Go back to PRESS RELEASES

Contact: Diane Tanaka
310-222-5709 office

GO FOR BROKE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION HOSTS SECOND ANNUAL GALA “EVENING OF ALOHA”

Featuring Hawaii Chefs Roy Yamaguchi and Hiroshi Fukui, Entertainment by Hawaii’s Ukulele Wonder Jake Shimabukuro

TORRANCE, CA - (September 22, 2003) - The Go For Broke Educational Foundation is excited to announce its second annual dinner, “Evening of Aloha,” featuring two award-winning Hawaii-based fusion chefs, Roy Yamaguchi of Roy’s restaurants and Hiroshi Fukui of L’Uraku restaurant in Honolulu. On Saturday, November 8, 2003 an anticipated 650 attendees will come together at the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach, Calif. to fill their appetites with an exquisite, eclectic blending of Hawaiian Euro-Asian fare. Miss Universe 1997 Brook Mahealani Lee will be the evening’s Mistress of Ceremonies, with an opening performance by Keali’i O Nalani, an award-winning Polynesian dance group. The star of the evening will be Jake Shimabukuro, the talented 27-year-old ukulele phenomenon recognized as Hawaii’s “Favorite Entertainer of the Year” and “Favorite Instrumental Album of the Year” by 2003 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.

This year’s celebration is particularly poignant as it also marks the 60th anniversary of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team - the most decorated unit, together with the 100th, in U.S. military history for its size and length of service. The “aloha” theme of the event is important for it symbolizes the bridge between the WWII veterans from both Hawaii and the mainland that came together to defend America, though many of their families were living behind barbed wire for no reason but their race. To ensure the civil injustices the Japanese Americans faced during WWII is never repeated, the Go For Broke Educational Foundation implements programs that teach the uncommon valor of these veterans.

Tickets for Evening of Aloha are $125 per person. WWII veterans and their spouses only can purchase tickets at a special $100 per person rate. All proceeds of the event will go to the support the Go For Broke Educational Foundation’s programs. For more information contact the Educational Foundation at 310-328-0907 or go to www.GoForBroke.org.

For out of town guests, a special rate of $99 per room, based on availability, has been arranged at the Hyatt Regency Hotel located at 200 S. Pine Avenue in Long Beach. Please contact the hotel directly at 562-491-1234 or 800-633-7313, please mention the Evening of Aloha/Go For Broke Educational Foundation for the special rate.

The Go For Broke Educational Foundation institutes educational programs focused on the heroism and history of the Japanese American soldiers of World War II, as well as the forced evacuation and incarceration of Japanese American and civil liberties issues raised by those events. Currently the Educational Foundation’s programs include An American Story Teacher Training Program, Hanashi Oral History Program, educational Web site www.GoForBroke.org, and select media projects.

In 1989 Japanese American World War II veterans established the 100th/442nd/MIS WWII Memorial Foundation to build the Go For Broke Monument, which today serves as an eternal tribute to the heroics of the segregated Japanese American units: 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Military Intelligence Service (MIS) and the many other men and women who served overseas during World War II. The Monument is located in downtown Los Angeles at Temple and Alameda Streets.

Go back to PRESS RELEASES