Hideto Kono oral history interview, September 26, 1999

Kono discusses his parents immigration from Japan; talks about growing up in a village where sugar cane is produced; and talks about attending school and Japanese language school. He then discusses the reasons why he was sent to Japanese language…

Kono discusses his employment after high school and during the war in the grocery department of Theo H. Davies Company and talks about witnessing discrimination there. He then talks about his high school friendships and classmates; attending high…

Kono reads a poem he wrote and sent to his niece while overseas; discusses his experiences going to New York during rest and relaxation (R&R); and talks about his Military Intelligence Service (MIS) assignment after training. He then talks about…

Kono discusses his experiences cave-flushing which involved talking Japanese civilians and soldiers out of caves. He then talks about his assignment in occupied Japan; getting discharged; and his experiences interrogating Japanese POWs. Next, Kono…

Kono discusses suicides of civilians on Saipan; and discusses his best wartime memories which included food, and recreational activities. He then talks about seeing his family again and his post-war life in Hawaii; discusses the end of the war; and…

Kono discusses his post-war career working for the Dole Company, the East-West Center, his work on a project regarding the centennial of Japanese immigration to Hawaii, and some of his other employment opportunities. He then talks about some of his…