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JD: Yeah, that's interesting to me, too, the memorial and the message that you see it giving people. Can you say something about that?

JH: Well, the people who were on the committee to select the area in which the memorial is being built did a tremendous job because they preserved almost all the trees that were there. And particularly the native red cedars, Thuja plicata, have a tremendous stature. And it's basically because they are native to the Northwest, standing by as guardians of preserving the Northwest plant culture. And I think they're on the right track, obviously, and what a beautiful site that is. I think everyone should visit and treasure what they're seeing here, paying tribute to Bainbridge Island and the nature. I think it can be absorbed in spirit of all the people who see it and visit the memorial park.

JD: What about as a reminder of specific events from the 1942 and meaning of that? What would you like to see people get out of that?

JH: Well, BIJAC, Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community, put a tremendous amount of work in all of the events that they have sponsored. And hours and hours and hours of work and planning has come up because a few people cared. And pretty soon, lots of people cared. So there's certainly a richness in the project itself and the activities, particularly cultural activities of the Japanese community such as the mochi pounding. We used to have a teriyaki dinner. There are still some picnics held every five years, I believe. And they come here because we really care. And we'll continue, hopefully, The younger is getting, the younger generation of Japanese citizens on the island, are getting more involved in understanding their culture. So I think that's rich in itself. Niseis are getting older, and the Sanseis and Yonseis and Goseis continue with the traditional activities that they're getting involved in. So it's wonderful.

JD: Maybe you could just say a little bit more about the feeling for nature or the philosophy of nature that you've mentioned that obviously motivated your father, your uncle and yourself, too, throughout your whole life work. How you felt about nature, what you think is the importance for people of being connected to nature.

JH: Well, the very air that we breathe is enriched by our wonderful trees. I think the community itself, overall community on Bainbridge Island itself have stepped on the bandwagon, too, through our green program. For instance, more sensitivity to what we put in the ground and in the air. I think it's because of the understanding of these people and what they are exposed to that make it enriched by people who really care. That has to come with the knowledge of plants and what they do for you, not only physically, but mentally. And so I'm very pleased to see and hear more about the green program on Bainbridge Island, and rightly so, because the citizenry on Bainbridge is very pointed to preservation. And I think it's wonderful that we have such a community, richness of community.

<End Segment 10> - Copyright © 2007 Densho. All Rights Reserved.