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!