Introduction

Contained within this booklet are Tanka poems written by students of the Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus. These poems speak about the bravery and dedication that was displayed by the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the 100th Battalion during World War II. Through these writings, authors express their feelings about what Japanese Americans endured during this time. Enjoy!

A Poem For You, 4-4-2

Although they are gone We honor the 4-4-2 They may not see dawn Again, and we may be blue We honor you 4-4-2 By: Acacia Coloma-Mariano

Gone

Surrounded by death

Lives are taken away now

Taking their last breath

I begin to take a bow

To those who have died for me By: Ilima Fisher

Fought for our country Fought as an American

To protect our great homeland We die together as one

Kaʻala Foster

Restrained Heroes

I express my pride

For the country I live in

But they won’t believe

That my people are loyal

We remain caged, with hopes high

By: Keoni Frampton

Bonds

Bonds once made, ruined

at the sight of fighter jets.

One side chaotic,

as the other brings chaos.

Bonds, yet again made through blood.

By: Olivia Franco

Imprisoned but fighting

Came to our home

Took my father and brothers

Were taken to camps

Mistreated, weakened, and sick

Still I volunteer to fight

By: Lawrence Harris

Reach For The Stars by: Micah Ing

Brave, noble leader

Charging to the highest heights

Living positive

With a heart of gold, he strikes

Honoring America

The soldiers they fought They fought for our great nation Risked their lives for us Made our nation proud and bold Their legacy won’t get old By: Kalei Kamalii

The Soldiers

All I see is red Blood and fire surround me I am Japanese Fighting for my great country Still they treat me like nothing

Yours Truly, Bryant Kubo

The Fighting

By: Jonah Logotala Puli

Japanese heroes Fighting without showing fear

Fighting without stop Fighting hard but treated wrong

Treated bad with no respect

The Honorable Soldier

The Ted Tanouye

Known as a cocky buggah

Charging up the hill

Ted dropping men one by one

But rewarded after death

by: Jonathan Lum Lung

Caged By: Liz Okazaki

We are Japanese

Hated for my heritage

Caged up in a camp

Our sons have Went to war

It doesn’t change where we are

Untold Story By: Kristian Rosete

An untold story Once happened so long ago

Of the Japanese Soldiers, all so brave and bold

Fighting the war young and old.

Strength

He was built with care

He was treated unfairly

He was pure and bare

He fought for his family

He lived a life that’s hate free

By: Buddy Santos

Family and Friends

Why do they do this? They take our family And our friends too. We hope and we pray that they Will return to home one day.

By Dylan Tavares

Personal Responsibility

By: Kaylee Thompson

I will not beg for

freedom when I speak to them;

I will not cry for

flowers that refuse to grow.

I will do what I have to.

Boom! So many jet planes

The earth exploded with smoke Screaming and crying

Why would anyone do this? Well what happens to us now?

By: Ionatana Tua

Away From Home

To my family Please stay safe during this time

If the children ask Tell them I’m fighting for them

I will make them proud

Madison Williams

ケージ

Japanese People

Stripped of their rights and freedom

Were like animals

In a cage with no way out

And all their tears were brought out

By: Micah Alo

As smoke fills the air, And salty tears flood my

eyes, I fight through the pain.

We must push on, to survive.

Cause this is all we have left.

By: Kale‘a Borling

Unappreciated by: Ashley Castro

What is going on?

My life risked for this country

No one even cares

They still discriminate me

I’m unappreciated

They took us to camps.

But we took it like a

champ.

They thought we were

bad.

That made us a little sad,

But we went and fought

like men.

The Camps

By: Kamanu Gomes

Friends by: Greg Harris

We march to the line.

Bullets fly past my comrades.

Many people die.

I try to call to my friend.

He is gone. Goodbye, my friend.

Underestimated What choice do we have?

Trying to prove ourselves true, And yet we cannot.

They expect us to falter, But brave soldiers will fight on.

By: Carolynn Krueger

Tears

It brings tears to me

Enslaved in my own country

As I say goodbye

To my friends and family

To fight for the enemy

By: Kawailehua Kualaau

Recollections of a Fighter By Regina Kuhia

Discriminated

I fight a losing battle

Alienated

I fight for those who hate me

Do not forget my struggle

Thank you By: Mikayla Lau I may not know you But I know you did great things Your blood, sweat, and tears Saved many lives over here Thank you for protecting me

Why? Is all I ask Taken from my home by force

Treated like horses Confused, Frustrated, Lonesome My Heart weeps for my country.

