Press Releases

Parent Category: Content
  • 3,000,000 TEACHERS URGED TO SUPPORT PEACE DAY
    Hawaii Teachers Impact National Teachers Assembly
    WASHINGTON, D.C. The National Education Association, July 5, 2012, approved a New Business Item (NBI) at its annual Representative Assembly in Washington, D.C., urging its more than three million members to support the International Day of Peace.
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POST FESTIVAL Coverage:

MORE FESTIVAL RELATED PRESS RELEASES:

  • HONOKAA TEACHER TO RECEIVE
    STATE 2010 “DISTINGUISHED PEACEMAKER” AWARD

    • HONOKAA, HAWAII’S BIG ISLAND—Miles Okumura, a teacher at Honokaa High School and Chairman of the Peace Committee of Honokaa Hongwanji, will receive the 2010 Peace Committee Distinguished Peacemaker Award at a special presentation Tuesday, September 21, at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  The event, which is free and open to the public (...)

    Click here to view entire press release (Adobe PDF)

  • Poetry Slam Plus Peace Author Captain Paul Chappell
    Part of the Peace Day festivities September 18-19, 2010

    • HONOKAA, HAWAII-THE BIG ISLAND—The usually quiet Honokaa community will welcome a series of energized events during the week of its 4th Annual Parade & Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace, Sunday, September 19. On tap, a live Poetry Slam for peace, with special appearance and booksigning by peace advocate and US Army veteran Paul Chappell, Saturday September 18, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Feel My Bean coffee house and restaurant in Honokaa. (...)

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  • T. KANESHIRO STORE ‘OHANA TO BE HONORED AT “PEACE DAY” PARADE AND FESTIVAL

    • HONOKAA, HAWAII’S BIG ISLAND—The 4th Annual Parade & Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace will honor the T. Kaneshiro extended family, stalwart community supporters and owner-operators of the landmark T.Kaneshiro Store in Honokaa for over 70 years. Cousins Roland and Gary Kaneshiro, the co-founder and patriarch Tomimasa Kaneshiro (Gary’s father), and other members of the extended ‘ohana including past and present employees, will be featured in the Peace Day Parade on Sunday, September 19, 2010 as “Community Contributors” and this year's “Honored Guests.” (...)

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  • YOUth: Creating a Peaceful Future
    Win Prizes in the “Peace Poster” Contest for All Students

    • HONOKAA, HAWAII-THE BIG ISLAND—“Youth and Future” are powerful themes for this year’s Peace Day celebrations around the globe. Young people can focus on creating a more peaceful future, by entering the Peace Poster Contest, part of the 4th Annual Parade & Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace, Sunday, September 19 in Honokaa. (...)

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  • “PEACE DAY” PARADE AND FESTIVAL GETS READY TO ROLL OUT

HONOKAA, HAWAII’S BIG ISLAND--Downtown Honokaa joins the United Nations International Day of Peace on Sunday, September 19, for the 4th Annual “Peace Day” Parade & Festival. Stepping off at 11:00 a.m. from Honokaa High School, the Parade is a “moving stage” of marching bands, colorful floats, acrobats, performance artists and international dancers. Last year’s Parade featured stilt-walkers, rock & roll music, Honokaa High School Jazz Band, award-winning taiko drum groups, marching bands,marimba music and much more, and was broadcast via a live webcast linked to websites of other Peace Day celebrations around the world.

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  • PEACE, DRUMS AND ROCK & ROLL
    Join the Parade & Festival for United Nations International Day of Peace
    Sunday, September 18, 2011

HONOKAA, HAWAII‐THE BIG ISLAND—Taiko drums, marching bands, bon dance, jazz, rock & roll, hula and more—Honokaa town is tuning up for the 5th Annual Parade & Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace, Sunday, September 18, 2011. Stepping off at 11 a.m. from Honokaa High School, the Peace Day Parade is a “moving stage” of music, dance and entertainment with a message.

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  • CHILDREN’S PEACE POSTER EXHIBIT AT WAILOA ART & CULTURAL CENTER, HILO
    September 2‐29, 2011

HAWAII‐THE BIG ISLAND—The Wailoa Art & Cultural Center in Hilo will open a colorful new exhibit of creative children’s Peace Posters on Friday, September 2, in its Fountain Gallery. Selected from hundreds of entries from previous years, the collection is provided by the Peace Committee of Honokaa Honpa Hongwanji as an outreach for their annual Parade & Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace (taking place this year on Sunday, September 18).

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  • The Peace and LOVE in Honoka’a
    Peace Parade to Honor Peace Corps Couples and Volunteers
    Photo by Sarah Anderson

    • On October 14, 1960, at 2:00 in the morning, Senator John F. Kennedy addressed students on the steps of the University of Michigan Union.

