“The 100TH, Seeds of Aloha” Film Evokes Pride, Reverence and Lots of Tears

Thank you to all involved in participating on the movie set of “The 100TH, Seeds of Aloha” film, about the World War II 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The filming was held on June 7, 2025, at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. This is the first scene of a new film by Director Steve Sue, projected to be completed sometime in 2026.

As noted in the official press release, “The 100TH is the second film in a trilogy of Aloha Spirit documentaries by Honolulu-based nonprofit ID8, producers of the award-winning film, “Shaka, A Story of Aloha,” which earned the People’s Choice Award at the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF). The Shaka film’s success also helped establish Hawaii’s Official State Gesture and inspired the Hawaii DMV’s new Shaka License Plate – milestones that launched the broader nonprofit movement, Project Shaka.”

Over 1,000 descendants and volunteers trekked to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum to place medallions to honor the soldiers on a 6,000 square foot map of Italy and France. 

100th Infantry Battalion Veterans (Club 100) members, friends, and supporters, participate in the filming of “The 100TH, Seeds of Aloha,” including 100th/442nd veteran, Dr. Takashi Manago (Co. A) and family. Also pictured are the family of 100th Infantry Battalion soldiers Shinyei Nakamine (Co. B; KIA 1944-06), Tokuichi Hayashi (Co. A), Conrad Tsukayama (Co. D), and Kunio Fujimoto (Co. A).

Participants expressed appreciation to filmmaker Steve Sue of Project Shaka, for sharing the legacy of the 100th and 442nd in a unique way. This is not a battlefields movie, but one of overcoming obstacles of discrimination despite being small in stature, to become the most decorated U.S. military unit for its size and length of service. 

Tears were shed when Harold Payne, a multi-platinum songwriter, Tedx speaker and master improviser who has written songs for artists such as Rod Stewart, Patti Labelle, and Ron Wood of The Rolling Stones among others, sang his original piece with heart wrenching lyrics:

“It was a quiet Sunday morning in 1941. When lives were changed forever for Hawaii’s native sons. They left behind their families and set aside their dreams to go and fight a war in a place they never seen. Though others joined the battles eventually. It started in the islands with the 100th Infantry.” 

Scenes from the filming, accompanied by a clip of the song, can be viewed here:

"The 100TH, Seeds of Aloha" Film shoot held on June 7. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEL9Bb6vMYk)

In addition to being fierce and courageous soldiers, the 100th and 442nd planted seeds of positive change, spreading Aloha in Europe and post-war in America. The men of the 100th and 442nd won over tyranny and upon return to Hawaii, set up their own bank, Central Pacific Bank, when they could not get loans due to ongoing discrimination, encouraged the desegregation of the military via President Harry Truman’s Executive Order 9981 in 1948, helped Okinawa to rebuild by sending 500 breeding pigs, helped Japan to once again be allowed to participate in the Olympics, and so much more. 

Attendees honor the 100th and 442nd men at the filming on June 7. [Photos courtesy: Clyde Sugimoto [nephew of Nolan Miyazaki (100th Inf Bn, Co. B)]

The film starts with the Hawaii roots of the 100th Infantry Battalion and its vanguard position as the first segregated unit of American soldiers of Japanese ancestry to see combat in Europe. The film then progresses with the connection of the 100th and 442nd as a high-performance team. Those placing medallions felt the “mana” (power) of the map, the deep emotion hearing Harold Payne’s original song for the film, the vibe of the crowd, and many told me they shed tears when they are not prone to crying. They felt a gut punch when they placed the medallion feeling reverence, respect and awe at the gravity of “the map” — so many lives symbolized by medallions, affected by war. 

Special thanks to the many kupuna, who insisted on coming to place a medallion on the 6,000 sq. foot map of Italy, France and Germany, including100th Battalion veteran, Dr. Takashi Manago (100th Co. A) who insisted on visiting from Maunalani Rehab, Mrs. Sumiye Iwata  [sister of Kiyoshi Shiramizu (100th Medics); KIA 1944-01] who flew in from Colorado with daughter, Debbie Iwata Miller, and was joined by daughter, Rebecca Wood, from Delaware, Mrs. Anita Korenaga [sister of Shinyei Nakamine (100th Co. B); KIA 1944-06] and Senator (Ret.) Joe Kuroda [brother of Ronald Kuroda (100th Co. B) and Robert Kuroda (442nd 2nd Bn); KIA 1944-10].

100th Infantry Battalion Board members welcome Mrs. Sumi Iwata, sister of Kiyoshi Shiramizu (100th Medics), and daughters Debbie Miller (left) and Becky Wood (right), as they receive a tour of the Clubhouse by Isami Yoshihara [brother of Hisashi Yoshihara (Co. A)] and Amy Kwong [granddaughter of Eugene Kawakami (Co. A)]. They came to Honolulu specifically to participate in “The 100th, Seeds of Aloha” filming. To read about Kiyoshi James "Jimmie" Shiramizu, please visit our Education Center website: https://www.100thbattalion.org/history/veterans/soldiers-who-died-in-service/kiyoshi-shiramizu/

We are grateful to filmmaker Steve Sue, who worked tirelessly with 100th/442nd historians to create an accurate map of the battles engaged by the men in Italy, France and Germany.

A 6,000 square foot version of this map was filled with medallions at the filming, honoring the 100th and 442nd soldiers. [Map courtesy: ID8 - “The 100TH, Seeds of Aloha.”]

Thank you to filmmaker Steve Sue, for showing the way for a better path to healing, conflict resolution, and peace for mankind. To learn more about the film, or to donate to "The 100TH, Seeds of Aloha," please visit https://100thfilm.com/

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This article has been reprised from the June 2025 Puka Puka Parade newsletter article, written by Kathi Hayashi [daughter of Tokuichi Hayashi (100th Inf. Bn., Co. A)] . Back issues of the Puka Puka Parade can be viewed online, courtesy of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa eVols digitial repository — the most recent issues available to the public can be viewed here: https://hdl.handle.net/10524/66742. For more about the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans Puka Puka Parade, please visit https://www.100thibv.org/post/puka-puka-parade-newsletter.