Imagine

The sixth annual Peace Day Parade and Festival was a moving stage of multicultural and multigenerational entertainment.

Saturday morning, taiko drummers, marching bands, dance groups, belly dancers, robots, rock ‘n’ rollers, hula halau, costumed school groups and senior citizens performed their way down Honokaa’s Mamane Street and up to the local sports complex, where a festival was held in celebration of the United Nations International Day of Peace.

The United Nations has been celebrating the International Day of Peace for more than 25 years, but Peace Day became law in Hawaii in 2007 as a result of lobbying by the teen group, United Junior Young Buddhist Association. Proceeds go towards community services, including educational programs, charities, environmental activism programs and various peace initiatives year-round.

The annual Parade and Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace are presented by the Peace Committee of the Honokaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in cooperation with the United Nations and numerous community organizations.

The festival featured numerous craft and food booths, live entertainment and a large community bon dance. Also, Everett Souza of Honokaa was honored. As a teen, he held the record in the 50-mile run during President Kennedy’s physical fitness challenge to America. He completed the run from Hualalai to Honokaa in about 12 hours, best U.S. Marines, college track teams and many others.

For more information about the event, visit peacedayparade.org.