Himeyuri Peace Museum exhibit at UH West Oʻahu examines Hawaiʻi connection
University of Hawaiʻi-West Oʻahu
Image from the “Himeyuri and Hawaii” exhibition. Photo courtesy of Himeyuri Peace Museum.
Image from the “Himeyuri and Hawaii” exhibition. Photo courtesy of Himeyuri Peace Museum.
Image from the “Himeyuri and Hawaii” exhibition. Photo courtesy of Himeyuri Peace Museum.
Image from the “Himeyuri and Hawaii” exhibition. Photo courtesy of Himeyuri Peace Museum.
The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu’s James & Abigail Campbell Library is set to host “Himeyuri and Hawaii,” an exhibition from the Himeyuri Peace Museum in Okinawa from September 5 to January 31, 2024.
The exhibit examines the connection between Himeyuri and Hawaiʻi and shares the story of the Himeyuri Student Corps—consisting of students from the Okinawa First Girls’ High School and the Okinawa Female Normal School—who were mobilized in 1945 during the Battle of Okinawa. These adolescent female students served as nurses for the Japanese and Okinawan soldiers; their horrific wartime experiences speak eloquently to the insanity of war and to the importance of peace. About 240 Himeyuri students and teachers were sent to war, and 136 of them became casualties.
“The Himeyuri school students’ experience of the Battle of Okinawa exposed the vulnerability of the people under foreign occupation whose lives were sacrificed for the occupiers’ destructive contest for geopolitical supremacy,” said Masahide Kato, UH West O‘ahu associate professor of political science .
Kato continued, “Both Okinawans and Native Hawaiians have endured depopulation, displacement, deculturalization and the destruction of the natural landscapes they hold as sacred. And they have overcome their plight with resilience, cultural revitalization, and nonviolent mobilization for justice. The Himeyuri exhibit takes us to the abyss when war intersects with prolonged occupation. It also tells us the story of surviving students who broke their self-imposed silence and committed to the establishment of the museum to preserve their memories and spread the message of peace.”
“Himeyuri and Hawaii” is an educational initiative of the Himeyuri Peace Museum, the Himeyuri Peace Resource Center and the Okinawa Prefecture. To learn more about the exhibit visit https://himeyuri-and-hawaii.com/.
The exhibition opens September 5 with an opening reception at 11 a.m. near the library’s entrance. The ceremony will feature brief remarks from Professor Masanori Nakahodo, chairperson of the Himeyuri Peace Museum and Joyce Chinen, UH West Oʻahu professor emeritus. For more information and a series of related special events at the James & Abigail Campbell Library visit https://westoahu.hawaii.edu/library.
Note: See four attached images from the “Himeyuri and Hawaii” exhibition. The photos are courtesy of the Himeyuri Peace Museum.
About the James & Abigail Campbell Library
The James & Abigail Campbell Library, in supporting the mission of the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu, is committed to providing excellent, user-centered service in meeting the information needs of students, faculty, and staff. Using innovative technologies, Campbell Librarians develop, organize, preserve, and deliver scholarly print and electronic resources and instruction that empowers students to become engaged, life-long learners. Through our services, collections, teaching, and outreach, the library honors and supports diverse learning styles, perspectives, and interests intrinsic to a liberal arts education. The library serves as the center of campus and promotes a welcoming and stimulating learning environment. For more information, visit https://westoahu.hawaii.edu/library.
About the Himeyuri Peace Museum
Himeyuri Peace Museum was established on June 23, 1989. It is a private museum founded by former Himeyuri students. The museum preserves the Himeyuri survivors’ war experiences through exhibits, including informative panels, personal effects, survivors’ documents, testimonial films, and a full-size replica of the Ihara Third Surgical Cave, where many among the Himeyuri Student Corps perished while hiding from the enemy. For more information, visit https://www.himeyuri.or.jp/.
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