BIJAEM — Project History/Timeline

• Initial formation of Bainbridge Island WWII Nikkei Exclusion Memorial committee under partnership with North Kitsap/Bainbridge Island Interfaith Council
• Non-profit status established as subcommittee of the 501(c)(3) Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community

• First brochures printed, initial fundraising at various events nets $16,800
• Design workshops held by architect Johnpaul Jones, initial memorial design developed and display boards created
• Memorial Committee decides site should become a national historic memorial, strategies developed to gain political and public support, initial legislation is drafted and lobbying begins to local, regional, state and federal governments
• National Historic Landmark Nomination study completed by University of Washington professor Dr. Gayle Dubrow
• Bainbridge Island Parks and Recreation District unanimously passes Resolution 2001–5 stating future use of land around the former Eagledale Ferry landing should be used for a Japanese American Memorial
• Planning begins for 60th anniversary commemoration and memorial dedication ceremony on March 30, 2002

• January
• Bainbridge Island City Council unanimously passes Resolution 2002–2 in support of memorial becoming a national historic site
• February
• Washington State Legislature holds hearings on SHJM 4026 supporting memorial becoming a national historic site, memorial committee members and Bainbridge Island mayor testify in support
• Washington State Legislature unanimously passes SHJM 4026 urging President Bush and Congress to designate the memorial as a national historic site
• US Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Bainbridge Island) introduces H.R. 3747, “Bainbridge Island Japanese-American Memorial Study Act of 2002”
• Granite marker and plantings installed at historic former Eagledale Ferry landing
• March
• Kitsap County Board of Commissioners unanimously passes Resolution 055-2002 in support of memorial becoming a national historic site
• Bainbridge Island Park and Recreation District Board of Commissioners unanimously passes Resolution 2002-4 in support of memorial becoming a national historic site
• 60th Anniversary commemoration of the first Japanese Americans removed to internment camps and memorial marker dedication ceremony held on March 30th; Gov. Locke, US Rep. Jay Inslee and other elected officials joined 700 attendees, event is covered by all major media and covered nationally
• Gov. Locke proclaims March 30, 2002 as "Nikkei Memorial and Remembrance Day"
• April
• Seattle Post–Intelligencer editorial board endorses memorial becoming a national historic site "Internment: Let it not happen again"
• May
• National Convention of the Japanese American Citizens League unanimously passes resolution as top national legislative issue for the memorial to become a national historic site
• July
• Nomination submitted to American Forests to designate 100 year-old Western red cedar at memorial site onto the National Register of Historic Trees
• August
• Premiere showing of “After Silence” documentary of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community internment experience, later aired on PBS
• September
• U.S. House Resources Subcommittee on Parks, Recreation and Public Lands holds hearing on H.R. 3747, the "Bainbridge Island Japanese-American Memorial Study Act of 2002." Memorial committee chair Clarence Moriwaki and Bainbridge Island Mayor travel to Washington D.C. to testify in favor of the bill. Committee later unanimously passes bill for consideration to the full House of Representatives
• U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passes H.R. 3747
• Seattle Times editorial board endorses memorial as a national site "Nidoto Nai Yoni – a Bainbridge message"
• November
• U.S. Senate unanimously passes H.R. 3747
• December
• President Bush signs H.R. 3747, becomes Public Law No: 107–363
• Memorial committee develops strategy with City of Bainbridge Island and The Trust for Public Lands to lobby Washington State Legislature for funds to purchase land and develop the memorial
• Memorial committee members give numerous presentations throughout the year, total funds raised $21,700

• January
• Washington State Legislature Capital Budget includes request of $2.5 million for memorial land acquisition and development
• March
• Meetings with key members and staff Washington State Legislature budget committees
• May
• Memorial Committee hires professional grant writer
• June
• Washington State Legislature awards $1.5 million in Community, Trade and Economic Development grants for the memorial project — $1 million for land acquisition, $500,000 for development
• September
• American Forests announces listing a 100 year-old western red cedar located on the memorial site on the National Register of Historic Trees
• November
• National Parks Service holds public scoping meetings for the memorial on Bainbridge Island and Seattle
• New memorial project brochures printed
• Memorial committee members give numerous presentations and attend events, Washington State grants and total funds raised now $1,528,440

• March
• Ceremonial groundbreaking for the memorial, 62nd anniversary of the internment removal and kick off of fundraising partnership with the Trust for Public Lands
• April
• US Congress secures $100,000 for National Parks Service to complete the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Memorial study
• September
• Memorial main entry gate and interpretive displays installed at Winslow Post Office, designed and donated by the Timber Framers Guild
• Bainbridge Island Rotary Club gives top annual donation of $25,000 to memorial project
• October
• National Historic Tree at memorial site protected by emergency shoreline restoration project
• November
• Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles endorses and offers support for memorial project as national site
• Funds total $1,600,000

• March
• Bainbridge Island hearing examiner holds public hearing on land use for memorial project
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approves wetlands permit for memorial project
• April
• Building permits for memorial project submitted to City of Bainbridge Island
• Bainbridge Island hearing examiner approves memorial project
• Washington State Department of Ecology approves Shoreline Development Permit
• May
• Washington State Legislature Capital Budget awards $500,000 for memorial development
• National Parks Service releases draft "Bainbridge Island Japanese American Memorial: Study of Alternatives/Environmental Assessment"
• National Parks Service holds public meetings on Bainbridge Island and Seattle for comments on draft study
• June
• Building plans for first phase construction of memorial submitted to City of Bainbridge Island
• Documentary "After Silence" wins national Cine Award for Best Documentary
• July
• National Parks Service public comment period ends for memorial study. Of the 1,300 responses nationwide, 97% favor the memorial becoming a unit of the Minidoka Internment National Monument in Idaho
• Request for bids to build memorial advertised, three bids opened and all were above the $500,000 budget, all bids rejected
• December
• National Parks Service finalizes "Bainbridge Island Japanese American Memorial: Study of Alternatives/Environmental Assessment"
• Re–advertise request for bids to build phase one of the memorial project
• Total funds $2,100,000

