3rd Annual Peace Day Hawaii: Creating a culture of peace

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu on Peace Education
Karamatsu introduced the legislation to officially recognize Peace Day in Hawaii. He is also the chairman of the ad hoc Peace Day Hawaii Committee.

Peace Day is celebrated worldwide every year on Sept. 21. It is a day of global ceasefire and nonviolence that each member state of the United Nations agreed upon. It is a day in which each one of us can do something to promote peace, either here in Hawaii or around the world.

Internationally: Last year 1.4 million children in Afghanistan were given polio vaccinations, and the Taliban pledged to not harm any vaccination teams entering volatile regions.

Locally: This year yoga practitioners will raise money to help feed Hawaii children with a fundraising event called Global Yoga Mala for Peace in Honolulu.

The idea of peace must begin with us, in our homes, our schools and our communities. That is why in 2007 I introduced a bill, on behalf of the Hawaii Federation of Junior Young Buddhist Associations, to be the first state to officially recognize Peace Day.

Many people shy away from peace initiatives because they think that one person cannot make a difference. That is wrong. We can all make a commitment to strive to embody the Aloha spirit through acts of compassion, acceptance and understanding. Peace must first start within us. Compassionate actions from one person can make a huge impact, and all our actions combined will help the world reach our goal of celebrating peace 365 days a year.

This year the Legislature protected monies for legal services for survivors of violence and updated harassment and temporary restraining order laws. However, we need to put more emphasis on education and awareness and be proactive rather than reactive. We must get to the root of where the cycle of violence can be broken: our keiki. One way to do this is to implement an education program for our public schools that includes education on conflict resolution, discrimination, harassment, bullying, sexual assault, and domestic violence.

Hawaii can also play a major role in international peace. We have a unique society with a variety of cultures and traditions that we share with each other. One of my long-term political goals is to create an "Aloha Mission" to the Middle East region to support our Hawaii troops, meet with political leaders, exchange culture, and provide medicine and toys for children.

SCOT MATAYOSHI NAMED PEACE DAY HAWAII 2009 AWARD RECIPIENT

Scot Matayoshi, 25, a law student at the University of Hawaii, was selected as this year's recipient of the Peace Day Hawaii Award for his dedication to guiding Hawaii's youth toward promoting nonviolence. Matayoshi will be presented with the award at the Peace Day Hawaii 2009 Celebration Ceremony, which will be held on Monday, Sept. 21, 2009 from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. in the State Capitol Rotunda. The public is invited to attend this free event, which will feature special guest speaker Betty Williams, a Nobel Peace Laureate.

Peace Day is the day of global ceasefire and nonviolence held each year on Sept. 21. It is celebrated worldwide, but Hawaii became the first state in the nation in 2007 to officially recognize the occasion.

While a Teach for America corps member from 2006 to 2009, Matayoshi began a Peacemakers Club at Nanakuli High and Intermediate School after picking the minds of colleagues at Waipahu and Aiea High Schools. He sought to curb fighting and make students aware that their actions affect the way the rest of the island views and treats their community. Members of the club wear yellow wristbands to identify themselves. It shows others that they have done some soul-searching to decide between what's right and wrong.

Matayoshi hails from a family committed to serving the public. He is the grandson of former Big Island Mayor Herbert Matayoshi, and his parents are Ron Matayoshi, director of international programs at the UH School of Social Work, and Coralie Matayoshi, CEO of the Hawaii Red Cross chapter.

In 2007, Hawaii became the only state in the nation to officially recognize and annually celebrate the International Day of Peace, which was established by the United Nations as the Day of worldwide ceasefire and non-violence. State Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu introduced a bill on behalf of the members of the Hawaii Federation of Junior Young Buddhist Association. Governor Linda Lingle signed the bill into law on April 17, 2007.

For information on the Peace Day Hawaii 2009 Celebration Ceremony, please call 808-586-8490.

Hands for Peace

Have you seen the colorful hands doing the waltz with the wind on the kukui tree and a rainbow of pinwheels framing it the Capitol grounds yet? You can find this symbol of peace on Richards Street near the Korean War Veterans Memorial.

The Peace Day Hawaii Committee - comprising state government leaders, peace-education leaders and organizations, and Hawaii students - yesterday hung laminated paper cut-outs of the hands of Hawaii students. The students pondered the question "what does peace mean to you?" and wrote their responses on the hands.

