optional flower vases at the family’s expense.
More recent niches have solid marble covers
which don’t allow for mounting of vases on
each niche cover. Horton said he
recommended returning to the bronze plaques,
but that decision will be made by higher-ups in
the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Horton said Punchbowl was deemed a
“closed cemetery” years ago, and that triggered
certain rules. Among them, cremated remains
for new interments must go into columbarium
niches. In-ground plots are only available for
casket burials. Those burial plots are very
limited and their availability depends on
timing. A few hundred may open up in the
next few years. The VA does not maintain a
waiting list. To obtain a plot or niche, you
should work with your mortuary or funeral
services provider to contact the VA and hope
your timing can accommodate your
preferences.
December’s 75th
commemoration of the attack on
Pearl Harbor will include a special tribute to the
Americans of Japanese ancestry who served in the
United States military in World War II. Entitled
“Fighting Two Wars: Japanese American Veterans
Tribute,” the luncheon will be held from 11:00 am to
2:00 pm at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Monday,
December 5, 2016.
The luncheon is one of the signature events of the
11 day observance of the Japanese attack on military
bases on Oahu on December 7, 1942. The event is
being organized by the 75th Commemoration Pearl
Harbor Committee, in cooperation with those units’
veterans clubs. (Editor’s note: 100 President Lloyd
Kitaoka has been attending meetings for this event on
behalf of the 100th).
Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr., commander of the
U.S. Pacific Command, will be the keynote speaker.
Harris’ father and uncles served in the US Navy in
WWII and his mother grew up in Japan.
All World War II veterans of the 100th Infantry
Battalion, Military Intelligence Service, 442nd
Regimental Combat Team and 1399th Engineer
Construction Battalion are strongly urged to attend.
Each veteran and one companion will be able to attend
the luncheon free of charge, but reservations must be
made in advance through the respective veterans
clubs. Others will be able to purchase tickets (a
discounted rate to members of the veterans’ clubs is
currently under consideration).
If you are a 100th veteran who is interested in
attending the Monday, December 5th luncheon, please
contact Jayne Hirata in the Clubhouse Office at (808)
946-0272 or [email protected] no later than
Friday, July 1 at 1:00 pm as we must submit a
tentative reservation list to the committee. You will
not be bound to attend or obligated to purchase a ticket
if you submit your name, it’s just so the committee
can have a rough headcount of veterans, their
companions, and other invited guests.
The committee is also hoping to have a veteran
from the 100th, 442nd, MIS and 1399th attend the
other events scheduled for the 11 day long
100TH VETERANS INVITED TO ATTAND
“FIGHTING TWO WARS: JAPANESE AMERICAN
VETERANS TRIBUTE” LUNCHEON
commemoration. If you are a 100th
veteran who may be interested in
going to any of these other events (you will be an
invited distinguished guest and will not be required to
make a presentation or a speech, just greet people and
make conversation), please contact Jayne via the
Clubhouse Office also.
For more information on the Luncheon and a
complete schedule of events, please visit the
“Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future: The 75th
Commemoration of the Attack on Pearl Harbor”
website at http://pearlharbor75thanniversary.com/.
If you have any questions regarding the December
5 Luncheon, please contact Jayne at the Clubhouse
Office. We will provide updated information in the
Puka-Puka Parade as it becomes available.
GRAVE DECORATING HELP
NEEDED IN SEPTEMBER
Mark your calendars for Saturday,
September 24 from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon for
the annual 100th Grave Decorating project to
place floral bouquets at the gravesites of 100th
veterans who are at rest at various cemeteries
across Oahu, the majority located at Punchbowl.
Groups and families are welcome. You do not
need to be a member of the Club or affiliated
with a 100th veteran to lend a helping hand.
Help is also needed to prepare for the event
including updating the database of gravesites,
preparing and printing lists, unpacking and
assembling flowers and other tasks.
If you may be able to volunteer, please
contact the Office. If you have questions about
Grave Decorating, please contact the Office or
Descendants Chapter President Bert Hamakado
The Joint Memorial Service for all WWII
Japanese American veterans who were killed in
action or who have passed away post-war will be
held the following day on Sunday, September
25.
The Puka-Puka Parade is the official newsletter of
the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans organization
and is published monthly, twelve times a year.
The opinions expressed in the PPP are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the
position of the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans.
Please e-mail your articles, comments or questions
about the PPP to [email protected].
If you do not have access to email, please mail or
deliver your articles, comments or questions to the
Clubhouse Office.
The deadline to submit articles for the
August 2016 issue is Friday, July 15
100th Infantry Battalion Veterans
520 Kamoku Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96826
(808)946-0272
www.100thbattalion.org
Office Hours:
M, T, Th, F - 9 am to 1 pm
W - 9 am to 12 noon
JULY 2016 CLUBHOUSE CALENDAR
BOARD Meeting Saturday, July 16 at 9:00 am
ABLE Chapter No meeting
BAKER Chapter Saturday, July 2 at 1:00 pm
CHARLIE Chapter Saturday, July 23 at 10:00 am
DOG Chapter Saturday, July 2 at 9:30 am
HQ/MEDICS Chapter Saturday, July 9 at 10:00 am
GREEN THUMB CLUB No meeting
LINE DANCING Wednesday, July 6, 13, 20 and 27
from 9:00 am to 11:00 am
PUKA-PUKA PARADE To be determined, contact the Office
CLUB EVENTS
(all events at the Clubhouse unless otherwise indicated)
74th Anniversary Banquet Sunday, July 10 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Pomaikai Ballrooms \
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Monday, July 4 Clubhouse CLOSED for Fourth of July
Sunday, July 18 Clubhouse reserved for MIS Summer Pikuniku
Saturday, July 23 Clubhouse reserved for private party
Sat., July 30 and Sun., July 31 Clubhouse reserved for private party
Dates and times subject to change. Please contact your Chapter President,
Committee Chairperson or the Clubhouse Office for information or updates.
100th Infantry Battalion Veterans
520 Kamoku Street
Honolulu, HI 96816
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
P A I D
Permit No. 158
Honolulu, HI
JULY 2016 PUKA-PUKA PARADE ADDENDUM
MEMORIAL DAY 2016 PHOTO GALLERY
I hope you will enjoy these additional photos of our 100th ‘ohana at various Memorial Day services across
the island. Mahalo to Clyde Sugimoto for sharing the pictures with the PPP readers. Photos on this page are
from the Mayor’s Memorial Day event at Punchbowl where President Lloyd Kitaoka represented the 100th in
the wreath presentation. For everyone who has been asking, the wreath was ordered from King’s Florist.
More photographs by Clyde Sugimoto, this time of the Governor’s Memorial Day Ceremony at the Hawaii
State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe.
