Sadae Kasaoka, a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing, flanked by Hiromi Peterson (left) and Naomi Hirano-Omizo (right), retired Punahou Japanese language faculty who established the Hiroshima Peace Scholarship in 2009.
On Aug. 14, Punahou students, teachers and community members gathered in Luke Lecture Hall at the Wo International Center to reflect on the human suffering of those who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Punahou senior Chloe Tonda ’26, who traveled to Japan as a Hiroshima Peace Scholar this summer, provided a powerful perspective – sharing how deeply moving it was to meet Japanese students whose families still carry the memory of Aug. 6, 1945.
Tonda described the destruction she learned about, but focused on an inspiring takeaway: remembrance must lead to action. Healing, she said, begins when stories are shared and when people work together to ensure such tragedies are never repeated.
The Hiroshima Peace Scholarship was founded in 2009 by Hiromi Peterson and Naomi Hirano-Omizo, now both retired Japanese language faculty members of Punahou School. Their vision was to provide students with the opportunity to travel to Japan, study the legacy of the atomic bombings, meet survivors and carry forward Hiroshima’s message of peace.
Following Tonda, the audience was honored to hear from Sadae Kasaoka, a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing. At just 12 years old, Kasaoka experienced the unimaginable – she lost both of her parents in the aftermath of the attack and vividly recalled the devastation she witnessed as a child. Speaking to the audience, she explained how it has shaped her life ever since.
Despite the suffering she endured, Kasaoka has devoted her life to telling her story so that future generations might learn from it. She explained that sharing these stories helps ensure the events of Hiroshima are not forgotten and that such tragedy does not occur again. Her story, though deeply personal, reflected a broader message about the human cost of war and the ongoing need for peace education.
Through Tonda’s reflection and Kasaoka’s testimony, the audience was reminded that memory is not passive – it is an active responsibility. Hearing their voices served as a reminder to remember, to share, and to work for peace so that the wounds of Hiroshima may one day heal.
For Punahou, events like this affirm the purpose of the Hiroshima Peace Scholarship: empowering students to become carriers of memory and advocates for peace. By connecting generations across cultures and oceans, the program ensures that Hiroshima’s lessons will continue to shape young leaders committed to building a more compassionate and peaceful world.