Memorial Day
Bobby Arakaki, Michael Doolittle, and Mike Stolp raise the flag.
The Hakalau Jodo Mission hosts Memorial Day services at the Hakalau Veterans Memorial Park each year. Current and former residents and relatives of those killed in military conflict gather to show respect and celebrate our community life.
The 16 young men listed on the memorial came from the area extending from Kolekole to Ninole.
Our cultural values include honoring those who came before us. Hakalau memorial services for each soldier have always been well-attended and usually included speeches by community leaders. Services have been held annually at Hakalau Veterans Park on Memorial Day weekend and continue to this day. In memory of these boys from Hakalau-Ninole who gave their lives in: World War 1: Pvt.Thomas Smith World War 2: Pvt. Onso Chinen Sgt. Hiroyuki Hiramoto Cpl. Isamu Ikeda Pvt. Yasuo Kaneshiro Pfc. Yoshitaka Kataoka Pfc. Satoshi Matsuoka Pfc. Toshiaki Morimoto Pfc. Hiroshi Motoishi Pvt. Saburo Nakazato Sgt. Masayoshi Ogata Pvt. Yeishun Allen Soken* *bio contributed by High School Student Neve Enriquez, mentored by Mrs. Kelly Uyeda, Waiakea High School, 2018-2019, as part of the National History Day program Sgt. Ronald K. Takara Korean Conflict: Cpl. Jun Matsushige Vietnam War: Sgt. Lester W. Alipio Spc. Bobby J. Barcena The bios of all 16 men are available here: 
Memorial Day 2023: . Ray Gandy, a two tour Vietnam veteran and retired general, played “TAPS” during the flag raising on an 1892 “Field Trumpet”, also known as a bugle. This is the same model still used at Arlington Cemetery by the Army and Marine Corps. We are grateful to Ray for his participation in our service over many years.
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Memorial Day 2023. Rev. Miyazaki performed the service, chanting the Sutta Nipata, the Goodwill Sutra.
Memorial Day 2023: Our speaker this year was Michael Doolittle, Vietnam Combat Infantry Platoon Sergeant and currently Chairman of the Hawaii Island Veterans Memorial, Inc. and Chairman of Hawaii County Veterans Advisory Committee for Mayor Mitch Roth.
Memorial Day 2023: He shared stories of his unit in Vietnam, his thoughts about those lost and the families who have mourned the loss over many decades, and the healing resulting from meeting former friends and enemies during recent visits to Vietnam.
Michael noted that Vietnam Veterans are the most maligned group of veterans in our history.
Memorial Day 2023: Long-time friends Bobby Arakaki and Akiko Masuda.
Memorial Day 2023: We gather after the service for our "All American Lunch" including hot dogs, baked beans, and ice cream!
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