WAILUA — War is not the answer, according to G.G. Shanley of Wailua and the Friends Committee on National Legislation, a group of registered peace lobbyists in Washington, D.C. Shanley was inspired by an FCNL meeting she recently attended in
WAILUA — War is not the answer, according to G.G. Shanley of Wailua and the Friends Committee on National Legislation, a group of registered peace lobbyists in Washington, D.C.
Shanley was inspired by an FCNL meeting she recently attended in Washington and brought that passion back to Kaua‘i by organizing a Peacemakers’ Reunion in honor of those she believes help demonstrate a peaceful existence on the island, including Kaua‘i County Councilman Tim Bynum; Richard Diamond, creator of the Kaua‘i Museletter; Althea McCleery, founder of the Kaua‘i League of Women Voters; Catherine Stovall, former district coordinator of Ka Leo O Kaua‘i; and Judy Lenthall, director of the Kaua‘i Food Bank.
“We have so many peacemakers on the island, but we don’t always give them credit to what they’re doing to help the positive development of our community,” Shanley said.
Honorees had the chance to speak about their roles within the community at an intimate gathering Sunday afternoon in Wailua.
Attendees were asked to bring a can of food as a tribute to an organization Shanley maintains helps “keep the peace” on Kaua‘i by helping those who are deemed less fortunate.
“This is more than a drive. This is a year-long awareness to have the whole Kaua‘i population able to be taken care of when necessary,” Shanley said.
One individual who is certainly concerned with taking care of community members is Bynum, Shanley said.
She recognized his many efforts on the island, including spearheading the building of Kamalani Playground at Lydgate Park and his “mobilization to organize the community behind the activity.”
“It was just a joyous celebration of our community when we built Kamalani,” Bynum said Sunday. “The timing was perfect, it was after ‘Iniki and it was a great experience for everybody.”
Stovall brought people together on Kaua‘i through her efforts at Ka Leo O Kaua‘i, Shanley said.
“She has done a tremendous amount of volunteer work,” she added.
Stovall was not only part of revitalizing the Community Response Team — a 24-hour training in emergency preparedness — she is also an expert mediator, Shanley said.
“Finding ways that groups of people with such diversity can come together and find their common ground, that was something the first few years I was here, I spent my energy on,” Stovall said. “If everyone is doing things separately, you’ve missed the point of togetherness.”
One person who hasn’t faced any problems bringing people together is Diamond, Shanley said during his introduction Sunday.
He is the brain behind the Kaua‘i Museletter, a free service in which postings such as yard sales, rentals and various happenings around the island, are sent out in a daily e-mail blast to over 1,800 people.
“The Museletter is really a bit of a mystery to me, it’s also a gift to myself and through that somehow, in a wonderful way, a gift to the community,” he said.
“It’s become a force,” he added, amazed that it has touched so many individuals lives and helped bridge peaceful gaps between community members over the years.
McCleery was also an honoree who seemingly made a large impact on the community by helping women register to vote and also being an active member in the Kapa‘a Neighborhood Association.
Her foundation, Kaua‘i League of Women Voters, reportedly still stands strong to this day.
“It doesn’t matter who you vote for, what party you want to support, all we’re doing is making it possible for you to go and vote,” she said.
Shanley said she is hopeful community members will continue to amicably join forces with one another.
For more information, visit www.fcnl.org.
