September 21 is Peace Day
Aloha Colleagues,
Peace Day is September 21. This day provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations, and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. The day promotes peace programs, improves international relations, and increases educational awareness of peace.
In 2007, a group of students lobbied the Hawaii State Legislature and Hawaii became the first state in the nation to officially recognize the United Nation’s International Day of Peace and Nonviolence, which is now celebrated in more than 200 countries.
Anyone, anywhere can celebrate Peace Day. It can be as simple as lighting a candle, sitting in silent meditation, or doing a good deed for someone you do not know.
Special activities and celebrations will take place all across the world, including locations around Hawaii.
There are several celebrations around the state on Saturday, September 21, 2013 that you, your family, friends, and students can participate in to promote peace.
HAWAII
On the Big Island, there is a parade, festival and day of Mindfulness as well as a run and other activities in Honokaa. The Parade and festival demonstrate unity in support of peace, compassion and awareness of interdependence. The parade begins at 4 p.m. and the festivities continue in the Honokaa sports complex with entertainment, vendors and exhibitors. Admission is free. Go to http://www.peacedayparade.org for more information.
OAHU
On Oahu, the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Urban Garden Center (Pearl City) will hold their event from 2-5 p.m. Families are welcome to visit and enjoy the gardens, bring or make lei to contribute to the Aloha Peace lei that connects peacemakers from Hawaii to China and place handprint pledges for peace activities. Peace is cultivated through gardening in schools and the community and there are wonderful displays and exhibits to enjoy. Please go to http://www.peacegardenhawaii.com for information and free tickets.
MAUI
On Maui, in conjunction with the global effort “Peace One Day”, Maui organizations invite you to gather in the name of peace at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center for a call to action to cease fire, silence violence and make a pledge for peace. Teachers, families and students can enjoy the “Teens for Peace” vocal competition followed by the film, The Journey. The fun starts at 6:30 p.m. For more information for Maui’s event go to: http://imuafamilyservices.org/ai1ec_event/peace-day-maui-2013/?instance_id=
HSTA supports Act 23 enacted by the Hawaii State Legislature to establish September 21 Peace Day in Hawaii. As teachers and members of communities around Hawaii, we encourage everyone to take a moment to celebrate peace this weekend and endeavor to find ways to inspire others to work toward peace building and peacekeeping in their daily lives.
Peace,
HSTA Youth, Human and Civil Rights Committee
7th Annual Parade & Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace
Honoka‘a, Big Island of Hawaii hosts the premiere Peace Day event in the State of Hawai‘i, and the only event of its kind worldwide, a Parade and Festival demonstrating unity in support of peace, compassion and awareness of interdependence. New this year, parade steps off at 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2013. Hundreds of participants from over 30 groups will perform or exhibit in a unique parade, described as a “moving stage” of music, dance and entertainment-with-a-message. The Festival which follows in Honoka‘a Sports Complex will include entertainment and 40+ vendors and exhibitors. Admission is free and families are encouraged to come and enjoy lots of live music, food booths, crafts, train rides, a “jump and slide,” taiko drums, magic, and a large community bon dance for all to join.
Visit our Web site for updated information on participating in the parade and the festival: http://www.peacedayparade.org
2013 Peace Day Interfaith Celebration
September 05, 2013
2013 Peace Day Interfaith Celebration: A Peace of Aloha
Date: Friday, September 20, 2013
Time: 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Place: Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin
1727 Pali Highway
Please join us for the annual Peace Day Interfaith Celebration sponsored by the Pacific Buddhist Academy. Co-sponsors include: Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, Hongwanji Mission School, The Interfaith Alliance Hawaii, Hawaii Association of International Buddhists, Hawaii Buddhist Council and Hawaii Conference of Religions for Peace.
In 2007, Hawaii became the first state to recognize Peace Day. Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on September 21st. The United Nations General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.
The service will feature speakers and musical performances from a variety of religious and spiritual traditions. The event will be a moving and memorable celebration of peace.
Mr. Masahiro Sasaki will be a featured speaker at the celebration. Mr. Sasaki is the brother of Sadako Sasaki, whose extraordinary life was recounted in the children’s book “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes”. Mr. Sasaki will be accompanied by his son Yuji and other family members. The Sasaki family has long been advocates for cultivating peace in our world.
The Sasaki family will be visiting Hawaii from Hiroshima, Japan to help celebrate Peace Day and to dedicate an exhibit of one of Sadako Sasaki’s paper cranes at the Valor of the Pacific at Pearl Harbor.
For more information contact Rev. Blayne Higa at 532-2649 or Blayne.higa@pbahi.org.
Please check out these other 2013 Peace Day events:
Saturday, September 21st
Sadako Sasaki Peace Crane Exhibit Dedication Ceremony
9:00am
Pearl Harbor Valor of the Pacific
http://www.pacifichistoricparks.org/phh_events.php
7th Annual Honokaa Peace Day Parade and Festival
4:00pm to 8:00pm
Downtown Honokaa
Sunday, September 22nd
A Concert For Peace
9:00am to Noon
Wahiawa Hongwanji Mission Social Hall
622-4320
http://www.pacificbuddhistacademy.org/content/2013-peace-day-interfaith-celebration
PEACE RESOURCES
NEA
http://www.nea.org/home/56459.htm
United Nations
http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/
Additional Resources
http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/2013/resources.shtml
http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org
“It is not enough to teach children how to read, write and count. Education has to cultivate mutual respect for others and the world in which we live, and help people forge more just, inclusive and peaceful societies.”
-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
HISTORICAL FACTS: PEACE DAY IN HAWAII
The International Day of Peace, September 21, has been officially recognized by the UN since 1981,
and traditionally marks the opening of that body’s annual session. The NEA, the largest teachers union
in the world, stands for many of the same values that are part of the UN’s mission of peace. These
include equality, economic justice, good health, and preservation of the environment.
The legislature of the State of Hawaii, lobbied by an organization of Buddhist teenagers in 2007,
became the first and only state in America to have a permanent Peace Day. The Peace Committee of
Hawaii and hundreds of other organizations celebrate the International Day of Peace throughout the
world, yet it remains largely unknown to the general public.
Justin Hughey submitted the NBI with valuable assistance from Jeanne Clement (Hawaii). The NBI
was drafted by Miles Okumura of the Peace Committee (Hawaii), assisted by Nancy Porter (Iowa) of
the Peace and Justice Caucus. (http://www.neapeaceandjustice.org)
Okumura is a member of the Caucus and recipient of the United Nations Association of Hawaii “Peacemaker of the Year” award.
“As educators, we have the potential to make this world a better place by teaching the next generation
the values of peace, compassion and awareness of interdependence of life,” said Okumura. “100,000
teachers can reach 15 million future citizens every year with just one lesson plan a year. Over the
course of our careers, we can raise and educate hundreds of millions of citizens.”
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 8-16 : Hawaii Statutes - Section 8-16: Peace Day.
September 21 of each year shall be known and recognized as “Peace Day” to promote peace programs, improve international relations, and increase educational awareness of peace; provided that this day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday. All citizens shall be encouraged to observe and celebrate the blessings of peace and endeavor to create peace on Peace Day. [L 2007, c 23, §1]
MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL PEACE DAY RESOLUTION
http://www.co.maui.hi.us/documents/24/99/224/Reso%2008-057.PDF