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September is National Literacy Month and is an opportunity to connect with the poems and stories of those who were held at the camp. The internees and incarcerated American civilians devoted themselves to learning English, the very language of their captors who imprisoned them. Through poems and stories, the prisoners of Honouliuli remained mentally resilient through their unjust internment, and the National Park Service has partnered with bookstores and authors who continue to publish literary works that honor that history. This month will feature a speaker and in-person book events to meet these authors and learn about their work. Please Note: Nearly all of our Speaker Series events will be virtual. Event details will be posted closer to the month in which they take place. Please check back for updates to the calendar and event pages. 
Speaker: Sharon Fujimoto-JohnsonDate and Time: September 2025, exact date and location TBD. Discussion Summary: Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson is a children's book author-illustrator, poet, and fourth generation Japanese American. In her children's book SHELL SONG (Simon & Schuster/Beach Lane Books, 2025) and poems included in the anthology THE GATE OF MEMORY: Poems by Descendants of Nikkei Wartime Incarceration (edited by Brynn Saito and Brandon Shimoda, Haymarket Books, 2025), Sharon addresses the World War II incarceration of her paternal grandfather at Sand Island and Honouliuli. The shells collected behind barbed wire by Sharon's grandfather carried his story across generations and inspired SHELL SONG, the first children's book about the Japanese American incarceration camps in Hawaiʻi. 
Meet the Authors (Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson and Dr. Kelli Y. Nakamura)da ShopDate and Location: September 20 2025, da Shop, 3565 Harding Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816, 2:00-3:00PM (HST) About the Event: Visit da Shop to meet these two authors Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson's work is rooted in her Japanese-American heritage but more broadly seeks to normalize all types of stories of underrepresented characters who don't fit mainstream boxes. Her books "Shell Song" and "The Mochi Makers" are children's books that intersect the messages of the past with the hopes for future generations. Come visit the store for a chance to speak with her about her experiences and written works. Meet author Dr. Kelli Nakamura as she discusses her book "Legacies of Incarceration: The World War II Experience of Hawaii's Japanese". Legacies of Incarceration provides a holistic view of the incarceration experience of Hawaii's Japanese by exploring the factors that shaped the circumstances of confinement on each island before, during ,and after WWII. This book examines residents' experiences on Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Molokaʻi, Lanaʻi, Kauaʻi, and Oʻahu, expanding beyond an Oʻahu-centric urban focus to highlight the community impact of incarceration. Dr. Kelli Y. Nakamura is also a featured speaker in December. 
Meet the Author (Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson)Barnes & Noble Date and Location: September 21, 2025, Barnes & Noble, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd Ste 1272, Honolulu, HI 96814, 2:00-3:00PM (HST) About the Event: Visit Barnes & Noble to meet Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson, an author whose work is rooted in her Japanese-American heritage but more broadly seeks to normalize all types of stories of underrepresented characters who don't fit mainstream boxes. Her books "Shell Song" and "The Mochi Makers" are children's books that intersect the messages of the past with the hopes for future generations. Come visit the store for a chance to speak with her about her experiences and written works. 
Honouliuli Monthly Bookstore Educational ItemPearl Harbor National Memorial Gift ShopDate and Location: September 2025, 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, HI, 96818 About the Event: The Honouliuli National Historic Site bookstore is located in the Pearl Harbor National Memorial bookstore. The bookstore, which carries items beyond just books, provides visitors with a range of interpretive and educational materials about Honouliuli. The income generated from these items supports important historic preservation, ongoing research, visitor interpretation, natural and cultural resources management, and educational programs at the park. To find other ways to help support the park, explore the drop down menu under the Get Involved section of the navigation banner. |
Last updated: March 20, 2025