On the Leeward Coast, a familiar neighborhood park now carries a name that hits much closer to home. Wai’anae District Park was officially renamed Thursday as the Shinyei Nakamine and 100th Infantry Battalion Memorial Park, giving the community a permanent reminder of a hometown soldier who never made it back from World War II.
The new name links a busy local gathering spot to the legacy of Private Shinyei Nakamine, a Wai’anae native who served with the all Nisei 100th Infantry Battalion. The timing is not accidental. The change arrives as the park undergoes upgrades, and it layers on top of an existing tribute, since the on-site gymnasium already bears Nakamine’s name.
The Department of Parks and Recreation announced the renaming in a post on its official X account on April 23, 2026, saying the ceremony recognized both Nakamine and members of the 100th Infantry Battalion. According to the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation, the dedication was framed as a way to honor the battalion’s service and the tight community ties that connect Wai’anae to its veterans…