WWII veteran from Hawaii earns Congressional Gold Medal

W.W.II soldier from Lahaina earns Congressional Gold Medal
February 9, 2012
BY WALTER CHIHARA , Lahaina News

LAHAINA - Beginning in the early 1900s, Japanese culture spread across the United States with immigration to diverse areas in metropolitan pockets and island locales. Though widespread to all corners of the country - as well as across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii - the influence of the Japanese presence had a deep and profound effect in those neighborhoods labeled fondly as the "Lil' Tokyos" and "Japantowns" in those areas.

Perhaps due to geographic similarities of the island nation of Japan and emerging territory of the United States, that influence seemed to run deeper in Hawaii than in the city existence, such as New York, Los Angeles or Seattle. Island living in the middle of the Pacific more resembled that of the Far East nation with seaside villages, subsistence farming and aquaculture these immigrants were used to.

Regardless of where the Japanese settled, the ethical standards of their character - mainly respect, courtesy, duty, kindness, persistence and honor - were carried forth through these pioneers, the Issei or first-generation immigrants, to their offspring, the Nisei or second-generation.

In this strength of character, the Nisei, the Japanese Americans, made great progress toward attaining the American Dream of owning a home and raising a family all across the United States, from New York to Hilo and all the "Lil' Tokyos" in between during the first half of the 20th Century.
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