<Begin Segment 18>

MN: Now, while you were in Manzanar you snuck out to go fishing a lot. After you came out of camp, did you go back to the Manzanar area to go fishing?

AK: Sure, a lot of times.

MN: What was that like to go back and the camp is all empty?

KK: We just said hello and goodbye and went by.

AK: Yeah.

KK: There wasn't any, anything there. I mean, that big storage place...

AK: Big auditorium.

KK: But that was it.

MN: So you went with him.

KK: Of course

AK: I'd go fishing, she'd always go with me.

KK: We were married already, so every time we went fishing, we'll all pack up and went together.

[Interruption]

MN: What was the, what was it like to go by the camp and there's nothing there?

KK: Nostalgic, but then we didn't miss it. [Laughs] We know it's there.

MN: Anything you want to add to that?

AK: People are, there's a lot of Caucasian people fishing too, and they didn't say anything, didn't bother me. That's what I, most of the people were afraid. But then I went anyway, and they didn't say anything.

MN: How do you two feel about your son's interest in the guayule project?

KK: I think it's wonderful that somebody took an interest in it. Yeah. You gonna say something? [Laughs]

AK: Yeah, I'm just glad he's here to help me out. He'll, he remembers more, more things than I would.

MN: How do you two feel about how the Manzanar campsite is developing right now?

KK: I think it's nice, yeah. And I think it's nice they have the pilgrimage every year. Can't go anymore. It's too much of a hassle. He wanted to go.

AK: Yeah, I like to go there, reminisce and go fishing back there.

KK: But he'd rather go fishing. [Laughs]

MN: Well, you know your sister sings almost every year now at Manzanar pilgrimage?

KK: Yeah.

MN: Have you been able to go to any of the early pilgrimages that she sang at?

KK: Yeah.

AK: It was probably later on.

KK: We went to a few of 'em.

MN: How does it feel to have a celebrity in your family?

AK: I don't know.

KK: [Laughs] I think it's nice.

AK: Yeah, I'm proud of her.

KK: Everybody knows Manzanar, when it comes to Manzanar.

MN: Anything else you two want to add?

AK: No.

KK: You want to add something?

AK: No, not -- well, I still enjoy going there fishing to remind me of the time we had in camp, and that's why I go there. Almost every time, every time I go up north, I try fishing over there in Manzanar.

KK: Yeah, he, every time we go towards Bishop he wants to go fishing. He's not interested in going back to Manzanar. [Laughs]

MN: Just fishing.

AK: And that auditorium is still there.

KK: Yeah.

<End Segment 18> - Copyright © 2012 Densho. All Rights Reserved.