Thomas Sakakihara
Encyclopedia
, referred to locally as Tommy Sakakihara in person and in print, was a Japanese American
politician from Hawaii
, interned due to his ancestry
during World War II
.
and first ran for political office in 1926. He was elected to the legislature of the Territory of Hawaii
in 1932, and served continuously then on for several terms.
In 1941, Sakakihara was one of six Americans of Japanese ancestry serving in the territorial legislature. After the attack on Pearl Harbor
, he was made a deputy sheriff of Hilo, but was later discharged from that position. The intersection of Sakakihara's ancestry and rise to prominence set him up for negative attention from the US Army's Hawaii sub-command
. He had earlier been listed on the Plan of Initial Seizure of Orange Nationals drawn up by George S. Patton
between 1935 and 1937, among 127 other Japanese American community leaders. Then on February 26, 1942, Sakakihara and roughly thirty other prominent Japanese "enemy aliens or suspected sympathisers" were arrested by the Army. He was held at the Honouliuli Internment Camp
until 1943; his release was conditional on a signed pledge not to sue the U.S. government for damages related to the internment.
Unlike fellow legislator and Honouliuli internee Sanji Abe
, Sakakihara returned to politics after the end of World War II
; he and five other Japanese Americans were elected to the Hawaii territorial House of Representatives for 1947. He was re-elected in 1948, along with fellow Japanese Americans Takao Yamauchi and Joe Itagaki. He also served as one of the vice-presidents of the 1950 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention. He found a strong political base among small sugar-growers. Eventually, his long service and political support earned him a position as chairman of the legislature's Finance Committee. He was also instrumental in getting increased funding for the Hawaii Vocational College (later the Hilo branch
of the University of Hawaii
). However, he and other Asian American Republicans lost their legislative seats in the Hawaii Democratic Revolution of 1954; Sakakihara himself was accused in a full-page ad in the Hilo Tribune-Herald by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union
of taking salary kickbacks from his legislative workers.
to parents Shinzo and Hisa (née Hagihara). He gained familiarity with the law by working in the office of a local lawyer. His law career culminated in 14 years of service as District Judge for the Big Island of Hawaii. On April 15, 1933, he married Aileen Sadako Arizumi, with whom he had two children. Of small stature and build, he affected a dapper image, walking with a cane he admitted he did not actually need. His friends described him as aggressive and feisty. He was said to be fond of Black & White whisky
, and served it during his frequent parties at the Young Hotel
.
As late as 1970, Sakakihara was listed as a field representative for the office of Senator
Hiram Fong
. He did not speak out publicly about his internment until February 1976, when the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
interviewed a number of former Honouliuli internees for a front-page story about President Gerald Ford
's rescindment of Executive Order 9066
. He died in March 1976.
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
politician from Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, interned due to his ancestry
Japanese American internment
Japanese-American internment was the relocation and internment by the United States government in 1942 of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese who lived along the Pacific coast of the United States to camps called "War Relocation Camps," in the wake of Imperial Japan's attack on...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Political career
Sakakihara joined the Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and first ran for political office in 1926. He was elected to the legislature of the Territory of Hawaii
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
in 1932, and served continuously then on for several terms.
In 1941, Sakakihara was one of six Americans of Japanese ancestry serving in the territorial legislature. After the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
, he was made a deputy sheriff of Hilo, but was later discharged from that position. The intersection of Sakakihara's ancestry and rise to prominence set him up for negative attention from the US Army's Hawaii sub-command
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He had earlier been listed on the Plan of Initial Seizure of Orange Nationals drawn up by George S. Patton
George S. Patton
George Smith Patton, Jr. was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from...
between 1935 and 1937, among 127 other Japanese American community leaders. Then on February 26, 1942, Sakakihara and roughly thirty other prominent Japanese "enemy aliens or suspected sympathisers" were arrested by the Army. He was held at the Honouliuli Internment Camp
Honouliuli Internment Camp
The Honouliuli Internment Camp was one of five internment camps in Hawaii during World War II.-Construction and operation:Run by the US Army, the camp's supervisor was Captain Siegfried Spillner. The camp was constructed on of land near Ewa on the island of Oahu to hold internees transferred from...
until 1943; his release was conditional on a signed pledge not to sue the U.S. government for damages related to the internment.
Unlike fellow legislator and Honouliuli internee Sanji Abe
Sanji Abe
was a pre-World War II politician in Hawaii. He was the first Japanese American elected to the Senate of the Territory of Hawaii.-Early life and political career:...
, Sakakihara returned to politics after the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
; he and five other Japanese Americans were elected to the Hawaii territorial House of Representatives for 1947. He was re-elected in 1948, along with fellow Japanese Americans Takao Yamauchi and Joe Itagaki. He also served as one of the vice-presidents of the 1950 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention. He found a strong political base among small sugar-growers. Eventually, his long service and political support earned him a position as chairman of the legislature's Finance Committee. He was also instrumental in getting increased funding for the Hawaii Vocational College (later the Hilo branch
University of Hawaii at Hilo
The University of Hawaii at Hilo, UHH, or UH Hilo is one of the ten branches of the University of Hawaii system anchored by the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in Honolulu, Hawaii...
of the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
). However, he and other Asian American Republicans lost their legislative seats in the Hawaii Democratic Revolution of 1954; Sakakihara himself was accused in a full-page ad in the Hilo Tribune-Herald by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union
International Longshore and Warehouse Union
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union is a labor union which primarily represents dock workers on the West Coast of the United States, Hawaii and Alaska, and in British Columbia, Canada. It also represents hotel workers in Hawaii, cannery workers in Alaska, warehouse workers throughout...
of taking salary kickbacks from his legislative workers.
Personal life and other activities
Sakakihara was born on July 17, 1900 in Hilo, HawaiiHawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
to parents Shinzo and Hisa (née Hagihara). He gained familiarity with the law by working in the office of a local lawyer. His law career culminated in 14 years of service as District Judge for the Big Island of Hawaii. On April 15, 1933, he married Aileen Sadako Arizumi, with whom he had two children. Of small stature and build, he affected a dapper image, walking with a cane he admitted he did not actually need. His friends described him as aggressive and feisty. He was said to be fond of Black & White whisky
Black & White (whisky)
Black & White is a blended Scotch whisky. It was first produced by the London-based whisky blender founded by James Buchanan. Originally known as House of Commons , its nickname, referring to the black and white labelling, was eventually adopted as the official brand instead.The brand's motif Black...
, and served it during his frequent parties at the Young Hotel
Alexander Young Building
The Alexander Young Building was a building in Honolulu, Hawaii built during 1900-1903 by Alexander Young , a Honolulu Mechanical Engineer and businessman from Scotland.-Building:...
.
As late as 1970, Sakakihara was listed as a field representative for the office of Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Hiram Fong
Hiram Fong
Hiram Leong Fong , born Yau Leong Fong , was an American businessman and politician from Hawaii. He is most notable for his service as Republican United States Senator from 1959 to 1977, and for being the first Asian American and Chinese American to be elected as such...
. He did not speak out publicly about his internment until February 1976, when the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin was a daily newspaper based in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the second largest daily newspaper in the state of Hawaii...
interviewed a number of former Honouliuli internees for a front-page story about President Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
's rescindment of Executive Order 9066
Executive Order 9066
United States Executive Order 9066 was a United States presidential executive order signed and issued during World War II by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942 authorizing the Secretary of War to prescribe certain areas as military zones...
. He died in March 1976.