Abigail Tamayose, a student at King Kekaulike High School in Pukalani and the current Chrysanthemum Ambassador, recently represented Maui and the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center (NVMC) by leading a delegation to Japan for a time of reflection and good-will. The Chrysanthemum program started on Maui more than seven decades ago. It is currently administered by the NVMC to bring young leaders together to participate in community service and travel-related events. 

“The goal of our Chrysanthemum program is for our young leaders to experience what the Nisei meant by their motto ‘for continuing service,’” said Deidre Tegarden, NVMC executive director. “Hearing Abigail speak about the resilience of Hiroshima and Fukuyama, reminded us that this program is not just about honoring history, it’s about preparing the next generation to carry that legacy forward with courage, humility, and purpose.”  

Tamayose shared, “On this trip we went to many different parts of Japan, including Kyoto, Hiroshima, Fukuyama, and much more. We saw many lovely temples, shrines and castles, such as Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto and the amazing Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island. We also got to experience many memorable events as well. I got to see the A-Bomb dome and learn about the immense devastation of war.” 

She continued, “In Fukuyama, I had the chance to meet with Mayor Edahiro and attend a meeting where we strengthened our 30-year connection between Maui and Fukuyama. We have also been official sister cities since 2008. It was very inspiring to hear how a city completely devastated in 2011 by a massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake, with the resulting 15-meter tsunami destroying their coastal towns and causing immense flooding, can come back even stronger.  As I sat on a tatami mat with an incredible view of the Fukuyama castle outside, I had the chance to think about the destruction seen on our own island of Maui during the 2023 wildfires. I saw just how resilient and strong people can be in times of crisis. This trip opened my eyes to new perspectives, teaching me about forgiveness, resilience, and the true strength of communities coming together in times of need. Having the opportunity to represent NVMC and the island of Maui as the Chrysanthemum Ambassador was truly a life-changing experience.”