100th Soldiers of Hawaiian Ancestry

While the 100th Infantry Battalion was formed primarily of American soldiers of Japanese ancestry (AJA) during World War II, approximately 24 members of the original unit were of other ethnic backgrounds, including those of mixed ancestry. Among these men were soldiers of Native Hawaiian ancestry, whose service and contributions are an important part of the battalion’s history.

In 2018, Ramona Ho, who had served as the high school librarian at Kamehameha Schools Maui since 2003, retired after a 40-year career in education. During her tenure at Kamehameha, she began researching Hawaiian and Maui-born soldiers who had served in the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and Military Intelligence Service during World War II.

Mrs. Ho’s retirement was the feature story of the May 15, 2018 issue of the student newspaper “Ka Leo o Nā Koa.” Among her many contributions, she was lauded for teaching students how to conduct research and prepare presentations and for her passion to connect students to their veteran ancestors. She continues to volunteer at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center in Kahului, Maui.

After more than ten years of research, drawing not only on U.S. Army records but also her extensive community connections, Mrs. Ho identified men of Hawaiian ancestry who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion. She generously shared the results of her research with the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans (Club 100) Education Center.

In 2026, the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center shared additional information with the Club 100 Education Center, which integrated the information with its own research.

The following 19 identified soldiers who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion had Native Hawaiian ancestry or family ties:

• Alapai, Abraham: 100th Infantry Battalion, Company A – His father was born in Hawaii and was of Japanese ancestry. His mother was Hawaiian.

• Diamond, Charlie Kahele: 100th Infantry Battalion, Company D – He was of full Hawaiian ancestry but was born in Japan, where he lived with his parents for a few years prior to the war.

• Enomoto, Edward Yutaka Kim: 100th Infantry Battalion, Company C – He was of Hawaiian and Korean ancestry. His mother was of full Hawaiian ancestry, and his maternal half-brother, Gulstan N. T. Enomoto, served in the Military Intelligence Service.

• Kaholokula, Edward B.: 100th Infantry Battalion, Company B – He was of full Hawaiian ancestry, and his mother was the older sister of Daniel Kaleialoha (HQ Co.). He was awarded the Silver Star for his courageous actions on December 7, 1944 during an attack on Pastina, Italy. His cousin, James Kaholokula, also served in Company B.
  

• Kaholokula, James Kaleikapu: 100th Infantry Battalion, Company B – His father was Native Hawaiian. His mother was born in Hawaiʻi and was of Japanese ancestry. He persuaded his cousin, Edward Kaholokula, to join him in the Hawaii National Guard and then the 100th. While stationed at Camp McCoy, he served as musical director of The Hawaiian Serenaders, performing Hawaiian music at venues throughout Wisconsin, and was later recognized with a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award in 1981 for Best Single of the Year for “Nā Wāhine ‘O Ke Kai.”
  

• Kaleialoha, Daniel: 100th Infantry Battalion, Headquarters Company – He was of full Hawaiian ancestry. His older sister, Sarah Kaleialoha Kaholokula, had a son, Edward Kaholokula, who served in Company B of the 100th.
  

• Kapuniai, Robert Kaniupuni: 100th Infantry Battalion, Company F and 442nd, Company F – His mother was of full Hawaiian ancestry. His father, who was born in Hawaiʻi and was of Japanese ancestry, was adopted by and raised by a Hawaiian couple who had no biological children.
• Kato, William: 100th Infantry Battalion, Company B – He was of Japanese and Hawaiian ancestry. His father was of full Hawaiian ancestry, and his mother was born on Niʻihau to a Japanese immigrant father and Hawaiian mother.

• Kealoha, Edward P., Jr.: 100th Infantry Battalion, Company A. His father was born on Maui to a Japanese immigrant father and Hawaiian mother. His mother was born in Hawaiʻi and was of Spanish and Hawaiian ancestry.
  

• Kimura, Paul, Jr.: 100th Infantry Battalion, Company C – His father was born in Hawaiʻi and was of Japanese and Hawaiian ancestry. His mother was of Spanish ancestry. He died during training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.
  

