Monthly Movie Matinees

By: Leonard Oka

ON EVERY SECOND SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH,

the Maui’s Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans (MSDNV) sponsor a free movie in their Monthly Movie Matinee series. Doors open at the Stanley Izumigawa Resource Center at 1 p.m, and the movie begins at 1:30 p.m.

For years the MSDNV and the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center (NVMC) have been collecting a library full of books, movies, and oral histories that tell the story of the Nisei Veteran’s World War II experience. Also found in the collection are other historical, educational and cultural information. It has been stored away for years in a safe and environmentally controlled archival room found within the downstairs “Educational Center” at the NVMC campus. Most visitors to the center were not aware of this treasure of resource material available for viewing. The MSDNV decided it was necessary to share this information with the general community. It was determined that a free public showing of one movie per month would be a great way to share this collection with the community, and the “Monthly Movie Matinee” was born!

At one of its general membership meetings on Jan. 19, 2019, the club introduced its first movie, “Under the Blood Red Sun.” A small handful of members enjoyed a free movie, snacks and refreshment. It was followed, several months later by a continuous monthly showing of movies of various topics. (A break was taken for pandemic concerns).

Many of the movies chosen were related to the subject matter covered in the then— current historical and educational exhibit being displayed at the Education Center. Exhibits included photos from the Toyo Miyatake exhibit, 442nd exhibit – Part II, Korean War exhibit, Internment exhibit, and a recent photo exhibit of photographer, Shane Sato’s portraits from his two books, “The Go For Broke Spirit.” Featured in the January MMM was an oral history interview done on WWII and Maui physician, Dr. Seiya Ohata, whose portrait was part of the photo exhibit by Sato. Of course, a must was to show the original movie, “Go For Broke,” starring Van Johnson and featuring several veterans of the original 100th Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team! For a change of pace, the February movie was “The Wind Rises,” a 2013 Japanese animated historical drama film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, animated by Studio Ghibli.

The Wind Rises was the highest-grossing Japanese film in Japan in 2013. Approximately 40 people enjoyed this movie, which was nominated for several awards including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Curating this event was student, Raina Ouye, who volunteers at the center when she is home on vacation from college.

Attending the Monthly Movie Matinee is a fun way to enjoy the second Saturday of every month! The event, along with snacks and beverages, are FREE, but reservations are a must!

Call the center to reserve your seat at (808) 244-6862. Go to the NVMC website, nvmc.org, for updated information on upcoming movies.