Capital honor awaits nisei WWII heroes
A Congressional Gold Medal ceremony honoring Japanese-American troops for their bravery in World War II will be held Nov. 2 in Washington, D.C., U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono’s office said Wednesday.
The nation’s highest civilian award will be bestowed, collectively, on the U.S. Army’s 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service for their extraordinary accomplishments at a time when the nation questioned nisei (second-generation Japanese-American) loyalties.
Hirono and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa voted in favor of Senate Concurrent Resolution 28, which will allow the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for the commemoration.
"This recognition of valor and heroism is long overdue," Hanabusa said. "Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, these remarkable heroes volunteered to defend a country that declared them to be ‘enemy aliens.’"
President Barack Obama signed legislation on Oct. 5, 2010, collectively granting the Congressional Gold Medal to the nisei veterans.
After 6 years, work begins on cafeteria for Paia Elementary
Paia Elementary School on Maui is getting a new cafeteria to replace the one destroyed by fire in 2005.
Officials will hold a groundbreaking and blessing ceremony Monday at the school.
For the past six years, students have been eating lunch in shifts in an old building.
"The building of the new cafeteria comes at an opportune time as our school is growing in population," Principal Susan Alivado said in a news release. "Seven years ago, we served about 200 students. Now we have 310 students and we’re anticipating an additional 20 students a year."
The cafeteria is expected to be completed in November 2012.
Established in 1908, Paia Elementary School is on Maui’s north shore and serves students from grades kindergarten to grade 5.
Antenna to broaden reach of Kau’s radio station KAHU
Kau Community Radio, KAHU 91.7 FM, will soon have an expanded broadcast area because of a $76,400 state grant, the station announced Wednesday.
The money will be used to move the station’s transmitter and antenna 1,000 feet higher on a mountain in Naalehu.
The upgrade is expected to "ensure that the station is heard clearly from areas of Milolii to Mountain View," general manager Wendell Kaehuaea said in a news release.
The new antenna position will allow about 21,000 people to receive the station’s signal, which is now available to just 7,000, the station said.
Also Wednesday, Hawaii County Civil Defense said it will install a dedicated line to the radio station so it will more quickly get public safety advisories.
