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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, November 2, 2007

100th Infantry vets turn artists

Advertiser Staff

World War II veterans of the 100th Infantry Battalion will display their art — some for the first time publicly — as part of a gallery show and fundraiser this weekend.

Money raised will go toward an education resource and research learning center for the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans Association.

The art will be on sale from 1 to 4 p.m. tomorrow and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the association clubhouse, 520 Kamoku St. in Mo'ili'ili. Free parking is available at nearby Ala Wai Elementary School.

"This is the other side of them, the artistic side," said Amanda Stevens, office manager for the clubhouse. "People have said, 'Wow, we never thought of them as artists.' "

Participating veterans include woodworker Bernard Akamine, painters Arthur Komiyama and Seisaburo Tabo, and calligraphy expert Robert Sato.

"I was surprised that we had so many fine artists," said the 85-year-old Akamine, who created napkin and pencil holders for the sale.

There also will be a craft fair by members of the veterans' 'ohana that will feature a variety of unusual items, ranging from jewelry to prints to baskets. The son of one of the veterans donated two koa urns, a flower basket and a rosewood cane.

The 100th Infantry Battalion, except for some officers, was the first unit in the history of the U.S. Army to be comprised of Hawai'i-born Japanese-Americans.