The World War II Nisei veterans of the 100th Infantry Battalion invite the public to their "Christmas in October" Bazaar on Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5, 2008 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on both days. The event will be held at the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans Clubhouse at 520 Kamoku Street in Mo'ili'ili. Admission is free.
Admire the wares of talented local artisans at the Bazaar's Art and Craft Fair including woodworker Bernard Akamine, Japanese calligrapher Robert Sato and painter Seisaburo Taba, all of whom are 100th Infantry Battalion WWII veterans. Other vendors at the Art and Craft Fair include Naysha Arakaki, Patrice Collins (jewelry), Karen Funakura, Stacy Hayashi dba Paina Girl, Lori Inoue, Bundit Khanistakan, Joyce Mitsunaga, Sandy Nagao, Kari Sakoda, Shan Sudharshan, Skip Tomiyama, and Albert Weight (original paintings, prints and drawings),
From antique beaded jewelry to Zoojirushi rice cookers, the Bazaar's Silent Auction has something from A to Z to everyone on your holiday shopping list. Featured donors at the Silent Auction include members of the 100th ohana including Cheryl Hoffman (quiltwork), Glenda Takata Koyama (ceramics), James Lovell, Jr. (handcarved koa items), Ann Tsubota (ceramics and tea ceremony cups), Shay Niimi Wahl (hand-painted Christmas ornaments and prints) and the family of the late Shizuya Hayashi (100th veteran and Medal of Honor awardee). There will also be a variety of 100th Infantry Battalion themed items including mugs, watches, and One Puka Puka Pals stuffed animals.
Also at the Silent Auction will be Gallery One Puka Puka, a collection of "celebrity" coloring pages featuring a "Year of the Rat" image drawn especially for the Bazaar by well-known San Francisco Bay Area muralist Estria Miyashiro. Estria Miyashiro is the grandson of 100th veteran Roland Miyashiro.
Reduce, reuse and recycle when you shop at our Country Store Rummage Sale featuring new or gently used items generously donated by the 100th 'ohana. Clothing, books, household goods and electronics, bedding, decorative items, and more will be available.
Take the first step in "decking the halls" by ordering a fresh holiday wreath from the 100th Infantry Battalion Office. Delivery will be in late November.
After a hard day of shopping, take a break at the Café One Puka Puka bake sale featuring delicious treats made by members of the 100th 'ohana and local bakeries including The Lil' Oven. KC Waffle Hot Dogs, onolicious chili, shave ice with homemade azuki beans and cold drinks will also be on sale.
The kids are sure to love taking a photo with the KC Waffle Dog mascot or coloring a picture of the One Puka Puka Panda. We would like to invite everyone to write a "Thank You" Card to the Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers of the 100th Inf. Bn/442nd RCT who are training in Texas but will be deploying to Iraq in November.
Feed your mind as well as your stomach and learn about community organizations such as the Elks Club, the Go For Broke Association, The Hawaii Community Foundation, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Seniors can get a free Kupuna ID provided by the State Department of Health. Learn more our beloved veterans from the 100th Infantry Battalion Legacy Organization and the 100th Infantry Battalion Learning Resource Center.
The 100th Infantry Battalion, except for some officers, was the first unit in the history of the United States Army to be comprised of Hawaii-born Japanese-Americans. 1,432 men and officers of the 100th were sent to Salerno, Italy on September 3, 1943 where for the next nine months, they engaged in ferocious battles (most notably at Monte Cassino) and suffered huge numbers of casualties, earning the title "The Purple Heart Battalion". Thereafter, as the "first battalion" of the 442nd RCT, the 100th received its first Presidential Unit Citation in the Battle of Belvedere, a second Citation in part for the liberation of Bruyeres and the rescue of the Texas "Lost Battalion", and a third for its part in the Gothic Line Campaign. For its total 18 months in combat, the 100th earned the distinction of being the most decorated battalion for its size and time in combat. The current President of the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans Club is Mr. Robert Arakaki.
The 100th Infantry Battalion World War II Veterans Clubhouse is located at 520 Kamoku Street (bright blue building across the street from 'Iolani School), Honolulu, Hawaii 96826. Free parking is available at nearby Ala Wai Elementary School also on Kamoku Street (Look for the signs saying "Club 100 parking").
For more information, please contact Amanda Stevens at club100vets@yahoo.com or 808-946-0272.