The event was planned to kick off Peace Day Hawaii 2009, which will be celebrated over the weekend and on Monday, September 21. Peace Day is the day of global ceasefire and nonviolence held each year on Sept. 21. All members of the United Nations agreed to stop fighting on that day. It is celebrated worldwide, but Hawaii became the first state in the nation in 2007 to officially recognize the occasion.

Celebrating Peace Day

The third annual "Peace Day Hawaii: Uniting with Aloha" will be held on Sept. 20 and Sept. 21 at the Hawaii State Capitol. This free, two-day celebration will focus statewide attention on creating a culture of peace by weaving the elements of peace through our schools and communities. Events include an educational forum and Peace Day Hawaii Celebration Ceremony discussing peace, equity and justice as a necessity for community sustainability and environmental awareness. Special guest Betty Williams, who won the Nobel peace prize in 1976 for her dedication to promoting a peaceful resolution in Northern Ireland, will be the keynote speaker for both events.

The forum, "Sustainability in the Schools", will be held on Sunday, Sept. 20 in the State Capitol Auditorium. From 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., schools and community organizations that are associated with the Hawaii School Peace Gardens Consortium will give presentations in the auditorium. From 12 p.m. – 1 p.m., Betty Williams will be the guest speaker. From 1 p.m. – 2 p.m., representatives from the various organizations will briefly talk about what they do in schools or would like to offer in partnering with schools. Informational displays and booths on environmental sustainability will be set up in the State Capitol Rotunda from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The Peace Day Hawaii 2009 Celebration Ceremony will be held on Monday, Sept. 21 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. in the State Capitol Rotunda. The ceremony will include keynote speaker Betty Williams, entertainment, presentation of this year's Peace Day Award and a candle light ceremony and silent prayer.

A partner of Peace Day Hawaii is Victory Over Violence (VOV), a youth sponsored initiative to help young people identify and counteract the root causes of violence in their lives and promote a culture of peace in the community. The Hawaii chapter of the organization has extended nominations for the VOV Aloha Peace Challenge, an annual humanitarian competition in Hawaii that challenges all people to create value in their communities through activities that celebrate and promote peace and nonviolence, until September 14. To participate in the challenge, please visit www.vov.com.

In 2007, Hawaii became the only state in the nation to officially recognize and annually celebrate the International Day of Peace, which was established by the United Nations as the Day of worldwide ceasefire and non-violence. State Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu introduced a bill on behalf of the members of the Hawaii Federation of Junior Young Buddhist Association. Governor Linda Lingle signed the bill into law on April 17, 2007.

Information on Peace Day Hawaii ceremony: 808-586-8490, Peace Day Forum: 808-956-4244.

Kaua'i group says peace through open arms

This is not a House-related issue, but I think it's an interesting one.

In a letter to Gov. Linda Lingle and congressional delegates, a Kaua'i humanitarian group urges Hawaii's leaders to negotiate with the U.S. Federal government to bring 17 Uighur nationals to Hawaii instead of the Republic of Palau. The letter was sent from Ed Coll on behalf of the Kaua'i Alliance for Peace and Social Justice.

The Chinese Muslims were determined not to be enemy combatants by a federal judge, but because of ardent congressional opposition to releasing them on U.S. soil, they are still in legal limbo at the U.S. Detention Facility in Guantanamo Bay. The nation of Palau agreed to accept the detainees Wednesday.

The Garden Island ran a story today, including quotes from the letter sent Thursday to state officials, about the groups suggestion of sharing the aloha spirit with these men by helping them rebuild their lives on the islands.

What do you think? Should detainees be allowed to resettle in Hawaii?

P.S: Peace Day 2009 is creeping up on us! Save the date! September 21, 2009! The Peace Day Hawaii committee is already planning for the event!

Peace Day Hawaii 2008 Celebration Ceremony Slideshow

Bully Culture

Peace Day 2008, Photo Credit: Honolulu Star-Bulletin

I found one of the most interesting and unexpected things about Peace Day this year was the focus on bullying. From the school yard to the internet, bullying takes place with serious consequences. The Star Bulletin story is here. The Advertiser story is here.

A good place to start is defining what bullying is, and the forms that it takes. It's not just "a normal part of growing up" or "getting picked on". The belief that children grow out of it, and that bullying is part of life so they need to just figure out how to deal with it, is outdated. I would guess that a fair number of parents have no idea that their children are being bullied right before their eyes, in the form of text messages or on social networking sites.

