LizKauai

Personal blog of Liz from Kauai.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Give Peace a Chance

Yesterday I was feeling a little down- disappointed in some online negativity and disrespect shown to Lyla Berg, the Hawaii Legislature and the Islamic community of Hawaii.

Today was the perfect answer to that negativity.
I was invited by the Kauai Interfaith Council to participate in the dedication of the Peace Pole which was installed at the United Methodist Church in Kekaha.
A Buddhist choir, Christian Tongan choir and Filipino dance group were among those participating in the cultural exchange. There was Hawaiian and Japanese dance and both the Hawaiian conch shell and Hebrew shofar announced traditional chants that brought the group together in reverence.
 
 The Methodist choir performed and I had the opportunity to share the Baha'i point of view- emphasizing the Golden Rule as a thread of the Cause of God linking all Faiths. Then I sang the most universal prayer I know -  "Blessed is the Spot" in Hawaiian and English.



 
The speakers all emphasized the unity needed to overcome prejudice and to spread universal brotherhood and understanding so necessary for a peaceful world. The dedication was done in Hawaiian, with the native Kekaha a'ali'i growing on the sides of the obelisk and five maile lei, representing the diversity of the people of Kauai, were tied into an unbroken garland around this symbol of peace.

After the dedication of the Peace Pole, we shared a delicious meal together and some of us discovered the "secrets" of Tongan music!
And oh yes, I did go fishing early this morning before the Dedication.
I caught some baitfish and Aaron and Franklin brought up some beautiful papio! The boys and I are having fish tonight!

5 Comments:

Blogger brew808 said...

Giving the "slippa" to the papio...?

May 16, 2009 at 6:55 PM  
Blogger Lizkauai said...

Yep! Aaron get beeg feet!

uhoh- looks like rain in the forecast tomorrow. Guess tonight is the night.

May 16, 2009 at 7:13 PM  
Anonymous wafan said...

Nice to see some sharing and healing. All of the hatred being expressed over Islam Day is such a downer. I do not understand those who would call themselves followers of a peaceful God/Being/Power. Why would they preclude to judge others and spread such hate?

May 16, 2009 at 8:06 PM  
Anonymous gigi-hawaii said...

Give peace a chance. Someone should have sung John Lennon's Imagine.

Tonight, David and I ate wild salmon from Costco. Usually, we eat Atlantic salmon, but gotta admit the wild salmon has more flavor. But it costs $10 more! Aiya.

May 16, 2009 at 8:11 PM  
Blogger Lizkauai said...

wafan, I kept my presentation simple... it was the other speakers who said that all faiths could be seen as one... and the Methodist rep for peace with justice spoke of working with the Muslim and Jewish communities in California!

;-)

May 16, 2009 at 10:11 PM  

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