Korean War Foundation, Inc. (KWFI) was incorporated as a Hawaii nonprofit corporation File No. 329075 D2 on December 8, 2023, issued Federal Employer Identification Number 93-4915071 on December 18, 2023 and issued Hawaii Tax Identification Number GE-024-421-3248-01 on January 18, 2024.

KWFI is working on the projects as follows:

1. Oral History Interviews & Podcasts

2. Display Boards & Exhibitions

3. Short Films, Feature Length Films & Documentaries

4. Story Books, Ebooks & Audio Books

5. July 24, 2025, Thursday, 31st Anniversary of the dedication of the war memorials ceremony at the State Capitol

6. July 24, 2025, Thursday, 31st Anniversary of the dedication of the war memorials activities & events at the State Capitol

7. July 24, 2025, Thursday, 31st Anniversary of the dedication of the war memorials community festival lunch at the State Capitol

8. July 24, 2025, Thursday, 31st Anniversary of the dedication of the war memorials dinner

9. July 27, 2025, Sunday 72nd Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice ceremony at the State Capitol

10. July 27, 2025, Sunday 72nd Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice activities & events at the State Capitol

11. July 27, 2025, Sunday 72nd Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice community festival lunch at the State Capitol

12. July 27, 2025, Sunday 72nd Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice dinner

13. Fundraising

Korean And Vietnam War Memorials Foundation, Inc. (K&VWMFI) was incorporated as a Hawaii nonprofit corporation File No. 329038 D2 on December 8, 2023, issued Federal Employer Identification Number 93-4918746 on December 19, 2023 and issued Hawaii Tax Identification Number GE-036-971-4688-01 on January 18, 2024.

K&VWMFI is working on the projects as follows:

1. Right Of Entry and Memorandum Of Agreements to maintain and construct improvements

2. Maintenance

3. Landscaping

4. Wall and fencing

5. Security monitors

6. Lighting

7. July 24, 2025, Thursday, 31st Anniversary of the dedication of the war memorials ceremony at the State Capitol

8. July 24, 2025, Thursday, 31st Anniversary of the dedication of the war memorials activities & events at the State Capitol

9. July 24, 2025, Thursday, 31st Anniversary of the dedication of the war memorials community festival lunch at the State Capitol

10. July 24, 2025, Thursday, 31st Anniversary of the dedication of the war memorials dinner

11. Fundraising

ACT 323 H.B. NO. 3658 A Bill for an Act Relating to Veterans War Memorials. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Hawaii:

The memorial to the veterans of the Korean and Vietnam conflicts shall be constructed on the Ewa lawn of the state capitol among the trees near the Richards Street border, bounded on one side by the covered stairway (with appropriate setback), Richards Street (with appropriate setback), and Beretania Street (with appropriate setback). The height of the memorial shall not exceed 20 feet, keeping in proportion with other statuary located in the immediate area. The design of the memorial shall utilize the natural assets of the site, with secluded areas of wall and trees for purposes of remembrance and meditation. 

The veterans memorial commission established pursuant to section 6E-44, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall have ninety days after the effective date of this Act to finalize a design for the memorial that meets the criteria set forth in section 1, and to submit the design to the veterans memorial review board established in section 3. In formulating its design for the memorial, the commission shall consider the suitability of the proposals of the seven finalists of the original design competition to the criteria set forth in section 1, and shall consult with all interested veterans' and community groups. If the commission fails to submit a design to the review board within ninety days after the effective date of this Act, or ceases its work prior to that deadline, then the department of accounting and general services shall submit a final design as provided in section 3.

