Season 2. Episode 6. Terminal Island - Japanese Fishing Village. Part 3.

Transcript

On August 20th, 2025, something rare happened on Terminal Island—a vote that put two humble storefronts back on the map of living memory. The wooden buildings on Tuna Street—once the Main Street, the Broadway of the Village—were officially recognized as historic Los Angeles monuments.

To most passersby, they’re just plain wooden boxes with stucco facades. But to the families who once filled this island with shops, barbers, cafés, doctors’ offices, and the rhythm of fishing boats coming in at dusk, they are proof that a community stood here—and mattered.

Today, Alice and Donna help us walk Tuna Street with our eyes open. What did these places mean then? What do they mean now? And how do we keep them standing long enough for the next generation to learn what was once here?

Before we dive in, a quick clarification: the organization Donna represents is called The Terminal Villagers.

Alright, here we go.

Alice on Tuna Street’s Meaning

Alice once said, “The Tuna Street buildings are a reminder that there was a village there. Without them, people wouldn’t know our town was important because of the tuna fishing industry. People need to remember that.”

Tuna Street was our Main Street. It had restaurants, barber shops, pool halls, dry good stores—the Broadway of Terminal Island. At the end of the street, you’d find the wharf where the boats docked at dusk. Everyone knew each other; people supported one another. It was a lively, tight-knit place.

The two surviving buildings? One was a dry goods store, the other a grocery store. For reasons no one fully knows, the Navy spared them when nearly everything else was demolished. Over the years, they were leased to different tenants and altered, but they remain standing as rare survivors.

The Vote & What It Means

Yesterday, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved the designation of the Tuna Street buildings as historic monuments. That vote was the culmination of a long effort involving hearings, committees, and advocacy.

But the designation only protects the buildings temporarily—six months, renewable once. After that, it’s up to negotiations with the Port of Los Angeles and ultimately the Harbor Commission to decide their fate.

Personal Memories

Alice recalls visiting Mio Café with her family, going to the upstairs doctor and dentist offices, and watching fire trucks near the old station. These places weren’t just businesses—they were part of daily life.

As Alice says, “When I stop and think about it, I can see the way it used to be. I wish I had been older to remember more, but the memories I have are vivid—like yesterday.”

At 91 years old, Alice is one of the younger surviving Islanders. Her friend Mary is 101. Each year, the circle of people who remember grows smaller.

Challenges of Preservation

One of the greatest frustrations has been the absence of this story in history books. Over 3,000 Japanese Americans once lived on Terminal Island, yet their forced removal in 1942 scattered the community, leaving little visible trace in San Pedro today.

Japanese residents once lived on Terminal Island because few landlords in San Pedro would rent to them. After the war, the community never fully returned, and their story faded from public memory.

Now, preservation isn’t just about saving buildings—it’s about making sure history isn’t forgotten.

Hopes for the Future

The Terminal Villagers dream of one day establishing an educational center and museum, so students can learn indoors with resources like presentations and exhibits. Right now, everything is outdoors at the memorial, exposed to the elements.

Donna stresses: “The buildings tell a story. Without them, it’s hard to explain what was here. Our hope is for a win-win with the Port—balancing industrial needs with cultural preservation.”

Community Support

The effort has had strong allies.

• Councilmember Tim McOsker and his staff have been steadfast champions.
• The LA Conservancy provided expertise in preservation and successfully nominated the village to the National Trust’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in America.
• Japanese American community groups and organizations like Intertrend in Long Beach have also rallied behind the cause.

Alice’s Reflections

Alice recalls life in the village vividly: her grandmother baking cakes for her, sharing communal baths, and even overhearing neighbors’ arguments through thin walls. These were modest homes provided by the canneries, but they were filled with warmth, community, and resilience.

“I hope future generations take the good things from our story, but not have to live through the hardships we endured,” she says.

Donna’s Perspective

Donna reminds us that Japanese immigrants helped build Los Angeles’s first major industry—the tuna fishing trade—which expanded the Port and put the city on the economic map long before Hollywood dominated.

“Instead of only remembering Pearl Harbor, we need to remember the contributions the Japanese community made to Los Angeles,” she says.

The Memorial & Museum

In 2002, second-generation Islanders built a memorial with support from the Port of Los Angeles. Located at 1124 South Seaside Avenue in San Pedro, the site features a fisherman statue, plaques, a rock garden, and a symbolic Torii Gate—echoing the one that once stood in the village.

There’s also a permanent Terminal Island display at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, featuring artifacts and photos donated by the community.

Closing

Two storefronts survived a bulldozer and eight decades of forgetting. They’re more than wooden windows; they’re coordinates for memory. As Alice said, “Without them, people wouldn’t know our town was important.”

On August 20th, the City Council’s vote bought time. But memory requires caretakers.

If this history moved you, here’s how you can help: visit the Terminal Island Japanese Fishing Village Memorial, bring students, and share the story. Write notes of support to decision-makers who will shape what happens next.

Donna also shared that the Terminal Villagers are developing a 501(c)(3) nonprofit—soon there will be opportunities to donate and support their preservation efforts.

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Thanks for listening to the Harbor Area Podcast. If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends. And if there’s a hidden gem you’d like me to uncover next, send me a message.

I’m Joel Torrez—thanks for listening.