Monument to Pinoy World War2 veterans unveiled in Honolulu

MANILA, Philippines — A monument dedicated to the contributions of Filipino World War II veterans to freedom and peace has been built in Honolulu.

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.

It honors the veterans of Filipino heritage and the civilian resistance who fought against the Japanese invasion and occupation of the Philippines during the Second World War.

Emil Fernandez, Philippine consul general to Honolulu, attended the dedication of the Filipino World War II Veterans Monument at the Waipahu Public Library last Feb. 24, upon the invitation of Gov. Josh Green.

Filipino veterans – including Oscar Bangui, Faustino Garcia and Art Caleda and their families – as well as Filipino-American state legislators, officials from the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the Art Advisory Committee also 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 then commissioned Kelley Hestir – artist, sculptor, educator and a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa – to undertake the five-year project.