Capitol Modern to Open 'I Am An American: The Nisei Soldier Experience'

Capitol Modern, the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum, will open the traveling exhibition I Am An American: The Nisei Soldier Experience on November 7 in downtown Honolulu.

Running through March 13, 2027, the exhibition traces the history and personal narratives of second-generation Japanese Americans who enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II. Set against the backdrop of anti-Japanese hostility, martial law, and mass incarceration following the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, the show focuses on the complex legacy of loyalty, military service, and civil rights among Nisei soldiers.

Staged at the historic No. 1 Capitol District Building – formerly an Armed Services YMCA – the presentation holds deep local resonance. Hawaiʻi was home to a significant portion of the Nisei service members who formed units such as the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, as well as personnel in the Military Intelligence Service.

Capitol Modern serves as the primary public showcase for the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. While the institution frequently highlights contemporary Oceanic and Pacific practices, hosting this traveling historical exhibition underscores its ongoing engagement with pivotal chapters in the islands' cultural and social history. Additional tour venues for the exhibition have not yet been announced.