WHO/WHAT: The three-month-long Battle of Okinawa has been called the largest sea, land and air battle in history. It was the last battle of the Pacific War and the only land invasion of Japan by U.S. forces. More than 100,000 Okinawan civilians died in the battle, along with over 72,000 Americans and 100,000 Japanese.
Promoting peace is the mission of the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum, which is presenting an exhibition on the Battle of Okinawa with messages of peace by children. There will also be displays of haiku poetry on the subject of peace by ‘Iolani School students and peace drawings by Hawai‘i students.
WHEN/WHERE: 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans Clubhouse (520 Kamoku St.) The exhibit runs through Feb. 28. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Closed on Sundays.
Special event on Sunday, Feb. 19, 1-3 p.m.: Battle of Okinawa lecture and screening of NHK documentary, “Compassion in a War Zone,” about 100th Infantry Battalion veteran (and Hawai‘i Okinawan) Thomas Taro Higa. Free parking available at Ala Wai Elementary School.
COST: Free and open to the public. For more information, contact Jayne Hirata at
jayne.hirata@gmail.com or (808) 366-3148.
