People, including a group of “strangers” from Naples, Italy, ate, danced, talked, and rang bells during the Peace Day activities presented by the Kauai Soto Zen Temple, the Storybook Theatre, and sponsored by the Interfaith Roundtable of Kauai (IROK).
Peace Day extended until Monday because organizers of the “Ring Your Bell for Peace Day” wanted school children to participate. Peace Day traditionally is celebrated on Sept. 21, which was a Sunday this year. Ring Your Bell organizers arranged to have the bells rung on Monday.
“The theme of this year’s International Peace Day is ‘Act Now,’” said Steve “Stream” Backinoff of IROK in an email. “Of course, we all know that we need to live, and live peace, every day and every moment.”
Several hundred people turned out in Hanapepe where Peace Day activities took place at Storybook Theatre at the Sparky’s Peace Garden, and also at the Kauai Soto Zen Temple, where an international potluck featuring main dishes from different parts of the world was supplemented by local salads and desserts.
“We eat together, we pray together,” said Mark Jeffers of Storybook Theatre, who noted that Peace Day coincides with the equinox. “This is the biggest one we’ve done in 13 years.”
The group from Italy had just arrived on Kauai, and was pointed to Hanapepe by a taxi driver who thought they would enjoy Peace Day. After befriending a pair of ladies, the group relished the day of culture, fellowship and the desire for world peace.
“They’re from where I came from — Napali,” said the group’s new friend. “When I found out they were from Italy, I went wild.”
The day was punctuated with culture, including music and dance performances, including Kauai Museum Executive Director Chucky Boy Chock presenting on Kauai’s Legacy of Peace.”
Rev. Kohtoku Hirao of the Waimea Shingon Mission said the paper crane — more than 5,000 decorated the peace statue created by students at the Eleele Elementary School and community volunteers — represents hope for peace.
However, paper is limited in how far it can travel, Hirao said, adding that we release the energy and spirit of the crane by burning the paper. The spirit and energy rises with the smoke of the fire and reach everywhere.
Backinoff had a suggestion for those who were not able to participate in any of the Peace Day events.
“Find one other human, and make an affirmation or promise or vow that goes something like this,” he said. “From this moment on, I will do my best to not react with anger when other people do, or say something that triggers me. I will look inside myself and attempt to figure out what I and my inner child is needing and find a way to meet my need without harming any body or anything else. And, I forgive myself for any thing I have done or said that stands in the way of love. And I forgive everybody and everything else for any thing that has appeared to threaten me, my family, my community. And open to the inevitable peace that can surround us all. Shalon- Maluhia- Shanti- Da pacem domine- Salaam.”
The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire, according to the Peace Day Message sent out by the Lihue Hongwanji Mission.
The United Nations Peace Bell, originally donated by the UN Association of Japan in June 1954, is rung at UN Headquarters in New York City. The Peace Bell was cast from coins and medals donated by the representatives of the UN Member States, the pope, and individuals from more than 60 different nations.
The inscription on the side of the bell reads, “Long live absolute world peace.”
Source: The Garden Island