    “How many of you who are going to be doctors, are willing to spend your days in Ghana? Technicians or engineers, how many of you are willing to work in the Foreign Service and spend your lives traveling around the world? On your willingness to do that, not merely to serve one year or two years in the service, but on your willingness to contribute part of your life to this country, I think will depend the answer whether a free society can compete. I think it can!” (...)

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Alice Moon, (808) 933-9772
PEACE PARADE AND FESTIVAL BRINGS NATIONAL TALENT TO HONOKA‘A

The 2nd annual Parade and Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace is like no other event on the Big Island. The town of Honoka‘a on the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island will join the world in observing the United Nations International Peace Day on Sunday, September 21, 2008, the intent of which is to promote and propagate the values of peace, compassion and interdependence.

The Parade begins at noon featuring a “moving stage” of bands, floats, clubs, school groups, performance artists and dancers who will wind their way down Mamane Street from Honoka‘a High School. Following the parade from 1 to 3 p.m. is a festival celebrating Peace Day in the County Sports Complex with food, vendors, information booths, entertainment and more.

More than 40 groups will perform in the parade and festival this year, including halau hula, bands, taiko drummers, dancers, and other talented performers

The highlight of this year’s parade will be a performance by the Chicago group known as the Jesse White Tumbling Team. Since its inception, more than 10,000 young men and women have benefited from this program, thanks to founder, Jesse White, who is also the Illinois Secretary of State. White established the Jesse White Tumbling Team to serve as a positive alternative for the children residing in Chicago’s public housing communities. He wanted to keep them away from gangs, drugs alcohol and smoking and set the at-risk youth on a path to success. 

This team’s acrobatic performances have been showcased around the world and can frequently be seen during half-time shows for the National Basketball Association, the National Football League and Major League Baseball games. The team has also appeared on Late Night with David Letterman, The Tonight Show starring Jay Leno, Good Morning America and more. They have also been featured in the movies, Heaven is a Playground and Ferris Buehler’s Day Off.

Though they have performed all over the world, this is the team’s first trip to Hawaii, thanks to generous a generous sponsorship by American Airlines.

“I’m honored to bring my team to Hawaii,” said White. “They are looking forward to putting on a show that the community can appreciate and will long remember. We are looking forward to visiting the beautiful island of Hawaii.”

Event chairperson, Miles Okumura, said that bringing the Jesse White Tumbling Team to The 2nd annual Parade and Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace is an awesome addition to the event.

"The story of Jesse White’s dedication to the inner city youth of Chicago is awe-inspiring,” said Okumura. “He is one of the most influential public officials in the Sate of Illinois, yet for over 40 years he has maintained his passion and dedication to his tumbling program. I hope the people of Hawaii turn out to show their appreciation when he arrives here with his troupe.”

White himself is also excited to be a part of the message that the parade and festival stand for.

“I’m a long believer that there should be peace among the people and nations of the world,” he said. “I appreciate the thought behind this wonderful and meaningful event and I’m just glad we can be a part of it.” 

Also joining in the parade and festival to share their talents as part of the global community supporting the missions of peace and the values of compassion and interdependence are the Rock Bottom Rock Band, Honoka‘a High School Jazz Band, the award-winning Hui Okinawa Taiko Drum group, YWCA keiki hula halau, Kohala Pathfinders Drill Team, and the Hilo Hongwanji Dharma School Ukulele Orchestra, among others.  Peace will be presented in every form — from an individual to a broader focus on local and planetary community issues.

Last year’s event gave the small community of Honoka‘a a big voice with more than 1,500 people in attendance and news coverage on all the major local television network stations.

Hawaii is the only state to have proclaimed a permanent official Peace Day. Proceeds from the Honoka‘a Parade and Festival will go towards community services, including educational programs, charities, environmental activism programs and various peace initiatives.

The Parade and Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace is presented by the Honokaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in cooperation with the United Nations and numerous community organizations. Major sponsors include the County of Hawaii, Department of Research and Development — Tourism Division; Hawaii Honpa Honwanji Buddhist Temple; T. Kaneshiro Stores; and Waianuhea Bed & Breakfast, who is sponsoring the student poster contest.  For parade or vendor application forms, visit www.peacedayparade.org. For more information on how to get involved, call (808) 640-4602 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Parent Category: Content

MARCH, DANCE AND DRUM FOR PEACE
2ND ANNUAL PARADE AND FESTIVAL FOR THE UNITED NATIONS
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE


Downtown Honoka‘a will join the world in observing the United Nations International Day of Peace on Sunday, September 21, 2008 when its 2 nd Annual Parade and Festival marches down Mamane Street, complete with colorful costumes, eclectic music and international entertainment. This one-of-a-kind Big Island event begins at noon featuring “moving stages” of bands, floats, clubs, school groups, performance artists and dancers who wind their way down Mamane Street from Honoka‘a High School. Following the parade from 1 to 3 p.m. is a festival celebrating Peace Day in the County Sports Complex with food, vendors, information booths, entertainment and more.