Children cannot solve the problem alone. They need help from adults to tackle bullying, and here's how one school, from the Star-Bulletin story, dealt with it:

Carole Iacovelli, executive director of Youth Service Hawaii, lauded the approach taken at one elementary school where third-graders felt the fifth-graders were picking on them. The teacher suggested the third-graders develop guidelines for the playground, and brought in the fifth-graders to advise them.

"The biggest bullies in fifth grade were the ones with their hands up," offering suggestions, she said. Along with the guidebook, the kids decided to appoint one third- and one fifth-grader roam as "safe ambassadors" each recess to ward off potential problems.

"That school created a wonderful environment to let students solve bullying," she said.

Peace Day Hawaii Schedule of Events Set for the Convention Center

Peace Day Hawaii 2008 Celebration Ceremony schedule of events is now available. The ceremony will start at 3:00 p.m. on Sept. 21 at the Hawaii Convention Center.

Before the ceremony, there will a Peace education forum -- titled "Is Peace Possible in Our Schools" -- from 12 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Schedule of Events:

3:00 p.m. - “Imagine” video by John Lennon
3:05 p.m. - Kuma Hula Lopaka Kapanui performance of “Oli Aloha”
3:10 p.m. - Chantelle Ching and Andrea Dalorea performance of “Kawika”
3:20 p.m. - Welcome by Co-Emcees Cameron Kubota of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii and Ayesha Cooray of Students for Peace with Iolani’s Institute for Peace.
3:30 p.m. - Hongwanji Mission School Choir performance of “Voices of Peace”
3:35 p.m. - Introduction of Dignitaries
3:40 p.m. - Key Note Speaker, Ms. Gloria Tumbaga, a registered nurse and third-year medical student who has volunteered for several goodwill medical missions in Micronesia, Laos, Bangladesh, Philippines and Papua New Guinea.
3:50 p.m. - Max Louie and Dani-One performance of "Now Power and Good Vibrations"
4:00 p.m. - Presentation of Peace Day Hawaii Award to Glenn Paige, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Hawaii
4:10 p.m. - Pacific Buddhist Academy Taiko performance of “Peace”
4:20 p.m. - Remarks by the United Nations Association Student Alliance
4:25 p.m. - A Class Act performance of “Joy Joy and Down by the Riverside”
4:30 p.m. - Peace Video by the Rotary Club of Honolulu
4:45 p.m. - Candle Lighting Ceremony and Hongwanji Mission School Choir and A Class Act performance of “A Candle for Peace”

From Hawaii to Papua New Guinea

The Peace Day Committee has selected Gloria Tumbaga, 31, a registered nurse and third-year medical student, to give the keynote speech at the Peace Day Hawaii 2008 Celebration Ceremony Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hawaii Convention Center.

Gloria is a healer and humanitarian. She is an active volunteer with Aloha Medical Mission, an organization that provides free medical treatment to underserved areas abroad and in Hawaii. She has been on goodwill missions in Micronesia, Laos, Bangladesh, Philippines and Papua New Guinea. Gloria's earlier life was not easy and as a child she rarely found peace. She was raised by a single mother and was often homeless living on the beach. At age 8, her mother died of pneumonia and she and her four siblings were ripped from each other to live in separate foster homes. Despite these earlier challenges, Gloria strives to be a role model to disadvantaged youth and instill in them the same hope and strength she had in order to achieve greater things.

She was also featured in an Advertiser story here.

The Peace Day Hawaii 2008 Celebration Ceremony will include speakers; peace video clips; taiko performances; hula dancers; singers; and a candle light vigil for peace. The event is free and open to the public.

For information on the Peace Day Ceremony, please call 808-586-8490.

Photo (from jabsom.hawaii.edu) : Gloria on a medical mission in Bangladesh.

Glenn Paige named Peace Day 2008 Award Recipient

The Peace Day Committee announced today that Glenn D. Paige, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, will be acknowledged for his commitment to global nonviolence and presented with the Peace Day 2008 Award during a special ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008 at the Hawaii Convention Center.

Glenn D. Paige, 79, a Korean War veteran and Honolulu resident, is the author of Nonkilling Global Political Science (2002), which has been translated into 29 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Filipino, French, Hindi, Japanese and Urdu. He is the founder and president of the Center for Global Nonviolence (http://www.globalnonviolence.org/), a nonprofit organization that convened the First Global Nonkilling Leadership Forum in Honolulu in 2007 with 30 participants from 20 countries. The Forum was co-sponsored by the UH Matsunaga Institute for Peace and the Mu Ryang Sa Temple.

