UH Manoa Matsunaga Institute for Peace helps celebrate Hawaii's first Peace Day on September 21

Public invited to enter

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Jeannie Lum, (808) 956-4244
Matsunaga Institute for Peace
Posted: Aug 14, 2007

HONOLULU — The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace (MIP) in partnership with the state invites the public to celebrate Hawaiʻi‘s first Peace Day on Sept. 21 at the State Capitol. The all-day event will include an "Expressions of Peace" contest where people of all ages are invited to submit an artistic expression of what "peace" means to them. The submissions will be displayed at the State Capitol and award winners will be recognized at a special ceremony. Other activities include a "peace tree" planting, a candlelight ceremony, a statewide moment of prayer for peace and more.

The event is presented in honor of Hawaiʻi being named the first state in the nation to annually celebrate its own Peace Day, which is celebrated around the world as the United Nations International Day of Peace. Introduced by Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu on behalf of young members of the Hawaiʻi Buddhist Association, the Peace Day bill was signed into law by Gov. Linda Lingle on April 18, 2007.

Faculty with the Matsunaga Institute for Peace provided testimony for four bills regarding the promotion of peace during this past legislative session. The two bills that passed were HB 345, or the Peace Day bill, and HR 173, which requests the Matsunaga Institute to convene a working group to explore the possibility of designating Hawaiʻi as the "Geneva of the Pacific". MIP will hold a forum on this topic on Peace Day.

"Peace education encompasses much more than what has traditionally been the study and eradication of conditions of war and violence," said Jeannie Lum, associate professor with MIP and a key organizer of Peace Day. "Today it embraces transforming our world from cultures of war to cultures of peace addressing conditions of human survival -- ecological, economic, and cultural sustainability, planetary stewardship, social justice consciousness raising and spirituality." Organizers of Peace Day hope to eventually hold similar events throughout the state.

A full schedule of events for Peace Day will be announced at a later date. For more information, visit http://peace.oceanit.com.

How to Submit Expressions of Peace

Format: For this first year, art work format will be limited to:

  • 2-dimensional art such as paintings, drawings, prints or posters, or
  • Literary submissions 500 words or less, such as stories, essays and poetry

  • Eligibility: Everyone! People of all ages are encouraged to participate.

    Send pieces by mail to:
    Dr. Jeannie Lum
    Matsunaga Institute for Peace
    University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
    Saunders Hall #723
    2424 Maile Way
    Honolulu, Hawaii 96822

    Drop off pieces in person to:
    Office of Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu
    State Capitol, Room 427
    Honolulu, HI 96813

    Information required about the artist: For each submission, please include your name, age, mailing address and telephone number. If desired, you may also include a brief bio and explanation of the piece submitted.

    Deadline: Please submit your expression of peace by September 7, 2007.

    Property and Copyright: All submissions will become the property of the Peace Day committee and will not be returned. The committee reserves the right to use the work in order to promote Peace Day in the future, but will give credit to the artist or writer.

    Display: Art work will be displayed at the State Capitol on September 21, 2007.

    For more information, visit: http://peace.oceanit.com