• Naganuma, Martin Mitsuyoshi: 100th Infantry Battalion, Company C – He was killed in action on October 23, 1943, near Sant’ Angelo d’Alife, Italy. His father was a Japanese immigrant, and his mother was of Japanese and Hawaiian ancestry. His maternal grandfather immigrated to Hawaiʻi from Shizuoka, Japan, in 1868 as one of the gannenmono, the first organized group of Japanese immigrants to Hawaiʻi. His Native Hawaiian maternal grandmother was from Maui. Martin had three brothers who served in the 442nd and survived the war.
  

• Oba, Jessie Lehua: 100th Infantry Battalion, Company C – His father was born in Hawaiʻi and was of Hawaiian and Japanese ancestry. His mother was born on Maui and was of Hawaiian and Chinese ancestry.
  

• Padeken, Michael Sandy: 100th Infantry Battalion, Company A – His father was a Japanese immigrant, and his mother was of German and Hawaiian ancestry. His cousin was William P. Padeken, who also served in Company A of the 100th.
  

• Padeken, William Pahumoa: 100th Infantry Battalion, Company A – His adoptive father had a Native Hawaiian mother and father of German and Hawaiian ancestry. His adoptive mother was born in Hawaiʻi and was of Japanese ancestry. His biological father was of Korean ancestry. William’s cousin, Michael Sandy Padeken, also served in Company A of the 100th.
  

• Rosa, George N., Jr.: 100th Infantry Battalion, Company C – He was of Hawaiian and Japanese ancestry, and from the island of Molokai.
  

• Sakamoto, Louis Kahaulelio: 100th Infantry Battalion, Company C – His father was a Japanese immigrant, and his mother was of Hawaiian ancestry. He was killed in action on October 23, 1943, near Sant’ Angelo d’Alife, Italy. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy.”
  

• Waahila, Frank A.: 100th Infantry Battalion, Company A. He was of full Hawaiian ancestry.
  

In addition to these 19 soldiers, Willie Goo (Co. C), whose father was Chinese and mother Japanese; Alvin Planas (Co. A), whose father was Filipino and mother was Japanese; Ed Nishihara (Co. D), whose father was Japanese and mother was Portuguese; and John Yohan Ko (Co. C) and Young Oak Kim (HQ Co.), who were of Korean ancestry, were among the small group of American soldiers of Native Hawaiian and other ethnic backgrounds who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion. Some were of mixed ancestry, and a few had no Japanese ancestry.

For more information about these soldiers who served with the American soldiers of Japanese ancestry (AJA) in the 100th Infantry Battalion, see: Hapa Soldiers in the 100th.

Ramona Ho’s research also identified the following soldiers of Hawaiian ancestry who served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT), Military Intelligence Service (MIS), or 1399th Engineer Construction Battalion during World War II:

442nd Regimental Combat Team

• Hiwa, Albert Masaichi — 2nd Battalion, Company F
• Holokahi, Richard N. — 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, Headquarters Battery
• Holokai, Walter — Headquarters Company
• Kaiwi, Charles M. — 2nd Battalion, Company G
• Keliiaa, Sylvester K. — Headquarters Company
• Keliiaa, Daniel K., Jr. — Anti-Tank Company
• Naganuma, Edward Linzo — 3rd Battalion, Company I
• Naganuma, John Mitsujiro — 3rd Battalion, Company L
• Naganuma, Kenneth, Staff Sergeant — 3rd Battalion, Company K
• Nuha, George — 3rd Battalion, Company K
• Uaiwa, Clarence Kahanu (Matsuda) — 3rd Battalion, Company L
• Waiolama, Abel — 3rd Battalion, Headquarters Company

Military Intelligence Service

• Wauke, Satoru — Oahu
• Enomoto, Gulstan N. T. — Maui
• Nuha, Susumu — Hawai‘i

1399th Engineer Construction Battalion

• Aipoalani, Clarence
• Auna, Elmer Makalono Keonoono
• Kihune, Kazuo
• Kipi, Daniel Kuhina
• Kunukau, Alexander K. (Naganuma)

We welcome additional information about other soldiers who may belong on this list. If you can identify someone who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion and should be included, please contact the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans (Club 100) Education Center.