Maui veterans get memorial

By Christie Wilson
Neighbor Island Editor

WAILUKU, Maui — It won't be ready for Memorial Day, but local veterans say they don't mind waiting another month or so for the completion of a fitting tribute to Maui County's war dead.

The Maui County Veterans Council will get its long-awaited memorial, which is scheduled for completion in June. Christie Wilson • The Honolulu Advertiser

Now, with $151,600 in county financing and the support of Mayor James "Kimo" Apana, the Department of Parks and Recreation has hired a contractor to install a memorial wall with 50 granite panels inscribed with the names of 263 service men and women from Maui, Lana'i and Moloka'i who were killed in World Wars I and II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

For years, the names have been posted behind glass in a modest display on the wall outside the gym. Clarence Kamai Sr., commander of American Legion Post 8 and a veteran of three wars, called the old memorial "a monstrosity."

Mitch Skaggerberg of Vietnam Veterans of Maui County said veterans "were appalled and disappointed we didn't have a more fitting memorial to honor the men and women who died."

This list of the war dead includes a single casualty from World War I, 135 killed in WWII, 79 in the Korean War, and 48 in Vietnam. Lana'i lost 14 in the wars, and Moloka'i 13.

Work is scheduled for completion by mid-June. Along with the memorial wall outside the gym in the covered lobby, the job includes installing ceramic floor tiles and placing concrete paving stones in the grassy area leading to the steps to the lobby area.

The Tadashi Sato mural that was displayed at the gym for many years is being restored by the Lahaina artist and will be enclosed in glass.

Skaggerberg said the effort to turn War Memorial Gym into a sacred place to honor the county's veterans will not end when the memorial wall is dedicated. The Veterans Council is seeking to change the name of the access street to the gym to honor veterans, prisoners of war or those missing in action.

Skaggerberg said he also would like to see food booths and other commercial activities connected to events in and around the gym prohibited from operating in the memorial area.

The county and the Veterans Council are seeking assistance from the public in verifying the correct spelling of names. The list of 263 names is available at county parks offices. Misspellings and omissions should be reported to the Mayor's Office at (808) 270-7855. Corrections will be accepted until May 25.