David Ono narrates “Defining Courage,” a live presentation of the heroism of Nisei soldiers during World War II at a performance in Hawaii in 2023.
The Nisei Week Foundation proudly hosts its 82nd summer event with free cultural activities for all ages. As part of its first weekend of events, the Nisei Week Japanese Festival features the Grand Parade, which will make its way through the streets of Little Tokyo on Sunday, Aug. 11, starting at 4 p.m.
The parade will be led by 2024 Grand Marshal David Ono, ABC7 news anchor, and Parade Marshal Amy Hill, actor. The parade procession will start at Central Avenue and head west on Second Street, turning north on San Pedro Street, turning east on First Street, then turning south and ending on Central Avenue.
The parade will feature taiko drum performers, local community groups, high schools, elected officials and representatives, and the newly crowned 2024 Nisei Week Queen and Court.
The two marshals will be honored at the Nisei Week Awards Dinner on Monday, Aug. 12. For more information, visit niseiweek.org.
Grand Marshal
David Onois the anchor for ABC7 Eyewitness News at 4 and 6 p.m., the top-rated newscasts in all of Los Angeles, on any channel and time slot.????
He joined ABC7 in 1996 and has witnessed history worldwide, covering Hurricane Katrina, Haiti’s earthquake, Japan’s tsunami, and two royal weddings, and was twice present for the selection of a new pope. He traveled across Europe and Asia, chronicling the brave acts of Nisei soldiers from World War II. He tracked drug runners through Central America and reported live from Boston after the tragic marathon bombing. He covered terrorism from Paris not only in 2002 after a plot was foiled to bring down the Eiffel Tower, but also in 2015 as the historic city was crippled with fear.
Ono also created a new type of storytelling, taking live audiences to World War II battlefields where the Nisei soldiers performed amazing heroics at great sacrifice. The show, called “Defining Courage,” melds live music, including orchestra and singers, with live narration and cinematic footage, old and new, from all over the world.
He is also an award-winning filmmaker and has produced documentaries on topics from history and civil rights to the most pressing issue of our time, climate change.
Ono has won 31 Emmy Awards, 12 Edward R. Murrow awards, two RTDNA (Radio Television Digital News Association) National Unity Awards, six AAJA (Asian American Journalists Association) National Journalism Awards; was the recipient of the Distinguished Journalist Award from the Society of Professional Journalists; was named Anchor of the Year in the U.S. by Broadcast and Cable; and was honored to have received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, from the Japanese government.
Parade Marshal
Amy Hillhas over 200 television and film credits, including “50 First Dates” and “Next Friday.” She was a recurring guest star on “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “UnREAL,” “Preacher” and “Mom,” and was a regular on multiple cable and network TV series, including? NBC’s “Magnum P.I.” as Kumu for five seasons and Prime Video’s “Just Add Magic” as Mama P for four seasons.
The 2022 film “Mack & Rita,” starring Diane Keaton, marked Hill’s joyful return to the big screen. Her next project is the live-action “Lilo & Stitch” film, which is expected to be released on Disney+ this year.
As a voice actor, she had recurring and regular work in numerous animated series and films, including “Kung Fu Panda” and “American Dad.” Next season, Hill will be featured on Freeform’s “Praise Petey.”
In addition to her work on screen, she enjoys working in regional theater productions at The Mark Taper Forum, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Seattle Rep, Actors Theatre of Louisville and The Public Theater in New York City. She also appeared on Broadway in a Lincoln Center production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” that aired on PBS’ “Live from Lincoln Center.”
Hill proudly calls Los Angeles’ East West Players her “home” theater, where she has performed, directed and taught peers.
The 82ndNisei Week Japanese Festival is a nine-day event first held in 1934 and is recognized today as one of the nation’s longest-running cultural festivals. This event will take place in Little Tokyo from Aug. 10 to 18. For the festival schedule, visit NiseiWeek.org, call the Nisei Week Foundation office at (213) 687-7193 or email [email protected].