The Peace Day Award presentation is part of the Peace Day Hawaii 2008 Celebration Ceremony scheduled from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hawaii Convention Center and will include an opening performance by Kumu Hula Lopaka Kapanui and his hula halau; speakers; peace video clips; taiko performances; singers; and a candle light vigil for peace. The event is free and open to the public.

For information on the Peace Day Hawaii 2008 Celebration Ceremony, please call 808-586-8490.

Photo : Professor Glenn Paige, Peace Day Hawaii 2008 Award Recipient, with Joanne Tachibana, President of the United Nations Association – Hawaii Division.

Countdown to Peace Day Hawaii 2008!!

Peace Day Hawaii 2008 on September 21, 2008 will be one of thousands of events being held by nearly 200 countries around the world. In July 2007, Hawaii became the first state to officially recognize the United Nations International Day of Peace. Every year, this special day is used to promote peace programs, improve international relations, and increase educational awareness of peace in Hawaii.

For more information on the Peace Day Hawaii ceremony, please call the office of Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu at 808-586-8490 and for information on the Peace Day film and forum call Jeannie Lum at 808-956-4244. Information on the background of Peace Day Hawaii and last year's ceremony can be found on http://peace.oceanit.com/.

Peace Tree

On Tuesday, November 20th, at 2:00 p.m., Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu and Senator Carol Fukunaga will lead a group of peace supporters in planting a kukui tree near the Korean War Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol. The kukui (Aleurites Moluccana), our official Hawaii State Tree, was donated by the UH College of Tropical Agriculture to become Hawaii's first Peace Tree. In a traditional ceremony coordinated by Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee and Hawaii Peace Day committee member John Waihee IV, the ground will first be prepared and nourished by a placement of a fish. A special o'o stick was carved to be used to turn the soil.

The kukui became the official state tree on May 1, 1959. The 30th Territorial Legislature adopted Joint Resolution #3 that read in part:

WHEREAS, the kukui tree is a native tree to all the islands of Hawai'i and,

WHEREAS, the multiplicity of its uses to the ancient Hawai'ians for light, fuel, medicine, dye, and ornament and to the continued value to the people of modern Hawai'i, as well as the distinctive beauty of its light green foliage which embellishes many of the slopes of our beloved mountains, causes the kukui tree to be especially treasured by the people of the Fiftieth State of the United States as an arboreal symbol of Hawai'i...

Hawaii became the first state in the country to establish an official state Peace Day, to be celebrated each year on September 21st, in coordination with the United Nations International Day of Peace.

Peace Day

Last Friday, Sept. 21, Hawaii celebrated its very first Peace Day holiday.

We observed this special occasion with a ceremony at the State Capitol that included hula, speeches, a candle lighting ceremony, art work, and music by Raiatea Helm, Iggy Jang, I-bei Lin and the Hongwanji Mission School Choir.

Early in the evening, a panel of experts also discussed ways in which Hawaii can contribute to peacemaking both at home and abroad.

There were even some rainbow pigeons involved ... and some enthusiastic people to launch them, including Speaker Calvin Say.

After all the chaos and hectic preparations, the ceremony went very well... with the exception of some unexpected rain that might have gotten some of our guests a little wet.

Luckily, despite the showers, everyone remained in good spirits throughout the night.

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu, Sen. Carol Fukunaga and Dr. Jeannie Lum of the Matsunaga Institute for Peace presented a special Peace Day Award to the late U.S. Senator Spark M. Matsunaga, which was received by his grandchildren and his son, Matt Matsunaga.

Winners of the "Expressions of Peace" art and literary contest were also recognized.

We're currently working on putting their work up with the rest of the over 300 art submissions currently displayed in the State Capitol chamber level. You'll also be able to see all the art pieces online soon at peace.oceanit.com.

The evening ended with a candle lighting ceremony, a song from the Hongwanji Mission School Choir and a statewide moment of silence for peace. With help from 'Olelo, we were able to get the message of peace out to the entire state.

Rep. Karamatsu expressed some personal thoughts about Peace Day in an op-ed that appeared in the Advertiser on Friday.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the inaugural Peace Day event a big success! Happy Peace Day!

Peace Day Everywhere!

Here's a look at Peace Day celebrations throughout Hawaii in addition to the inaugural ceremony at the State Capitol tomorrow:

OAHU. Students and teachers from the Hongwanji Mission School will hold a short service at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Sept. 21 at the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin temple. Students will perform songs and light candles for peace, and poster contest winners will be recognized.