There is established within the department of accounting and general services for administrative purposes only, a temporary veterans memorial review board comprised of five members. Three of the members shall be appointed by the governor, one member shall be appointed by the speaker of the house, and one member shall be appointed by the president of the senate. Members appointed to the board shall at least include veterans of the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, members with expertise in the field of architecture, and a representative from neighborhood board number 13. The review board shall elect a chairperson from among its members, who shall serve without pay. Sections 26-34, 26-35, and 26-41, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall not apply to the board. The review board’s function shall be to monitor and review the work of the commission in developing the design and to approve or disapprove the final design of the memorial submitted by the commission or the department of accounting and general services in accordance with section 2. The review board’s decision shall be rendered within seven days of a timely submission by the commission. Approval shall be predicated upon a finding that the design and its selection conform to the criteria set forth in sections 1 and 2. If the board disapproves the submitted design, or the commission ceases its work or fails to meet the deadline established in section 2, then the department of accounting and general services shall submit a final design within thirty days after the date of disapproval or the date it assumes responsibility from the commission. The board shall cease to exist following its approval of a final design for the memorial.

The department of land and natural resources shall solicit the participation of all veterans’ organizations, including veterans of the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, in the planning and design of the war memorial hail within the Aiea (Rainbow) bay state recreation area, as proposed in the Aiea bay state recreation area conceptual master plan. This participation shall supplement input provided by community groups and members relating to park development. Use of the memorial hall by the community and veterans is intended to foster a better’ understanding of the sacrifices of veterans and their fallen comrades, and the design of the hall shall appropriately reflect this intent. 

Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, the appropriation under Act 316, Session Laws of Hawaii 1989, Section 222 as amended and renumbered by Act 299, Session Laws of Hawaii 1990, Section 6 in the amount indicated or balance thereof is hereby lapsed: Item, No. DEF1 12-lA in the amount of $840,000.00.

The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $840,000, or so much thereof as may ‘be necessary, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for fiscal year 1992-1993, to carry out the purposes of this Act. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of accounting and general service for plans, land acquisition, design, construction and equipment for a Korean and Vietnam conflicts memorial on Oahu.

Any law or any provision of this Act to the contrary not with standing, the appropriation made for the capital investment project authorized in this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made provided that all appropriations made to be expended in fiscal year 1992- 93 which are unencumbered as of June 30 1994 shall lapse as of the date SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 6 shall take effect on July 1 1992 (Became law on July 7 1992 without the Governor s signature pursuant to Art Ill § 16 State Constitution.)

As part of the 2024 celebration, a feature film is planned for which its storyline promises to find art imitating life. It will follow a videographer, a veteran himself possibly suffering from the effects of PTSD, which has led him to sink to the depths of his life, finding his way back as he films the progress made on constructing a fence around the Hawaii Korean And Vietnam War Memorials. The Korean And Vietnam War Memorials is located in Honollulu. Hawaii on the West grounds of the Hawaii State Capitol. It was dedicated on July 24, 1994. This movie, tentatively entitled "Fencing The Forgotten," is currently a work in progress, which we plan to develop and produce as part of this year's celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Korean And Vietnam War Memorials. It will be produced by Bob Imose, Rodney Sato, Charlie Compuesto, and Eric Nemoto. It will be written and directed by Eric, and will star Charlie.

• First draft written January 31, 2024
• Second draft revised February 29, 2024
• Final production draft completed March 31, 2024
• Pre-Production (casting, locations secured, production schedule created, etc.) by April 30th, 2024
• Production shoot estimated to be in May 2024 (estimated 13 day shoot)
• Post production begins June 2024
• Post production continues July 2024
• BTS video (approximate 5-8 minutes) completed for screening on the night of the celebration, e.g. July 24th, 2024
• Post production continues August 2024, with picture lock goal to be August 15th, 2024
• Movie completion, including all final sound editing (including music, all credits, etc.) completed by September 30th, 2024
• Premiere in South Korea, October-November 2024

Filming to proceed during a range of time, say in March and April, during three days in which we can get the maximum number of Hawaii Korean War veterans to come in be interviewed.

Will be filmed and archived for viewing, e.g., can be made part of the kwfi.us website.

