Evening of Aloha
About
GFBNEC’s Evening of Aloha is our largest fundraising activity of the year and directly supports our evolving programming and historic preservation efforts about the segregated Japanese American soldiers’ units of WWII. As our nation continues to address issues such as civil liberties, social justice and racial tolerance, the significance of our commitment to share the WWII soldiers of Japanese ancestry’s extraordinary American story of courage, patriotism, and sacrifice with the broader audience has become more apparent.
The 21st Annual Evening of Aloha Gala Dinner was held on Saturday, November 5, 2022, at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in downtown Los Angeles. Over 500 guests attended to celebrate and honor the legacy of the Nisei WWII veterans. We thank all of our Gala sponsors and donors for their generous support and participation
Please watch the EOA program video which includes moving tributes and special features in recognition of our veterans:
- NextGen presentations by GFBNEC Torchbearers, former GFBNEC Board member Craig Ishii, GFBNEC’s Living the Nisei Dream host Sierra Katow and other NextGen supporters
- On-stage “Veteran Roll Call” recognition of seven Nisei veterans – Ken Akune (MIS), Shigeru Hayashi (442nd RCT), Ralph Kaneshiro (MIS), Ralph Matsumoto (MIS), Ed Nakamura (MIS), Yosh Nakamura (442nd RCT) and Steve Shimizu (442nd RCT).
- The 3rd Annual Living Nisei WWII Veteran Photo Tribute featured 67 living Nisei veterans from 10 states.
- Special rendition of America the Beautiful by Daniel Ho, Hiroshima’s June Kuramoto and vocalist Staci Toji, a GFBNEC Torchbearer and board member, and an appearance by Nisei veterans Ed Nakamura, Yosh Nakamura, and Toke Yoshihashi
- Premiere of a new song, His Story, written by June Kuramoto in honor of all Nisei veterans. Daniel Ho performed live to a video accompaniment of Kuramoto playing the koto.
Ways to Support
Thanks to the generous support of our Evening of Aloha sponsors and supporters, GFBNEC is able to continue its work to share the legacy of our Nisei WWII veterans. We invite you to be a part of this year’s hallmark celebration as we honor and pay tribute to the courage, patriotism and sacrifice of the 33,000 Japanese American men and women who served during the war.
- Gala Sponsorship – Evening of Aloha offers an array of unique benefits and promotional opportunities at every level. Sponsorship contributions help subsidize ticket costs for our Nisei veteran. other veterans and students.
- Digital Ad Sponsor – Place a customized ad in honor/in memory of a veteran or other tribute messages. All ads will be displayed in the Pre and Post-show and during dinner.
- “Fund the Future” – Make a gift to our annual year-end fundraising campaign initiative to ensure that our vital work continues to preserve and evolve the story of the Nisei soldiers as an important American story.
- Individual Tickets – Join us in-person at Evening of Aloha and be a part of the live celebration to honor our Nisei WWII veterans.
For more information about the Sponsorship Opportunities, Digital Ads, “Fund the Future” and individual tickets, and to access the downloadable PDF form, click here. To make a payment online, click here, or complete the PDF form download and return by mail to: Go For Broke National Education Center, 355 E. 1st St., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
Fund the Future
Help us meet our 2022 fundraising goals with a gift that will benefit generations to come!
Make a contribution to our annual year-end fundraising initiative to ensure that our vital work continues to preserve and evolve the story of the Nisei soldiers as an important American story. With your support, Go For Broke National Education Center will be able to inspire new audiences through the character and valor of the Nisei soldiers who fought for the freedoms and liberties for all Americans.
Their Legacy. Our Future.
Living Nisei WWII Veteran Photo Tribute
One of the Evening of Aloha’s most treasured features is the in-person living veteran recognition on stage. The 2021 Evening of Aloha Virtual Gala of this special tribute featured 88 living Nisei WWII veterans from 90 to 104 years of age from 10 states.
Email us at takeaction@goforbroke.org to confirm participation in this year’s tribute.
Watch the video and view the full list below of 2021 participants.
Thank You to Our 2022 Gala Sponsors
Diamond Sponsors
Aratani Foundation
Rick and Patee Shinto Family
Ruby Sponsor
Union Bank
Emerald Sponsors
Yoshio C. Nakamura Family
The Pacific Bridge Companies
Sugimoto Family Foundation
Platinum Sponsors
King’s Hawaiian Bakery & Restaurant
Nikki Kodama and Family
Bill & Christy Seki and Dennis & Lorraine Kimura
Gold Sponsors
Fukui Mortuary Inc.
Haruo Hayashi Family
Pacific Global Investment Management Co.
Nancy Sagawa & Family
Seki, Nishimura & Watase, LLP
Silver Sponsors
In memory of Tets Asato, 442RCT G Co. – The Asato Family
Terry & Gayle Hara
Frank & Betty Hiji
Hiro Watanabe Foundation
Frank S. Kawana Family
Scott & Wendy Kohno
Gilbert & Penny Nishimura
Sugino-Chang Family
Ken & Candace Watase and Doyle & Naomi Der
Bronze Sponsors
The Izumo Family
JA Health Insurance Services
Kinecta Federal Credit Union
Mitchell Maki & Cayleen Nakamura
Jeff & Akiko Maloney
Stella Miyamura
Carol Nishikubo
James & Yuri Ogawa Family
The Sakai Family
Lindsey, Judy & Ray Sugimoto
The Mas Takahashi Family
Victor & Janis Wong and David & Irene Tanji
Steel Sponsors
AADAP
Friends and Family of Nisei Veterans
JABA
Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
Japanese American National Museum
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai’i
Keiro
The Kazuo and Mary Yamane Foundation
As of 11.15.22.