Peace will be presented in every form — from an individual to a broader focus on local and planetary community issues -- as more than 30 different community groups step off down Honokaa’s Mamane Street, including hula halau, Taiko drummers and other talented performers. Last year’s events gave the small community of Honoka‘a a big voice with thousands of people in attendance and news coverage on all the major local television network stations.

“This is by far the largest and most significant Peace Day event in the state and, as far as I know, the only such celebration worldwide,” said event organizer Miles Okumura. “This is a great opportunity for everyone to come out and demonstrate to the world their support of peace, compassion and awareness of universal interdependence.”

The United Nations has been celebrating the International Day of Peace for more than 25 years but the official Hawaii Peace Day was signed into law in 2007. The intent of the Honoka‘a Parade and Festival is to promote and propagate the values of peace, compassion and awareness of universal interdependence.

Hawaii is the only state to have proclaimed a permanent official Peace Day. Proceeds from the Honoka‘a Parade and Festival will go towards community services, including educational programs, charities, environmental activism programs and various peace initiatives. The Parade and Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace is presented by the Honokaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in cooperation with the United Nations and numerous community organizations.

For more information call (808) 640-4602 email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.peacedayparade.org

To download this as a PDF - right+click <<here>>

Parent Category: Content

“PEACE DAY” PARADE AND FESTIVAL GETS READY TO ROLL OUT
Sunday, September 19, 2010

Media Contact: Catherine Tarleton
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
808-883-0669

HONOKAA, HAWAII’S BIG ISLAND--Downtown Honokaa joins the United Nations International Day of Peace on Sunday, September 19, for the 4th Annual “Peace Day” Parade & Festival. Stepping off at 11:00 a.m. from Honokaa High School, the Parade is a “moving stage” of marching bands, colorful floats, acrobats, performance artists and international dancers. Last year’s Parade featured stilt-walkers, rock & roll music, Honokaa High School Jazz Band, award-winning taiko drum groups, marching bands,marimba music and much more, and was broadcast via a live webcast linked to websites of other Peace Day celebrations around the world.

“We are really looking forward to this year’s Parade and Festival,” said Chairman Miles Okumura. “Not only will we celebrate peace, compassion and global interdependence, we’re celebrating the completion of the Mamane Street construction project too! It’s a great time for everyone to come together and be proud of who we are, as a local community and a global one.”

Slots in the Parade and booth spaces for the Festival are available for a limited time. Proceeds from the events go towards community services, including educational programs, charities, environmental activism programs and various peace initiatives.

The 4th Annual Parade & Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace is presented by the Peace Committee of the Honokaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in cooperation with the United Nations and numerous community organizations. Major financial support has been provided by the County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development (Tourism Division) and the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii. For more information on how to get involved, call (808) 883-0669, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.peacedayparade.org.

Honokaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, PO Box 1667, Honoka`a HI 96727 808 775-7232
The Committee for the Parade for the United Nations International Day of Peace is an affiliate of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, a registered not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. Artwork and the words “United Nations” are used with permission

 

Parent Category: Content
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  • BIG ISLAND GOES GLOBAL FOR PEACE DAY
    Live streaming video links Hawaii with international events

    On Sunday and Monday, September 20-21, 2009, the Island of Hawaii will join global Peace Day celebrations in London, Amsterdam, Jerusalem, South Africa, Brazil, California, Canada and elsewhere, via technological wizardry and the efforts of international organizations such as  Peace in Our Lifetime.

    Two Big Island separate events will be broadcast via streaming video on the worldwide web in joint Peace Day music cooperative concerts happening around the world.  The "Global United Party for Peace" will also appear within a virtual reality world, Second Life, where 3D user-generated characters called Residents, move, work, socialize, go to school, play and do business.  Potential audience for the internet streaming broadcast is an estimated 1.5 million viewers.

    The events are:

    • Sunday, September 20, 12:00-4:40 p.m.  Parade & Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace, Starts and ends at Honokaa High School.  Free.
    • Monday, September 21, 1:00-7:00 p.m.  The World Peace Effect Festival, Kalani Oceanside Retreat, Pahoa. Donations. For information call Christian Hine 808-854-0407.

      This first-of-its kind global broadcast from Hawaii is made possible through the cooperative efforts of the Peace Committee of Honokaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, Christian Hine-World Peace Effect Festival, Zion Estes-Amaraka, Honokaa High School, actress and peace pioneer Lynne Hazelden-Peace In Our Lifetime/Planting Seeds (United Kingdom), and many others.  Major financial support has been provided by the County of Hawaii Dept. of Research & Development (Tourism Division), The Social Concerns Committee of Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, Healing our Island and others.