BY: Lilia Lorenzo

Loneliness consumes.

The only hope is my home.

Japanese soldiers,

Seeing our families trapped.

Tsunami tides flood my eyes.

By: Jessica Mendiola

Go For Broke

I chose to fight hard,

For a country against me.

We don‟t get to rest,

Between the bloody battles.

“Go for broke” is all I know.

By: Kia Nae„ole

The Hill By: Kelsey Ota

Walking up the hill,

I see bullets shooting by, Wind scratching my face.

I pray I go home alive, But for today I focus.

As we march away,

my life flashes before me

Deeper into war-

we go and most won’t

come back

But we will go and fight

hard.

GO FOR BROKE!

By: Nuʻuanu Santos

Prison Camps

Discriminated Japanese Americans Sent to prison camps Striped from all they

knew and loved Coming home to start a

new

Drifting

I’m saying goodbye

To my brothers and sisters

As we drift apart

Towards the dark small barracks

I don’t know when we will meet

Elijah-Cole Tabion

Soldier Boy

Behind a stone face

And deep within his cold soul,

A broken man lives.

Yet he continues his fight,

For he will come marching home.

By Brandy Takiguchi

They were all locked up

for not one reason at all.

The brave, strong minded

fought for us taking their lives

and will forever be loved By Mical Ventura

Brave

Caged Life taken away

Thrown into a brutal camp Caged by barb wire

Though we still decide to fight Fight for this unfair country

By: Tiare Ventura

I am Japanese

I fought for my family and for my country

To win was our mind set Go for broke, fight to the death Brennon Aloy

by: Colton Cabanas

I lived Peacefully

Then one day it was all changed

Taken from my home

Locked away for no reason

Just cause I am Japanese

America in The War Japanese Brother

Fighting for America We’re now internees Now this horse is my

roommate Get me out of here

By: Nick Castro

I Live In Prison

Where are you father?

Mother and I are worried

We have a new home

But I do not feel at home

I feel like a prisoner

By: Savannah Dudoit

A Great Hero He is a Hero

He saved a lot of people

Proud American

Never get mad during war

Got the Medal of Honor

By: Jordon Fetalvero

Japanese Life

Being Japanese,

It was a very hard life.

Incarcerated

And fighting for this country

They’ll never be forgotten.

By: Crystal Hipolito

The Fierce Ones By Shae Johnson-Eugenio

World War II was bad

You go for broke till the end

The Japs were heroes

They were proud and fierce to fight

I’m proud to be Japanese

A Soldier Life

Forever brothers

Never backing down in life

Never going back

Forever till the ending

Eh Go FO Broke, live your life

By: Edward Juan

But Why By: Dustin Kaleiopu

What is it we’ve done? We too are of this country. Please don’t make us pay, Don’t keep us like animals. We have also been betrayed.

I am Japanese. One word went through my mind was,

discrimination. Turned against in my own home.

How could they do this to us?

Kea Kuia

Confused Soul By Zackary Lopez

I’m trapped in my home

Because of my heritage.

Now I have chosen

To fight for my own country

A country that’s scared of me

He is a Legend, He gunned down many Germans With his B.A.R. He is now a War Hero Won a Medal of Honor

Maka Medeiros

War Hero

The Battlefield Stuck in a warzone

All battered and so confused The gun shots and screams I can not help being bruised

My brothers forever lost

By: Destinee Murray

Alone in the Dark

We are all human

Japs and the Americans

Yet we are taken

Together we stand alone

We are Japanese for life

By Chase Newton

Taken from the love

No wife, no children, no warmth

Wanting to go home

Tears for those they miss so much

Lives lost, will his be one?

Tears of the Soldier By: Noelani Reyes

Proud to be American By: Julia Saffery

Discrimination

Locked up because of our race. How could this happen?

We are like everyone else, Proud to be American.

Lost Freedom

I am Japanese

I’m also American

I have no freedom

I have been disrespected

I want my dignity back!

By: Ryland Santos-Adrian

Four Forty Second

Discriminated against

For being one Jap

They were very courageous

We will never forget them

Our Japanese Heroes

- Macie Tawata

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