She helped spearhead redress for Japanese Americans who were interned, relocated or evacuated during World War II, and played a large role in the successful 1994 lawsuit filed by Hawaii native Bruce Yamashita. Yamashita claimed the Marine Corps denied him a captain's commission on grounds of racial discrimination. She started her new job in December in time to prepare for this legislative session. Tasaka credited a strong caucus of 17 women out of 76 total legislators for continued state funding of the status commission and for pushing through legislation important to women. State Rep. Barbara Marumoto, a legislator for 20 years and an internee during World War II, agreed that the community has to be diligent in teaching the young about civil rights.
Women are just more aware of their abilities.