PRESS RELEASE NO. 18-2023
Officials of the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu and Filipino state legislators pose in front of one of the statues of the Filipino Veterans of WW II Monument. From left to right are Consul Grace Bulos, State Representatives Sonny Ganaden, Cory Chun, and Rachele Lamosao, Consul General Fernandez, State Senator Henry Aquino and retired State Senator Clarence Nishinara. (Photo credit: Joel Bulos)
Consul General Emil Fernandez thanks Filipino World War II veteran Oscar Bangui for his service, while the latter’s fellow veteran Art Caleda looks on. Mr. Bangui now serves as President of the World War II Filipino American Veterans Hawaii Chapter. (Photo credit: Joel Bulos)
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 27 February 2023 - Consul General Emil Fernandez attended the dedication of the Filipino World War II Veterans Monument at the Waipahu Public Library last 24 February, upon the invitation of Governor Josh Green. Filipino veterans, including Oscar Bangui, Faustino Garcia and Art Caleda and their families, Filipino-American state legislators, officials from the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the Art Advisory Committee, among others, graced the occasion.
House Bill 942, passed by the Hawaii State legislature in 2017, appropriated funds for the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to commission a permanent monument to symbolize Hawaii’s gratitude to Filipino veterans, provide a visual reminder of these Filipino veterans’ unique contributions in American and world history, and educate the public on the role that minorities played in the outcome of World War II.
The Foundation commissioned Kelley Hestir, artist, sculptor, educator and a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, to undertake the five-year project.
The monument is composed of four bronze statues representing the fighting forces of the Philippine Constabulary, 1st Filipino Division, Filipino Scouts, Filipino Guerrillas and the 1st and 2nd Filipino Regiments from Hawaii and the US mainland. The monument honors the veterans of Filipino heritage and the civilian resistance who fought against the Japanese invasion and occupation of the Philippines. END.
