David Y. Ige

Honolulu – Gov. David Ige today signed into law Senate Bill 181 (Act 124) which grants high school diplomas to veterans of the armed forces who were not able to complete their education because of compulsory service in the armed services of the United States during World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War.

Act 124 continues the Hawai‘i State Department of Education’s (HIDOE) Honorary Kupono Diploma program that was established in 2007 with Act 101, which is set to expire on June 30.

The statute establishes a program within HIDOE that not only grants high school diplomas to veterans of the armed forces, it also recognizes Japanese-Americans who were not able to complete high school because they were relocated to internment camps during World War II.

Since 2008, the HIDOE has awarded 26 high school diplomas — 25 to military veterans. Two honorees participated in graduation ceremonies at Maui and Roosevelt High Schools.

Most recently, Hawai‘i recognized its first internment honoree, Sarah Yomogi Sato, who was unable to complete her education at McKinley High School when her family was transferred to an internment camp in Arkansas in 1942.

SB 181/Act 124 continues this program for an additional five years, until 2020.

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Media Contacts:

Jodi Leong

Governor’s Deputy Communications Director/Press Secretary

Office: 808-586-0043

Mobile: 808-798-3929

[email protected]