Japanese-Americans in Hawaii

1. Japanese-Americans in Hawaii Duncan Bartok

2. Sally Nakamoto Hayashi • Born June 13th, 1923 • Third Generation • Lived in Hawaii during World War 2 • Worked as a nurse • Actually witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor

3. The Japanese in Hawaii: OkageSama De • Written by Dorothy Ochiai Hazama and Jane Okamoto Komeiji • Chronological history of Japanese-Americans previous to, during, and after World War 2 • Discusses Japanese determination and perseverance • Oral histories, picture albums, photographs, and personal accounts

4. Sally Vs. The Book • Leading up to and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, most Japanese-Americans struggled to endure the hardships and discrimination and find acceptance. • On the other hand, Sally felt that she faced very little discrimination in her experiences and found the war to be a key element in shaping who she is today.

5. Sally’s Family’s Background • Reciprocity Treaty of 1876 • Immigration ban lifted 1881 • Family immigrated to Hawaii in late 19th century • Father’s family came seeking work in sugar cane fields • Mother was born on the Hawaiian plantation

6. Japanese Immigrant Expectations • Most immigrants intended to serve three-year contracts and return to Japan • Sally’s mother’s family, however, intended to stay in the U.S. • Moved to rural farming area in Hilo. • Mother married and Sally was born • Father continued working in sugar cane fields • Mother was very resourceful in bartering and was the main provider for the family • All children worked in the summer • Moved to house in Honolulu

7. Women’s Lifestyles in Hawaii • Most Japanese women trained in Japanese Arts • Goal was to marry into wealthy family when returning to Japan • Sally was removed from the arts • Main intention was to raise money for future in Hawaii

8. Sally’s Childhood • Spent most of childhood in Hilo surrounded by other Japanese • Went to Japanese Buddhist Church and Japanese Language School • Name change from Satoe to Sally • 1939 Family bought a house in Honolulu and grew and sold flowers • She finished her final year of school in Oahu • Separation between white people and “oriental” people

9. Pearl Harbor Attack • Sally becomes nursing student at a Japanese hospital • Morning of the attack, she saw fighter jets overhead • Japanese Hospital receives call about attack and immediately converted into military hospital for wounded soldiers • Nursing school dormitory also converted into hospital for military

10. December 7th Events • 7:57 am Japanese Attack • 2,335 servicemen died and 3,478 were injured • 3:30 pm Military takes over Hawaiian Islands • Later, habeas corpus is suspended 200 Japanese-Americans are taken into custody • Somewere interned and families purged themselves of Japan-related belongings • Sally’s future husband enlists, but negated weeks later b/c of Japanese ancestry

11. Discrimination in Hawaii • Pre-War: fear of growing Japanese population • Japanese seemed clannish and did not intermarry • During the war: Restaurants and businesses refused to serve and hire Japanese-Americans, • Boundaries for Japanese-Americans

12. “Outside of schools and their jobs, the Japanese kept pretty much to themselves. Because they lived close together, neighbors became extended families in practice” (Hazama 92). • “They had no alternative but to [develop “camaraderie and a real sense of community”] for their homes were often separated only by thin walls which were covered with newspapers to seal cracks. They shared kitchen sinks, stoves, and washing facilities” (Hazama 70). • “The Japanese were thus feared and looked on with suspicion because of their numbers” (Hazama 110).

13. Internment • Many mainlanders were interned (West Coast) • About only 1% of Japanese-Americans in Hawaii • Only those believed to be strongly affiliated with Japan such as priests, monks • Even Honolulu Councilmen and State Senators • Noted that they were immediately taken to Sand Island where they were questioned for a few days

14. How Sally Handled It • “Class and good morals” (Hayashi) • Refused to make an issue of the situation • Remained in her “section” • Continued to live on her normal life • Utilized her skills as a nurse to become more respected • “After the war, there were more opportunities for young people and more jobs were created, and whoever had the education went for a better job” (Hayashi).

16. Sally’s Postwar Experience • Being the only child of five with any education beyond high school, she became a nurse • Later, used her own money to pay for brother’s college education • Moved to Washington D.C. and worked at a hospital there • Eventually, moved to Los Angeles to find work again • Now resides in Seattle.

17. Differences Between Sally’s Experience and The Book • Family Living Style • Levels of Discrimination • Reactions to Situation

18. Surprises! • Sally’s Reaction to the War and Treatment • Her close encounters with the actual Pearl Harbor attack • The many differences between Sally’s experience and the secondary source • Conspiracy Theory

19. Successes: -Access to informant -My secondary source -Mother remembered a lot of grandma’s past • Difficulties: -Grandma’s old age -Differences between her experience and the book

20. Discussion Questions • Is it better to aggressively fight for your rights/beliefs or simply let issues resolve themselves over time? • Is ethnic integration necessarily better if that integration comes along with harsh prejudice and discrimination? Or is it better to be ethnically separated if that means little conflict between ethnicities?