Pinwheels fluttering in the wind, a new song, a parade and countless thoughts of peace. Community members, schools and religious groups recently celebrated Peace Day through a variety of events around Kaua‘i. Keith Kitamura, the coordinator of the Peer Mediation
Pinwheels fluttering in the wind, a new song, a parade and countless thoughts of peace.
Community members, schools and religious groups recently celebrated Peace Day through a variety of events around Kaua‘i.
Keith Kitamura, the coordinator of the Peer Mediation program at Kapa‘a High School, said the students were on campus Monday working with classes to create Pinwheels for Peace to be planted around the school.
The project was scheduled to coincide with the International Peace Day, he said, which is recognized around the world as a special day to promote peace.
“There is a saying, ‘We train leaders of peace to go out into the world and create communities of peace,’” Kitamura said. “So, as part of the students’ leadership training, the mediators have volunteered to run the Significant Adult period.”
During the fourth period, the Peer Mediation team introduced the topic through personal appearances and live on the school’s TV system.
On the South Shore, other teachers were working to promote peace.
“I’ve been following ‘peace’ for a long time,” said Jeanne Sturtevani, a fifth grade teacher at Koloa School. “Ever since I heard Mother Theresa’s words, ‘I’m not against war, I’m for peace,’ I started to follow the topic.”
Motivated by Peace Day, she worked with the school’s administration to coordinate a school-wide event. The Koloa School population made peace signs, banners and gathered on the school lawn to form a giant peace sign. The event culminated with the singing of a song Sturtevani composed for Peace Day.
“By having the students participate in this event, we get them to start thinking about peace,” she said. “All week, we’ve been talking about things in the world and how it relates to peace.”
Sturtevani said one of the topics that stirred the students was the fact that in the world, there are more than 65 million women who are uneducated, and in some parts of the world, it is against the law for women to get an education.
“It was real easy to write the song after that,” Sturtevani said. “It took me just 15 minutes to write the song, and Keoni Pau wrote the music.”
On the North Shore, Gary Heu, the mayor’s administrative assistant, joined students and staff from Kaua‘i Pacific School in a Peace Day parade through Kilauea town.
“It was an adorable spectacle rooted in acceptance, compassion and community,” Denise Dion-Scoyni said in an e-mail.
Kaua‘i Pacific School students wished onlookers “Happy Peace Day” while passing out artwork and their personal reflections on why peace is important, she said.
Kaua‘i Interfaith Council spearheaded two days of peace celebrations.
Annaleah Atkinson of the Kaua‘i Interfaith Council said Kaua‘i United Junior Young Buddhists of America advisers asked the council to take the lead for this year’s Peace Day celebration because they were involved in the 750th anniversary of Shinran Shonen, the founder of the Shinshu sect of Buddhism.
Proclamations and certificates were presented by Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and County Councilwoman Lani Kawahara at the Peace Day celebration at Kukui Grove Center that wrapped up a day of activities around the island.
The International Day of Peace was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly, according to internationaldayofpeace.org. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982. It coincides each year with a global ceasefire and nonviolence effort.
Through the efforts of the Hawai‘i Federation of Junior Young Buddhists of America and state Rep. Jon Riki, Hawai‘i became the first state in the nation to officially recognize and celebrate Peace Day. Gov. Linda Lingle signed the bill into law on April 17, 2007.
Visit thegardenisland.com to see video footage of these events.
