The 2018 celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 15, will focus on the theme: “Celebrating the Cultures of Kauai: One Garden, Many Flowers.”
The 2018 celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 15, will focus on the theme: “Celebrating the Cultures of Kauai: One Garden, Many Flowers.”
The public is invited to celebrate the diversity and harmony of the groups that call Kauai home from 10 a.m. to noon, with free lunch following, at the Lihue Neighborhood Center.
Through music, food and video, the audience will experience the contributions of the Native Hawaiians, Chinese, Japanese and other immigrants from Asia, Europe and the Americas. The program will close with everybody invited to join in singing “We Are the World,” led by the Kauai Voices singers.
The program includes a video about the life of King (1929-1968), who dedicated himself to ensuring equal rights, dignity and justice through non-violent means to all people, and to the belief that all people could live together in peace. The national holiday honoring King’s birthday was established in 1983 by the U.S. Congress and President Ronald Reagan.
To paraphrase the words of King’s widow, Coretta Scott King: The holiday provides a unique opportunity to teach young people to counter hatred and fear without resorting to violence, and to get into the habit of asking themselves, “What is the most loving way I can resolve this conflict?”
This free annual event is sponsored by the Interfaith Roundtable of Kauai.
The roundtable promotes peaceful interaction and cooperation among all people of religions, spiritual paths and philosophies.
Info: www.interfaithroundtableofkauai.org.
