Honolulu Sister City Connection to Bruyères, France Lives On Through New Film Project
In November 2025, a delegation from Honolulu embarked on a powerful 20-day journey through France and Italy, filming scenes for an upcoming documentary that celebrates the legacy of the 100th Infantry Battalion and honors Honolulu’s enduring sister city relationship with Bruyères, France: a bond forged in 1960 that has its roots in the heroic liberation efforts of World War II.
Kathi Hayashi, President of the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans (Club 100) and daughter of 100th Infantry Battalion veteran Tokuichi Hayashi, accompanied Producer Steve Sue and the production team for “The 100TH, Seeds of Aloha” as they traveled across historic battlefields connected to the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion.
A Journey Through History
The film production tour covered over 2,000 miles, beginning in Salerno, Italy, where the 100th Battalion landed on September 22, 1943. From there, the team followed the soldiers’ path through numerous battle sites, then into France, visiting L’Escarène, Nice, Bruyères, and Biffontaine: locations that remain deeply connected to Hawaii through the sacrifices made there more than 80 years ago.
The delegation also made a significant side trip to Dachau, Germany, to document how the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion split from the 442nd to rescue Jewish prisoners during a death march to Austria.
Eight Club 100 descendants and spouses joined a parallel “Shadow Tour” to participate in the historic renaming of a public square in San Terenzo Monti, Italy, as “Daniel K. Inouye Piazza,” honoring the site where the future U.S. Senator lost his arm in combat while liberating the village.
Honoring the Connection from Honolulu to Bruyères
As President of the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans organization, Hayashi proudly read proclamations of appreciation from Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi to the Italian towns of San Terenzo Monti and Tendola. The villagers were particularly moved to learn of the Mayor’s Italian ancestry, strengthening the sense of kinship between Hawaii and these European communities.
Mayor of Fivizzano Gian Luigi Giannetti and Mayor of Fostinovo Antonio Moriconi
The documentary project represents an important effort to preserve these stories for future generations while reinforcing the sister city bonds that connect Honolulu to Bruyères and the broader legacy of the 100th Infantry Battalion throughout Europe.
The Documentary’s Mission
“The 100TH, Seeds of Aloha” is being produced by Steve Sue and non-profit ID8, with a target completion date aligned with America’s 250th birthday celebration. The educational documentary aims to share powerful messages of healing, high-performance thinking, aloha, and conflict resolution while firmly establishing that the 100th Infantry Battalion, with their Hawaii roots, were pioneers in Nisei World War II history.
Two world-class musicians, Harold Payne and David Kopatz, joined the tour and created original songs inspired by their experiences visiting these historic sites.
For the people of Bruyères and the surrounding communities that were liberated by soldiers with strong ties to Hawaii, the 100th/442nd are remembered not simply as military units, but as heroes who selflessly risked everything so that others could return to lives of peace and normalcy. Through this documentary, their stories (and the seeds of aloha they planted) will continue to inspire new generations.
This article draws from reflections published in the November 2025 Puka Puka Parade newsletter by Kathi Hayashi and Jot Turner, with courtesy to the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans organization.
Learn more about the documentary at 100thfilm.com.
For information about the Puka Puka Parade newsletter, visit 100thibv.org.