      To view the broadcasts, visit:

  • "Read for Peace"
    Honokaa Library
    Monday, September 14, 2009
    6:00pm
    Open house and special opportunity to encourage students and families to “Read for Peace.  The Carteret Atoll Project will make a multi-media presentation on the survival of the atoll, soon to be submerged by global warming.  Children's craft activity.
  • "Read for Peace" flyer  (coming)
  • "Drums, Not Drugs”
    Exciting, eclectic, one-of-a-kind downtown Honoka'a BLOCK PARTY and CONCERT
    Saturday, September 19, 2009
    Block Party 3:00-6:00pm
    Family-friendly and Free
    With dynamic drummers from
    Pacific Buddhist Academy Taiko Ensemble, Oahu
    Native American Pawnee Iruska (warrior) drummers
    Sacred Women’s Drum Circle of Pahoa
    Hawaiian Ipu drums and more…
    PLUS “Art4 Peace” street art event presented by Mar Ortaleza and “AHA” Abled Hawaiian Artists
    AND
    SATURDAY NIGHT CONCERT AT THE PEOPLES THEATER
    7:00pm
    High-impact Native American motivational speaker Brian Frejo delivers a message of “C4G,” Created For Greatness.  Plus, brother Quese IMC and their powerful hip hop crew CULTURE SHOCK CAMP and MORE great Big Island performers live onstage.
    Concert Tickets $10 at the door. 
  • Student Peace Poster Contest
    DEADLINE TO ENTER:  September 11, 2009
    All Hawaii students urged to express their own interpretation of this year’s theme: 

“Peace is being… “  

1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes ($50, $35 and $25) awarded for various age divisions.  Plus “Best of Show”

Instructions and Entry Forms below

  • 3rd Annual Parade and Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace – Hamakua Times, July, 2009
  • Peace Day Parade Looking for Entries – West Hawaii Today, Sunday, July 26, 2009
  • The Parade for Peace Seeks Entries – The North Hawaii News, Thursday, July 16, 2009
Parent Category: Content

July 29, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Alice Moon, (808) 933-9772

THE 2ND ANNUAL PARADE AND FESTIVAL FOR THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE SEEKS PARTICIPANTS

The town of Honoka‘a on the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island will join the world in observing the United Nations International Peace Day on Sunday, September 21, 2008. The United Nations has been celebrating the International Day of Peace for more than 25 years but the official Hawaii Peace Day was signed into law in 2007. The intent of the Honoka‘a Parade and Festival is to promote and propagate the values of peace, compassion and awareness of universal interdependence.

The 2nd annual Parade and Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace is like no other event on the Big Island. The Parade begins at noon featuring a “moving stage” of bands, floats, clubs, school groups, performance artists and dancers who will wind their way down Mamane Street from Honoka‘a High School. Following the parade from 1 to 3 p.m. is a festival celebrating Peace Day in the County Sports Complex with food, vendors, information booths, entertainment and more.

Organizers are currently looking for organizations, charities, businesses, schools, clubs and performance groups that are interested in helping to make an exceptional Parade and Festival by sharing their talents and creativity as part of the global community supporting the missions of peace and the values of compassion and interdependence. Peace will be presented in every form — from an individual to a broader focus on local and planetary community issues.

At last year’s Parade and Festival, more than 35 groups performed in the parade including hula halau, Taiko drummers and other talented performers. In addition, more than 40 groups participated in or performed in the festival following the parade. This event gave the small community of Honoka‘a a big voice with more than 1,500 people in attendance and news coverage on all the major local television network stations.

“This is by far the largest and most significant Peace Day event in the state and, as far as I know, the only such celebration worldwide,” said event organizer Miles Okumura. “This is a great opportunity for everyone to participate, at least by attending, and demonstrating to the world their support of peace, compassion and awareness of universal interdependence.”

Hawaii is the only state to have proclaimed a permanent official Peace Day. Proceeds from the Honoka‘a Parade and Festival will go towards community services, including educational programs, charities, environmental activism programs and various peace initiatives.

In addition to parade and festival participation, organizers are also looking for volunteers to assist with the many aspects of presenting this unique Parade and Festival. 

The Parade and Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace is presented by the Honokaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in cooperation with the United Nations and numerous community organizations. For more information on how to get involved, call (808) 640-4602 email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.peacedayparade.org
 

Honokaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, PO Box 1667,  Honoka`a HI 96727 | 808 775-7232
The Committee is an affiliate of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii 501(c)(3)

Artwork and the words “United Nations” are used with permission