23rd Annual Evening of Aloha Gala Dinner

September 14, 2024
Thank you to all who attended GFBNEC's 23rd Annual Evening of Aloha Gala Dinner on September 14, 2024, in Los Angeles. The event celebrated the legacy of American WWII soldiers of Japanese ancestry and their impact on social justice, civil liberties, and democracy. This year's theme, "Living the Nisei Veterans' Dream," honored their fight for freedom and equal opportunities. The program will be available on GFBNEC's YouTube channel soon.

About

Evening of Aloha is GFBNEC's primary fundraiser and annual flagship event. It brings the community together to honor the 33,000 Japanese American men and women who served valiantly during World War II. David Ono, ABC7 News Anchor and GFBNEC Board member, co-hosted the event with Sierra Katow. Katow, granddaughter of a WWII Military Intelligence Service veteran, also hosts GFBNEC's video series "Living the Nisei Dream."
GFBNEC Torchbearers, Go For Broke Journalism students, and community leaders shared their personal connections to the Nisei (second-generation Japanese American) veterans. They emphasized their commitment to ensuring that the soldiers' story is recognized not just as a significant Japanese American narrative, but as an essential American story with lasting relevance and importance.
Our Evening of Aloha Gala is such a special opportunity for all of us to come together and celebrate our Nisei WWII veterans. This year, we were excited to gather over 500 guests, including five Nisei veterans, descendants and our dedicated supporters. With the generous contributions from our Gala, we can continue to creatively evolve our work to preserve and share their core story of courage, patriotism, and sacrifice.
Dr. Mitchell T. Maki
GFBNEC President & CEO

Menu

A unique feature of this year's Evening of Aloha was the specially curated dinner menu. Chef Roy Yamaguchi, Founder & Owner of Roy's Restaurants and GFBNEC Board member, collaborated with The Westin Bonaventure Hotel's Chef Andreas Nieto to create and prepare the main courses. King's Hawaiian Bakery & Restaurant Innovation Pastry Chef Heather Campbell crafted the dessert, rounding out the exceptional culinary experience.

Entertainment

Pre-dinner entertainment was provided by Marlene Yamane Chau and Scott Nagatani. Featured performances included Grammy Award-winning musician, composer, and producer Daniel Ho; Hālau Hula Keali'i o Nālani; and Kendyl Sayuri Yokoyama, Lead Actor of the Hamilton National Tour Cast.

Fund the Future

The annual "Fund the Future" campaign, launched at each Gala, supports GFBNEC's dynamic educational programming and outreach during these challenging economic times. Contributions made through the end of the year will provide vital funds for GFBNEC's new educational initiatives. These include expanded national outreach, enhanced online and social media presence, and dynamic online programming to engage younger, more diverse audiences. To make a "Fund the Future" gift, visit goforbroke.org/fund-the-future/.

Event Sponsors

Emerald Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

Dinner Favor Sponsor