MO'ILI'ILI — Four Farrington High School diplomas were awarded yesterday, 65 years after the recipients were to have graduated.

The attention, however, wasn't on the sheepskins, it was on the men seated at the Farrington Alumni & Community Foundation luncheon. Crowned in lei nearly to their chins, the men — a former boxer, a retired letter carrier, a lawyer and an electrician — took their rightful place among the 435 men and women of the class of 1943.

"I feel so proud of my dad," said Jeff Kam, son of Ronald Kam, the retired machinist/ electrician who never actually graduated from Farrington because he had to stop school after the attack on Pearl Harbor and was needed at the naval base. "It's about time that he is recognized."

In addition to Kam, there were three men who were members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. They are: Robert Katayama, Tsuneshi Maruo and Alfred Y. Arakaki.

School principal Catherine Payne handed the diplomas to the men as their names were called with "Pomp and Circumstance" playing. As the diplomas were given, more than 300 people were on their feet giving the men a standing ovation at the Japanese Cultural Center ballroom.

Kam said he tried to get his diploma after the war, but he was told he was too old and not eligible. It didn't stop him from leading a full life, however. He married, had four children and worked as an electrician.

"It is something I looked forward to," Kam said. "Uncle Sam wanted me. But this (the recognition yesterday) is something my children did for me. See Grandpa beat you folks."

In April 1943, Farrington High School threw a farewell party for the 18 Japanese-American seniors who cut their education short to volunteer for World War II. Today few of the Farrington 18 are still alive. Some are believed to have died in the war, others of old age.

"We're honoring some people who should have graduated in 1943," said Steve Takekawa, who emceed the event.

Martha Miyake, who researched the 18 men who went off to war, said she believes 10 are still alive, but the others weren't found.

"It was sad walking on graduation day without all our classmates," Miyake said. "We may have given up our school for the war, but we got to graduate."

Katayama, who earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Hawai'i and a law degree from Yale University, said he was one of the lucky survivors of the war who returned to Hawai'i.

"I appreciate joining with you at this 32nd meeting of the foundation and am grateful for refcieving our diplomas so we can stand with you as full-fledged graduates of Farrington High School."

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.