“MIS Veterans Hawai’i is saddened to learn of the passing of our former governor, George Ariyoshi. He was an MIS (Military Intelligence Service) member during WWII. MIS soldiers translated confiscated documents and maps and it has been said that this helped shorten the war by 2 years. We are proud that Gov. Ariyoshi was our longtime member. We send condolences to his ‘ohana, and we thank him for his lifetime of service.
Aloha,
Karen Kikukawa
President, MIS Veterans Hawai’i”
/2026/04/20/former-hawaii-gov-ariyoshi-passes-away-age-100/
We are pleased to announce our 2026 Shinnen Enkai, plus Willy Toda’s 99th birthday celebration!
- Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026
- Time: 11am - 2pm
- Location: Natsunoya Tea House, 1935 Makanani Dr, ‘Ālewa Heights
- Cost: $35 per person, RSVP by April 18
We hope friends in the community and other veterans groups can join us in this special gathering! 🇺🇸🎂🎁💕🤙🏽
The Nisei Soldier Traveling Exhibit opened on Feb 23 at the MIS Historic Learning Center, SF. The exhibit includes artifacts and stories of many WWII soldiers, and will be open until Aug 31 before traveling to Honolulu and 9 other cities. Highly recommend seeing the exhibit at this SF venue, as visitors will be able to view the permanent MIS exhibit, in addition to the traveling exhibit.🇺🇸🤙🏾
On Monday, Jan 26, seven Nisei soldiers were honored at a posthumous commissioning ceremony with their appointment to second lieutenant. These seven initially served in the UH ROTC and the Hawaiʻi Territorial Guard, but were barred from service due to the racism of the time. They later volunteered in the Varsity Victory Volunteers, then with the 442nd RCT. All seven died in battle, bravely fighting for the U.S. We will never forget their sacrifices, which give us the freedoms we enjoy today. 🇺🇸💜❤️ See video of ceremony: /video/993872/more-than-eight-decades-later-uh-rotc-cadets-receive-earned-commissions
MIS Veterans Hawai’i, along with 442 Legacy Center and Club 100, received the “2025 Foreign Minister’s Commendation” from the Consul General of Japan for making significant contributions to improving Japan-Hawai’i relations. Our officers and members were honored to attend this ceremony. Mahalo to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Consul General Chotoku, and to the Consulate General of Japan (Honolulu) for such a beautiful ceremony and ‘ono lunch! Ho’omaika’i and congratulations to all! 🇺🇸🇯🇵🙏🏾🤙🏾
The Memorial is proud to host a special tour discussing the legal history of Japanese American incarceration on December 6 at 10:30am.
Please register using the link in our bio!
During a game on Thursday, 11/20, the UH Men’s Basketball team honored the historic 442nd Regimental Combat Team at halftime, with 28 members being recognized on the floor. The players all wore the 442nd RCT’s “Go For Broke” patch on their uniforms. (Many WWII MIS soldiers were transferred from the 442nd RCT.) Thank you, UH Basketball for honoring the Nisei Veterans! (PC: Mark) 🇺🇸💚🤍🤙🏾
/news/2025/11/18/mens-basketball-takes-on-arizona-state-in-thursday-showdown.aspx
We are proud to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the awarding of the Nisei Soldier Congressional Gold Medal.
On November 2, 2011, the Congressional Gold Medal was presented to the U.S. Army’s three units, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 100th Infantry Battalion and Military Intelligence Service at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center in Washington D.C. Awarded by the U.S. Congress, the Congressional Gold Medal is the United States’ highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions.
After the ceremony, veterans were honored at regional ceremonies all around the nation. The regions include Hawaii, Chicago, San Francisco, Central California, Monterey, Sonoma County, Houston, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles.
Let us know in the comments below if you spot a Nisei veteran you recognize in any of these photos! We welcome any stories and memories. 😁
#NiseiSoldiers #Nisei #JapaneseAmerican #WWII #Veteran #USArmy #AsianAmerican #AmericanHistory #USHistory #WWIIHistory #history #legacy #ArmyHistory #WorldWarII #memories #tb
A beautiful day for the 20th annual Joint Memorial Service at Punchbowl! Mahalo to the Hawai’i veterans organizations who hosted this event, to the many organizations who participated (JROTC, bagpipes, Army Nat’l Guard, 111th Army band) and to all the volunteers who helped with the grave decorating on Saturday. 🇺🇸🤙🏽❤️
This year’s Evening of Aloha, hosted by the Go For Broke National Education Center, was truly unforgettable. With more than 500 people in attendance, the energy in the room was incredible. The evening took us on a journey through the history of WWII Nisei soldiers, told with depth and heart. The powerful presentations were beautifully paired with moving musical performances, adding an emotional dimension that left many of us deeply touched.
The Japanese American Veterans Association was proud to sponsor a table at the event. Around our table sat veterans whose service ranged from the Vietnam War era to more recent conflicts. It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old friends, share stories, and welcome new ones into our circle. It was a night filled with reflection, gratitude, and the reminder that the legacy of the Nisei soldiers continues to bring people together in meaningful ways.
The 20th Annual Joint Memorial Service, honoring those who served in the 100th IFB, 442nd RCT, MIS, and 1399th who died in World War II or have since passed on, will be held on Sunday, September 28, 2025 at Punchbowl Cemetery, 9:30-10:30am. The ceremony is open to the public and is always held on the Sunday closest to the anniversary of the date that the first member of the 100th IFB, Shigeo “Joe” Takata, was killed in action (September 29, 1943). Please join us in honoring these heroes! 🙏🏾🇺🇸❤️🤙🏽
Ho’omaika’i to our local veteran’s organizations — including MIS Veterans Hawai’i — on being named recipients of the Foreign Minister’s Commendations, as announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. They were named for preserving history of Japanese Americans in the USA and for promoting friendly relations between Japan and Hawai’i. The formal ceremony will be likely held in November. 🇯🇵🇺🇸🤙🏾 See article: https://www.honolulu.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/20250828.html