OAHU. “A Concert for Peace,” (7:00-9:00 p.m., tomorrow, Sept. 21) sponsored by the Moiliili Hongwanji Buddhist Women’s Association and Junior Young Buddhist Association at the Moiliili Hongwanji Mission (902 University Avenue). The concert is free and open to the public. Click here for flyer.

OAHU. Service of Peace at 7:15 p.m. at St. Clement's Episcopal Church, 1515 Wilder Ave.

OAHU. Kukui Tree-Planting Ceremony on the ewa end of the State Capitol lawn (date to be announced). The kukui tree is not only Hawaii’s state tree, but it also signifies spiritual hope and renewal. It is also an important part of many Hawaiian legends.

KAUAI. A Peace Day gathering at Lydgate Park, Kauai is being sponsored by the Kauai United Junior Young Buddhist Association and is planned for tomorrow, Sept. 21.

MAUI, KAUAI, BIG ISLAND. Designation of September 21 as “Peace Day” in Hawaii (City & County of Honolulu proclamation by Mayor Hanneman presented to committee on September 7th). Maui, Kauai and Hawaii counties will also adopt their proclamations by tomorrow.

BIG ISLAND. A “Parade for the United Nations International Day of Peace” (noon), and Festival on the Big Island (1:00-6:00 p.m.) on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007. The parade is organized by the Honoka’a Hongwanji Mission, and features special guests Bishop Thomas Okano/Hawaii Honpa Hongwanji Mission and Mayor Harry Kim. For more information get in touch with Miles Okumura, parade committee chairman, at misterokumura@yahoo.com or Cathi Tarleton, publicity and media, 883-0669, catherinetarleton@gmail.com.

BIG ISLAND. The University of Hawai`i at Hilo Student Association (UHHSA) is organizing Peace Day Festival 2007 (5-10 pm, tomorrow, Sept. 21, in the Campus Center Plaza at UH Hilo). Guests will speak from 5-7:30p.m. including Billy Kenoi, executive assistant to Mayor Harry Kim; countycouncil chair Pete Hoffmann; Kumu Keala Ching; and countycouncilman Angel Pilago. At 7:30 the Kalapana band, K-pana Boyz will take the stage and play until 9:45. Hawaiian Jungle will be making ono crepes and tamales. Free massages, face painting, and interactive activities. There will be an art contest and iPod prize giveaway for students only. Free and open to the public. For more information contact Justin at 990-1421.

All UH Hilo and HCC students are invited to submit artwork for the Peace Day Festival 2007 Art Contest. The theme is simply "Peace" There will be three categories: 1) Visual Art ( painting, drawing, sculputure, etc.) 2) Photography and 3) Writing ( poems, short stories, etc.) Submit all works to the UHHSA office ( Campus Center 211, 2nd floor cafeteria) by 9/21 at 3pm. Festival Participants will vote on submissions and the winner from each category will receive an iPod Shuffle. Please submit before 3:00pm tomorrow, Friday, September 21.

EVERYWHERE. Peace Day Hawaii Website, which will serve as the official posting for Peace Day Hawaii activities in 2007 and for each future year. Check out the link for proclamations, sponsors and participants, the winners of the inaugural literary/visual “Expressions of Peace” contest as well as all the rest of the artwork we received.

A Peace Blend Coffee featuring the Hawaii Peace Day logo has been created to commemorate the Peace Day Hawaii Inaugural Ceremonies, and will be available for purchase at the State Capitol celebration tomorrow and through peace.oceanit.com.

"Expressions of Peace" now online

Some of the 319 art pieces we received for the Peace Day "Expressions of Peace" contest are now up on the official Hawaii Peace Day website here. We hope to have the rest up soon. It was amazing and wonderful to see such a wide range of expressions of peace from people of all ages. All the art pieces will be on display at the State Capitol, chamber level, hopefully by this afternoon. Winners will be announced at the ceremony tomorrow night.

As we run around today preparing for Peace Day (tomorrow!), we'll keep you updated on what's going on. Feel free to browse through the Peace Day website for more information.

This Friday: What Can Hawaii Bring to Peacemaking?

Hawaii's very first Peace Day celebration this Friday will start with a forum entitled "What Can Hawaii Bring to Peacemaking?"

The topic was inspired by a resolution adopted last April requesting the Matsunaga Institute for Peace to convene a working group to explore the possibility of designating Hawaii as the "Geneva of the Pacific."

The panel will discuss some examples of peacemaking in Hawaii, while exploring some of the controversial issues that continue to divide our community. Hopefully, this gathering will foster a meaningful discussion of whether Hawaii can and should aspire to be a center of peacemaking in the Pacific Region.

