Governor Ariyoshi Headlines Benefit Dinner

May 7, 2004

George R. Ariyoshi, three-term governor of the State of Hawaii was the keynote speaker at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center’s fund-raising dinner on Friday, May 7th. A veteran of the Military Intelligence Service, Ariyoshi was an early supporter of the Center, beginning with a contribution in 1992.

Center president Hiroshi Arisumi
presents Governor Ariyoshi
with carved koa wood gift.

In his keynote address, former Governor George Ariyoshi challenged the Nisei veterans to pass on not only their history on the battlefield, but the values that had been instilled by their parents that made them good soldiers, and later, good citizens in the community.

The dinner was a blend of old and new, as many long-time supporters had a chance to visit with one another.  Sue Kaneshina, wife of 100th Battalion veteran Wataru, said, “It was like old home week.  I had a chance to see friends I hadn’t seen in years.”

For new supporters like Jack Anderson, it was an educational evening.  “I knew that the Nisei veterans were among the most courageous in our country’s history,” he said.  “But now I also have a deeper appreciation of the civil rights issues that were at stake.”