November Events: Life at Camp

10th Anniversary celebrations for the month of November will center around life in Honouliuli internment camp and how prisoners kept themselves occupied for the many years they were incarcerated. Many traditional artforms, including drawings, carvings, and music, became commonplace in the camps to stave off the overwhelming threat of boredom.

In addition to several speakers, Honouliuli is partnering with local organizations that specialize in the game of Go, a popular past time for Japanese Americans, Japanese POWs, and Korean POWs. Members of the community who get involved can even learn how to play the game themselves while learning of its historical and cultural significance to East Asia and the camps.

Please Note:

Nearly all of our Speaker Series events will be virtual.

Event details will be posted closer to the month in which they take place. Please check back for updates to the calendar and event pages.

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Speaker: Delphine Hirasuna (feat. Sandi Chang)

Date and Time: November 2025, exact date and time TBD

Discussion Summary: Led by Delphine Hirasuna, author of the book "The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps, 1942-1946", this presentation will cover how the camps came to be and showcase the different materials used for the intricate pieces of art crafted by those imprisoned. Hirasuna will be joined by Sandi Chang, granddaughter of Sam Nishimura who was incarcerated at Honouliuli.

Nishimura's work remains a stunning example of resilience and craftsmanship in the camps with his toothbrush rings, carvings, and toys he made for his family.

Biography: Delphine Hirasuna is a graphic designer and author of over a dozen books, of which "The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps, 1942-1946" became an exhibition shown at 15 museums, including the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery and the International Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe. Her work has also traveled around Japan where it was viewed by the Emperor and Empress themselves.

Sandi Chang is the granddaugher of Sam Nishimura, an incarcerated civilian of Honouliuli who turned to the arts during his time in camp. Sandi has been an active community member in sharing her grandfather's and Honouliuli's story and has been featured in documentaries such as "The Untold Story: Internment of Japanese Americans in Hawaii".

 

Speaker: Sid Kobashigawa

Honolulu Go Club

Date and Time: November 2025, exact date and time TBD.

Discussion Summary: The Game of Go at Honouliuli Internment Camp

This presentation will begin with a short description of the game of Go and its strategy. It will then cover the history of Go in Japan from its arrival in the 6th century to the present. Upon its introduction into Japan, the game was first played by court nobility then eventually spread to the samurai class and then to the general population. The game enjoyed institutional support by the Tokugawa Shoguns from the 17th to 19th centuries and the Shoguns gave the strongest Go player a governmental position with a stipend. Professional Go players emerged in the 20th century with major corporations sponsoring Go tournaments much like corporations sponsor tennis and golf tournaments in the West.

Kobashigawa will then cover the history of Go in Hawaii from the time of the arrival of Japanese immigrants to the outbreak of the war with Japan, ending with the discussion of the significance of Go at the Honouliuli Internment Camp as well as all the mainland interment camps. Two Honouliuli internees will be highlighted. Both were Japanese Americans born in Hawaii, interned at Honouliuli, then sent to mainland interment camps and, of course, played Go during their internment days. Biography: Sid Kobashigawa spent 16 years of teaching the class "Buddhist Philosophy and the Game of Go" at Punahou School to over 180 local students each year.

 

Go Demonstrations with the Honolulu Go Club

Date and Location: November 2025, Exact Date and Location TBD

About the Event: Join Honolulu Go as they give Go demonstrations at the University of Hawaii's Japan Culture Day.

 

Honouliuli Traveling Pop-Up Exhibit: Hawaii State Library

Hawaii State Library

Date: All of November, 2025, Hawaii State Library, 478 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813, open during library hours.

About the Event: For the entire month of November, the Hawaii State Library will be the home of Honouliuli National Historic Site's traveling exhibit. Visit the library to read up on the history of Honouliuli and what work has been done on the site since its discovery. For a comprehensive list of literature related to Honouliuli and Japanese American incarceration, please check out our Recommended Reading List.

 

Honouliuli Monthly Bookstore Educational Item

Pearl Harbor National Memorial Gift Shop

Date and Location: November 2025, 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, HI, 96818

About the Event: The Honouliuli National Historic Site bookstore is located in the Pearl Harbor National Memorial bookstore. The bookstore, which carries items beyond just books, provides visitors with a range of interpretive and educational materials about Honouliuli. The income generated from these items supports important historic preservation, ongoing research, visitor interpretation, natural and cultural resources management, and educational programs at the park.

To find other ways to help support the park, explore the drop down menu under the Get Involved section of the navigation banner.