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 OpportunitiesDigital 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

Yoshio “Yosh” Nakamura, 442nd Regimental Combat Team in 1943 (left) and 2019 (right)

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

AADAP

Corinne Akahoshi & Dan Futterman

Akashi-Kama

Anaheim Ducks

Aquarium of the Pacific 

Azay

Balletto Vineyards

Benihana, Inc. 

Brent’s Deli, Inc.

The Broad

Junior Bryant

Chance Theater

Cherrystone’s Restaurant & Catering Co. 

Jimmy Chhun & Andie Kimura

The Children’s Museum at La Habra

Chipotle

Classics Flowers and Confections

The Contemporary Jewish Museum

Cross Roads Escape Games

Curves

Desert Adventures Red Jeep Tours 

Mark and Tracey Doi

Effie’s Homemade Biscuits

Emerald Isle Golf Course

Escape Room LA

Joseph Esposito and Bill Seki

Etude Wines

Flair Cleaners

Fugetsu-Do

Leslie Furukawa & John Hayashi

John A. Girardi

Golf N’ Stuff

Golden Entertainment

Green Street Restaurant 

Hawaiian Airlines

George Henning

Hikari Pearl Company Inc.

The History Channel

Hollywood Sports Park, LLC

Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center

Honda-Ya Inc., Kappo Honda Inc.

Hugo’s Restaurant

The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens

Dr. Terry Imagawa

In-N-Out Burger

Island Packers

JACCC

Japanese American National Museum

Japangeles

John’s Incredible Pizza Co. 

Kidspace Children’s Museum 

Leonard Kim

King’s Hawaiian Bakery & Restaurant

Nikki Kodama

Kouraku Japanese Ramen

KPCC

La Mirada Theatre

Let’s Roam 

Los Angeles Philharmonic Association

Lane Maki

Maui Coast Hotel

Daniel Mayeda and Steve Yokomizo

Miracle Springs Resort & Spa

Museum of Tolerance

Mr. Ramen

Julie Naito

Yoshio Nakamura Family

George Nakano

Nitto Tire

Nothing Bundt Cakes

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier

Pala Casino Spa and Resort

Palm Springs Air Museum

Pasadena Ice Skating Center

Pink’s Famous Hot Dogs

Portillo’s

Pure Wine Co.

Richard Nixon Foundation

Riviera Seafood Club

Santa Barbara Zoo

Bill and Christy Seki

Seki, Nishimura and Watase, LLP.

Sender One Climbing 

Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen 

Irene Simonian

Skirball Cultural Center

Sky Zone Cerritos

Spirit Cruises

Ray & Judy Sugimoto

Karen Tanji & Jack Huang

Wendy Toguchi

Tommy’s Original World Famous Hamburgers

Total Wine & More

Trattoria Farfalla 

UCLA Athletics 

Underwood Family Farms

Universal Studios Hollywood

USS Midway Museum 

USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc.

VJB Cellars 

Wailea Golf LLC

The Walt Disney Family Museum 

Wellington Cellars

Wetzel’s Pretzels

Wheel of Fortune | Sony Pictures Television

Wilson Creek Winery

Wood Ranch

Yama Seafood San Gabriel 

Yama Sushi Sake Attitude

Yancha by Shuko Akune

Media Sponsor
The Rafu Shimpo 

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

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