Aloha,
The Peace Day Hawaii 2008 was a success after a year of planning. This was the second annual celebration. I want to thank all the Peace Day Hawaii Committee members, volunteers, donors, and participants.
Sincerely,
Jon Riki Karamatsu
Peace Day Hawaii 2008
Hawaii Convention Center
Sunday, September 21, 2008
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Peace Day Hawaii 2008 Program
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.
Co-Chairs of Peace Day Hawaii 2008 Committee
Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu and Ms. Ann Ishizu
“Voices of Peace”
Hongwanji Mission School Choir
Introduction of Dignitaries
Key Note Speaker
Ms. Gloria Tumbaga
“Now Power and Good Vibrations”
Max Louie and Dani-One
Presentation of Peace Day Hawaii Award
Senator Matt Matsunaga
“Peace”
Pacific Buddhist Academy Taiko
Remarks by The United Nations Association Student Alliance
Alexa Berman, Joni Caminos, and Daniyal Saud
“Joy Joy and Down by the Riverside”
A Class Act
Peace Video
Rotary Club of Honolulu
Candle Lighting Ceremony ~ “A Candle for Peace”
Hongwanji Mission School Choir and A Class Act
A Moment of Silence
Commemorating Peace in Hawaii
Sponsors and Donors
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A & B Foundation
Dean Foods
Hawaii Convention Center
Hawaii Lions District 50
Senator Gary L. Hooser
Na Lei Aloha Foundation
Olelo Community Television
Poi Pounder Hawaii
Projection Presentation Technology
Robert Rivero
Peace Day Hawaii
2008 Planning Committee
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Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu, co-chair
Hawaii House of Representatives
Ann Ishizu, co-chair
Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Candace Van Buren Dr. B. Jeannie Lum
Business Owner UH College of Education
Erin Fujimoto Georgette Deemer
Student Intern, UNA State House Communications
Ian Kitajima Jacob Chang
Oceanit Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Joanne Tachibana Joni Caminos
UNA – USA Hawaii Division Pacific Forum CSIS
Lauren Zirbel Pamela Ferguson-Brey
Hawaii Food Industry Assn. Department of Public Safety
Pieper Toyama Rene Mansho
Pacific Buddhist Academy Hawaii Lions District 50
Rep. Lyla Berg Reverend Mike Young
Hawaii House of Representatives First Unitarian Church of Honolulu
Sen. Carol Fukunaga Sen. Gary Hooser
Hawaii Senate Hawaii Senate
Sparky Rodrigues Thelma Dreyer
Olelo Community Television State House Communications
Dr. Rosemary Casey Wayne Yagi
UH Office of Int’l Education Office of Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu
Background
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On April 18, 2007, Governor Linda Lingle signed House Bill 345 into law as Act 23. It established a Peace Day Hawaii to be observed on September 21 of each year by promoting peace programs, improving international relations, and increasing educational awareness of peace. Hawaii is the first state to officially recognize the United Nation’s International Day of Peace, now celebrated in more than 200 countries worldwide.
House Bill 345 was introduced by Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu on behalf of the members of the Hawaii Federation of Junior Young Buddhist Associations of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii. During the 2007 Legislative Session, the bill drew enthusiastic participation from members and advisors of the Hawaii Federation of Junior Young Buddhist Associations and from many diverse groups including the Matsunaga Institute for Peace, Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Wahiawa Lions Club, Hawaii State Teachers Association, League of Women Voters, Pacific Buddhist Academy and numerous citizens.
An ad hoc committee established in 2007 with members representing a broad cross-section of government, not-for-profit organizations and other participants from the peace education community have worked diligently to make this celebration possible.
JON RIKI KARAMATSU 