The official Peace Day celebration, including hula, a candle lighting ceremony and performances by local artists including Raiatea Helm, will follow the forum in the Capitol Rotunda. The winners of the first-ever "Expressions of Peace" contest will also be named.

What: Hawaii Peace Day forum: "What Can Hawaii Bring to Peacemaking?"

When: 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sept. 21, 2007

Where: Hawaii State Capitol Auditorium (Chamber Level); 445 S. Beretania St., Honolulu

Guest Speakers:

Kaleo Patterson, President, Pacific Justice and Reconciliation Center
on "Reconciliation and the Sovereignty Process in Hawaii"

Mervina Cash-Kaeo, President and CEO, Alu Like
on "Making Peace within Families: Lessons from 'Ohana Conferencing (EPIC) and the Molokai Project (Alu Like)"

Jon Van Dyke, Professor, William S. Richardson School of Law
on "The Role of Military in Hawaii: Conflicts and Challenges"

Lou Ann Ha'aheo Guanson, Executive Director, Pacific Justice and Reconciliation Center
on "Hawaii's Peacemaking Possibilities"

Moderated by Sen. Gary Hooser, Senate Majority Leader

For more on Hawaii Peace Day, coming up this Friday, please visit our official website. Hope to see you Friday!

Just a friendly reminder...

All submissions for Hawaii's very first Peace Day art contest must be postmarked by the end of today! Please see details for submissions below.

Peace Day is Sept. 21, which is celebrated throughout the world as the United Nations International Day of Peace. We've been busy helping with the preparations for this exciting first-time event -- a celebration of peace through speeches and performances. Please join us for the event at the State Capitol on Sept. 21. We'll have more details soon.

For more on Peace Day, visit the Peace Day wesbite.

Peace Day Art Contest

People of all ages from around the state are invited to submit an artistic expression of what "peace" means to them. The art work will be displayed at the Capitol and award winners will be announced at a special ceremony.

Here's how to submit expressions of peace:

Format: For this first year, art work format will be limited to 2-dimensional art such as paintings, drawing, prints or posters; and literary submissions 500 words or less, such as stories, essays and poetry.

Eligibility: Everyone! People of all ages are encouraged to participate.

Information required: Please include your name, age, mailing address and telephone number. If desired, you may also include a brief bio and explanation of the piece submitted.

Mail to: Dr. Jeannie Lum, Matsunaga Institute for Peace, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Saunders Hall #723, 2424 Maile Way, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822.

Or drop off in person to: Office of Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu, State Capitol, Room 427.

Questions? Call Rep. Karamatsu's office at (808) 586-8490 or email at repkaramatsu@capitol.hawaii.gov.

Peace Day News - Contest Deadline Extended

We have a new logo for Hawaii's first Peace Day celebration, designed by Miles Hakoda.

The deadline for the "Expressions of Peace" art and literary contest has been extended to midnight on Friday, September 7th. See previous posts for contest instructions.

Peace Day is working on a website which will be accessible soon.

Hawaii will be the first state in the country to celebrate its own Peace Day on September 21, 2007, in conjunction with the United Nations' International Day of Peace.

Give Peace a Chance

By Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu - Vice Speaker

On September 21, 2007, Hawaii will become the first state in the country to annually celebrate its own Peace Day. In honor of that day, which is celebrated throughout the world as the United Nations International Day of Peace, people of all ages from around the state are invited to submit an artistic expression of what "peace" means to them. The art work will be displayed at the State Capitol and award winners will be announced at a special ceremony.

I introduced the Peace Day bill on behalf of youth members of the Hawaii Buddhist Association. I was impressed that these young people cared enough about peace in the world to stick with it through the legislative process. We all need to start thinking more about how we, as individuals, can create peace. They say that life imitates art, and if that's the case, let's begin with our personal expressions of peace through art.

Here's how to submit expressions of peace:

Format: For this first year, art work format will be limited to 2-dimensional art such as paintings, drawing, prints or posters; and literary submissions 500 words or less, such as stories, essays and poetry.

Eligibility: Everyone! People of all ages are encouraged to participate.

Deadline: September 1, 2007

Information required: Please include your name, age, mailing address and telephone number. If desired, you may also include a brief bio and explanation of the piece submitted.

Mail to: Dr. Jeannie Lum, Matsunaga Institute for Peace, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Saunders Hall #723, 2424 Maile Way, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822.

Or drop off in person to: Office of Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu, State Capitol, Room 427.