• January
• Memorial first-phase construction bids are opened, Wyser Construction awarded low bid
• February
• Bainbridge Island City Council awards development contract to Wyser Construction
• March
• Multi-faith blessing and dedication ceremony on 64th anniversary of first removal; event covered by media nation-wide
• Construction of first phase of memorial begins
• June
• US Department of Interior releases Bainbridge Island Japanese American Memorial study, recommends that the memorial become a satellite unit of the Minidoka Internment National Monument
• July
• US Reps. Jay Inslee (D–Bainbridge Island) and Mike Simpson (R–Idaho) introduce H.R. 5817 "The Bainbridge Island Japanese American Monument Act of 2006" to make the memorial a satellite unit of the Minidoka Internment National Monument
• Total funds $2,250,000
• September
• Fumiko Hayashida, the oldest living survivor exiled from Bainbridge Island, travels to Washington D.C. to testify in favor of H.R. 5817 "The Bainbridge Island Japanese Monument Act of 2006" before the US House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks
• Thirty members of the Timber Framers Guild complete memorial pavilion and walkway entrance and exit gates
• October
• Memorial first–phase construction completed that includes walkways, boardwalks, drive–through drop off area, gates and pavilion
• November
• Paul G. Allen Foundation reviews $1 million grant application, grant award panel interviews Clarence Moriwaki

• February
• By a vote of 419–0, the US House of Representatives unanimously passes H.R. 5817 "The Bainbridge Island Japanese American Monument Act of 2006  The measure is referred to the US Senate for consideration.
• March
• 65th anniversary ceremony held at memorial site, featured speakers included former Washington governors Gary Locke and Mike Lowry and event covered by media nation–wide
• Fundraising dinner at Yonder hosted by Frank Buxton and Cynthia Sears, featuring honored guest artist Jimmy Mirikitani
• April
• Bainbridge Community Foundation and Lynwood Theater hosts benefit screening of award–winning "Cats of Mirikitani" documentary
• Paul G. Allen grant of $100,000 for the memorial officially transferred to City of Bainbridge Island
• July
• Phase II request for bids advertised by City of Bainbridge Island
• September
• Phase II receives only one bid ($1 million) well above the $400,000 estimate. Bid was rejected and committee plans to restructure Phase II and aims to re–bid in 2008.

• January
• "Visioning Session& workshop to consider interpretive center and meeting room design held at Bainbridge Island City Hall
• New cost estimates for Phase II are developed by MSM Construction Services, LLC
• Washington state Rep. Christine Rolfes submits Washington state capital budget request of $350,000 for Phase III
• February
• Second "Visioning Session" held at Bainbridge Island City Hall unveils conceptual designs of interpretive center and meeting room
• March
• National Parks Service experts host Interpretation Workshop to help develop memorial themes on Bainbridge Island
• Nisei luncheon on the 66th anniversary of the first Civilian Exclusion Order and BIJAC President Dr. Kitamoto honored by the Daughters of the American Revolution
• April
• The US Senate votes 91–4 to approve the bill (S. 2739) that contains the memorial authorization, and one week later the US House of Representatives approves the same bill 291–117
• May
• On May 5th, President Bush officially signed into law the creation of the Bainbridge Island Nidoto Nai Yoni "Let it not happen again" Japanese American Memorial as a satellite unit of the Minidoka National Historic Site
• June
• Detailed scale model of the interpretive center and meeting room, plus updated model of the full memorial project are publicly unveiled at the Minidoka Pilgrimage
• October
• Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial (BIJAEM) is officially incorporated into a new private non-profit 501(c)(3) organization
• December
• City of Bainbridge Island advertises request for bids to construct Phase II
• BIJAEM President Clarence Moriwaki is awarded National Parks Conservation Association's highest recognition, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Award for work on the memorial
• Total funds and donations $2,690,000

• January
• Memorial Phase II bids are opened, six bids submitted, lowest bidder is contested
• Construction/remodel of Taylor Avenue Road well house begins
• February
• Bainbridge Island City Council awards Drury Construction Phase II construction project with bid of $473,000
• National Parks Conservation Association ceremony for Clarence Moriwaki is held at IslandWood, award presented by former Washington Governor Mike Lowry
• Taylor Avenue well house project is completed
• March
• Phase II project agreement signed between City of Bainbridge Island and BIJAEM
• Story-wall construction begins
• September
• As part of the Ken Burns' PBS Series "American's Best Idea" , the National Parks Conservation Association names BIJAEM president Clarence Moriwaki a "Park Champion" www.npca.org/bestidea/champion-moriwaki.html

• March
• Clarence Moriwaki steps down as president of BIJAEM in order to work full time as CEO of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington. Sallie Maron becomes the new BIJAEM president.
• Construction of the story–wall is complete. EDX/Turner is hired to design and oversee fabrication and installation of the interpretive materials for the wall.
• Celebration of the completion of the wall is held on March 30. All donors, volunteers, and friends of the project from the past ten years were invited to view the wall and celebrate this accomplishment.
• May
• BIJAEM is awarded $182,725 in grant monies from the Japanese American Confinement Sites Grants Program, which is administered by the National Parks Service. Senator Maria Cantwell and Representative Jay Inslee held a press conference at the memorial site to celebrate the grant.