The colorful celebration of United Nations International Day of Peace will take place Sunday through Sept. 27 in Honokaa. Youth-themed events throughout include a mural project with Hamakua Youth Center, contemporary peace film, a student poster contest, music and Read for Peace, featuring “I Am Malala” by the world’s youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner.
The colorful celebration of United Nations International Day of Peace will take place Sunday through Sept. 27 in Honokaa. Youth-themed events throughout include a mural project with Hamakua Youth Center, contemporary peace film, a student poster contest, music and Read for Peace, featuring “I Am Malala” by the world’s youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner.
At the Peace Day Parade & Festival on Saturday, guest entertainers for the young and young at heart include the lively acrobatics of Hiccup Circus, feats of magic by award-winning workers Bruce and Jennifer Meyers, upbeat music by the Honokaa High School Jazz Band, DJ Nubaui spinning the latest dance tunes and more.
Schedule of events:
— Student Peace Poster Contest. “The Golden Chain of Love” is the 2015 theme. Open to all students, K-12. Cash and prizes awarded by age group. Deadline to enter is Friday. Details and forms are available at peacedayparade.org. For more information, contact Jeanne Clement, 936-8253, mjclement55@gmail.com.
— Ongoing, student “Read for Peace” project. Copies of the book, “If Kids Ran the World” by Leo and Diane Dillon will be read to students and given to area preschools by Friends of Honokaa Library.
— Sunday, 9 a.m., Fall Equinox and Peace Day service, Honokaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple.
— Monday, 3:30 p.m., “The Golden Chain of Love” mural painting at Hamakua Youth Center.
— Monday, “Read for Peace” activity sponsored by Friends of the Honokaa Library, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Selected book, “I Am Malala,” tells the story of Malala Yousafzai, the 18-year-old woman who was wounded in school by the Taliban, and became the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize winner.
— Sept. 23, Peace Films Double Feature at Honokaa Peoples Theater, 7 p.m. Free, with donations welcome. “Traditions & Family Values: A Blueprint For Our Community” is a 43-minute documentary about long time residents of Hamakua, produced by people from the Paauilo, Kalopa Mauka Community Association. DVDs of this film will be available in the theater lobby. “Peaceful Warrior” is a feature film based on a true story about a college gymnast, Dan Millman, at University of California at Berkeley. He had a life changing motorcycle accident and then a spiritual awakening via a late night guru /auto mechanic named Socrates. Millman was not supposed to walk but went on to full recovery and a championship gymnastics career. The guru, Socrates, is played by Nick Nolte.
— Peace Weekend Kickoff and Poster Gallery Reception, Sept. 25, 5 to 7 p.m. at C&J Concepts. Display of peace posters from previous contests, with music by Honokaa’s own Red Eye Vibes, and the New Dharma Band and light refreshments.
— Peace Day Parade. Sept. 26, 4 p.m., Mamane Street in Honokaa. Mamane Street will close for the “moving stage” of marching bands, taiko drummers, hula, bon dancers, cirque performers and multicultural music and entertainment.
— Peace Day Festival in the Street. Sept. 26 5 to 7:30 p.m. along Mamane Street. A large and entertaining festival for all ages, with food booths, silent auction, taiko drummers, magic, community bon dancing and live music. Admission is free and all are welcome.
— “Mindfulness: The Everyday Path of Peace, Health and Wellbeing” led by Gavin Harrison, Sept, 27, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Honokaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple Social Hall. The fee of $30 includes vegetarian lunch. Advance registration is required. For more information and to register by phone, call 775-1064.
— “199,000 Cranes Project.” The Peace Committee has received approximately 130,000 cranes to date, from numerous contributors around the island and beyond. In an ongoing project to collect origami cranes in memory of the casualties of the nuclear bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the committee plans an in-person trip to Japan to deliver the cranes in 2016. To participate, make cranes no larger than 7-inches square and string in groups of 100. Cranes may be dropped off at the Honokaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple or mailed to P.O. Box 1667, Honokaa, HI 96727. Groups or individuals with 1,000 cranes are invited to be in the Peace Day Parade; info@peacedayparade.org.
For more information, to participate or make a donation, visit peacedayparade.org.