Will be filmed and archived for viewing, e.g., can be made part of the kwfi.us website.

Eric is the owner of Yellow Brick Studio and the creator of three of the five ventures that the company promotes, LegacyVision Films, Serenergy, and ForesT. LegacyVision Films develops and produces movies for passionate, driven people who have a vision of a story they feel compelled to create as their lasting legacy. Serenergy provides an online free movie platform for filmmakers where they can then sell their work. ForesT is a database of screenplay synopses that brings writers and producers together.

Eric dispels the myth that everyone is either left or right brain dominant. In his previous career in higher education, he was the go-to person to see for analytical reasoning, whether it would be understanding federal regulations or devising student recruitment strategies. Among other positions he held, he was the Associate Dean of Enrollment Management and Director of Financial Aid for Chaminade University for many years (1994-2010). At the same time, he amassed an impressive creative resume. He founded, and is the president of TAG - The Actors' Group, a community theater that over 30 years has developed into Honolulu’s go-to place for compelling drama. As a stage actor, he is a two-time Po`okela recipient (Hawaii’s annual theatre awards) for excellence in acting (Oleanna, 2001, Miso, 2010), and was also nominated an additional three times (Equus, 2002, K2, 2003, and The Guys, 2004).

In film, he played visionary Shigeo Yoshida in Tom Coffman’s acclaimed documentary, The First Battle, (Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF), 2004, and also public television), portrayed the dying father in Tim Savage’s short film, Cutback (HIFF, 2007, and a holiday staple for the New Hope Christian Fellowship Church), portrayed the violent Tamotsu in Ed Sakamoto’s ghost thriller, Obake Neko, 2008, directed by Denny Hironaga, and played a lawyer, Wren, in Tiramisu On The Beach, 2016, directed by Jon Brekke, whose beachside dinner for the attorney opposite him in a sexual harassment case, and former mistress, turns into a verbal battle between the male and female species.

Eric has a bachelor’s degree (Political Science) from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, a master’s degree from Oregon State University (College Student Services Administration), and a screenwriting certificate from the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program (the largest program of its kind in the U.S.). As a writer, he has written over 140 feature-length movie screenplays. Of these, 15 have been produced as movies (including Parts Of The Same Circle, HIFF, 2012, and the Big Island Film Festival (BIFF), 2013, in which he also acted in a lead role), 12 have been produced as stage plays (including Merry Christmas, Roberta, co-written with Michael Wurth and Jon Brekke, Best Play Po`okela award, 2008, and five that were written for, and produced with, filmmaker Jeff Katts revolving around his Soul Saviour universe and spin-offs thereof). He has also written eight TV programs about local artists (Artists Of Hawaii), co-wrote the OC-16 sitcom, The Tide Is High, wrote training videos for the State Department of Education, and wrote a children’s book (Getting Ready For Kindergarten) with his wife, Mary Ann, which has been distributed to local preschools. He has directed nine independent movies, directed 10 stage plays, served as an associate producer of Tom Coffman’s One Team (the documentary of Father Kenneth Bray, Iolani School’s legendary football coach, voted Best Short Film, HIFF, 2012). He has also been in numerous television commercials, voiced over many radio ads, and appeared in principal roles on both Lost and Hawaii Five-O (recurring role of prosecuting attorney, James Chen). He has also taught acting for over 25 years and is the instructor of The Acting Gym, an acting class administered through his agent, Ryan Brown, owner of the ADR Agency, which is taught according to the principles of the acting book he wrote entitled, Just Act. He is also the owner and developer of All Hawaii TV, a Roku TV public channel, which he intends to build up as “the” place to go to see anything that is Hawaii on television. Eric’s wife, Mary Ann, son Cory, daughter Kristen Nemoto-Jay, son-in-law Aaron “Iwi” Jay, and adorable granddaughters Winter and Autumn Jay (“the seasons” and grandpa’s “stars in the making”), round out his beautiful family.