Thank You to Our 2022 Auction Donors
Corinne Akahoshi & Dan Futterman
Junior Bryant
Cherrystone’s Restaurant & Catering Co.
Jimmy Chhun & Andie Kimura
The Children’s Museum at La Habra
Classics Flowers and Confections
The Contemporary Jewish Museum
Desert Adventures Red Jeep Tours
Mark and Tracey Doi
Joseph Esposito and Bill Seki
Leslie Furukawa & John Hayashi
John A. Girardi
George Henning
Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center
Honda-Ya Inc., Kappo Honda Inc.
The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens
Dr. Terry Imagawa
Japanese American National Museum
Leonard Kim
King’s Hawaiian Bakery & Restaurant
Nikki Kodama
Los Angeles Philharmonic Association
Lane Maki
Daniel Mayeda and Steve Yokomizo
Mr. Ramen
Julie Naito
Yoshio Nakamura Family
George Nakano
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier
Bill and Christy Seki
Seki, Nishimura and Watase, LLP.
Irene Simonian
Ray & Judy Sugimoto
Karen Tanji & Jack Huang
Wendy Toguchi
Tommy’s Original World Famous Hamburgers
USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc.
Wheel of Fortune | Sony Pictures Television
Yancha by Shuko Akune
As of 11.15.22.
Thank You to Our Digital Tribute Ad Donors
Al, Pat, Gary, Paul Arakawa & Family
Friends and Family of Nisei Veterans
Neil Horikoshi
Ann Kabasawa
Randy Lowell
Chip & Lisa Mamiya
Ralph & Amy Matsumoto
Peggy Mizumoto
Ann Baba Newman
Quatrefoil Associates
Rascals Teriyaki Grill
Rising Stars Youth Leadership Program
Sakai/Ito Family
San Gabriel Nursery & Florist
David Sato
James and Barbara Sato
Mike & Ann Shima
Chad Shimozaki/North Torrance Optometry
Bev Shiroma
John & Mary Sunada
Scott & Susan Takahashi
Sandy Toshiyuki
Michael Yaguchi
Milo Yoshino
As of 12.02.22.
Thank You to Our Fund the Future Donors
Janell Cannon
Shinye Gima
Nahan Gluck
Gerald Gustafson
James M. Hamada
In honor of Nisei WWII Veterans – Sakae Hata
L. Stuart Hirai
Diane Inouye
Island Insurance Companies
Craig Iwataki
Stephen Kagawa
Ron & Alice Kaneshiro
Kawaguchi-Kihara Memorial Foundation
Howard & Celeste Kitagawa
Craig Klemp
Emiko Kranz
James Kuroiwa
Kary Kuwahara-Willis
Teri Lim
Brandon Masuda
Richard & Masako Murakami
Kari Nakama
Edward Y. Nakamura
Yosh Nakamura
Linda Nakashima
Helen Nakatsu
Bruce & Shari Naguwa
In memory of HItoshi Sameshima – Melissa Nishimura
Michael & Margie Odanaka
In honor of Fred Y. Hirayama – Wright Ohana
Anthony & Barbara Perez
Ralph Parsons Foundation
Joanne Sakai
Ronald & Lauree Sakai
Carolyn Sakauye
Susan Sekino
Raymond & Sharon Shibata
Lori Shiotani
John & Mary Sunada
Kenneth & June Shimabukuro
Tsuneko Taira – In memory of Robert R. Taira & Nash Tahara
Scott & Susan Takahashi
Justin & Staci Toji
Fund the Story of Nisei Veterans in Memory of PFC Shigeo Tabuchi (October 21, 1916 – November 4, 1944) – Sandy Toshiyuki
Marian Uchida
Richard Watanabe
Ethan Wong
Roy Yamaguchi
Melanie Yamamoto
Tokuji Yoshihashi
As of 12.02.22.
Thank You to Our General Donation Donors
Gary & Cynthia Arakawa
Susan Arii
David and Nora Bramlett
Danny & Doreen Haramoto
Honda-Ya Inc., Kappo Honda Inc.
Paul Ikemoto
Craig Ishii
Ike Kawahara
Karl & Nancy Kim
In memory of Col. Oak Young Kim – Dyanne McMath
Rich & Ann Mikami
Lynne Miyake
Kinya Minami
Galen & Phyllis Murakawa
Henry Y. Murata
Ken Nakagawa
LTC Mark T. Nakagawa (Ret)
Retirement Planning Advisors, Inc.
David Sato
James & Barbara Sato
Janis and Stuart Simon
Sandra Toshiyuki
Richard Watanabe
Marcella Yano
As of 11.15.22.
Watch the 2021 20th Annual Evening of Aloha Virtual Gala