The Hawai'i Forgiveness
Project
presents
Hawai'i International
Forgiveness Day 2019
“Building Community” Free Festival
Brings Diverse Groups Together
Hawai’i
International Forgiveness Day, a free public festival supported by many
diverse groups and individuals, will be held in Kaneohe, on the
windward shore of O’ahu, August 4, 2019. The theme for this 17th annual
event is “Building Community” -- with the added rhetorical question,
“What would Queen Lili’uokalani do?” Forgiveness Day is a global event,
with dozens of participating countries, and Hawai’i holds one of the
largest and most consistent programs. One of the original founders, Dr.
Frederic Luskin (author of “Forgive for Good”) will lead many artists,
teachers and community innovators in a two-hour program, 2:00 - 4:00
pm, at the Seicho No Ie center in Kaneohe, this coming Sunday, August
4. Attendance is free for everyone.
One of the highlights of
Forgiveness Day is meeting the Forgiveness Heroes -- people and
organizations that have demonstrated indelibly, through their thoughts,
words and actions, the power of forgiveness to catalyze change. This
year, the Hawaii Forgiveness Project recognizes two new Heroes -- the
Angel Network, with memory of Ivy Olson and Rodney “Mac,” -- and
Chelsey Villamin, elementary school teacher and founder of the Peace
Project.
Meleanna Aluli Meyer is a filmmaker and leader of the original Hawaiian
community; she has a special relationship with Queen Lili’uokalani. She
will lead talkstory at Forgiveness Day. She said, “The Queen set the
standard for living forgiveness when she wrote ‘The Queen’s Prayer’ in
response to the injustice of the overthrow of Hawaiian sovereignty. In
asking, what would she do today -- we stimulate our inner vision, and
an understanding of her historic role in bringing together all the
people of Hawai’i -- both the original Hawaiians and the many kama’aina
who have joined us over the centuries.”
Aaron Mahi, beloved singer-songwriter and former conductor of the Royal
Hawaiian Band, will host the program and perform “The Queen’s Prayer”
-- as only Aaron Mahi can do.
Professor Fred Luskin is a founder of the worldwide forgiveness
movement; he will lead a discussion at Hawai’i International
Forgiveness Day. He said, in his seminal 2001 book, “I do not suggest
that forgiveness means we give up our right to be angry when we have
been hurt or mistreated. My forgiveness research shows that people
retain their ability to be angry but simply use that ability more
wisely...I have seen that forgiveness helps people control their
emotions so they maintain good judgment. They do not waste precious
energy trapped in anger and hurt...” (Forgive for Good -- http:/j.mp/luskin-forgiveness)
One of the founders of the event, and a constant supporter for 17
years, is attorney Roger Epstein. He said, “Forgiveness is not about
forgetting -- in fact, it is about truly remembering, deeply
understanding and accepting, the events and people that have caused
pain. Forgiveness is the driving force at the heart of justice and
reconciliation.” Roger served as a senior partner at Hawai’i’s largest
law firm, Cade Schutte, and has a lifelong commitment to the law, both
in the U.S. and internationally.
Merritt Sakata is one of the key leaders of Seicho No Ie (“House of
Growth”), a community group that unites people of all ideas and faiths.
Merritt helped to open the Jisso Center in Kaneohe for this event,
which is held outside of Honolulu for the first time. He said, “It is
our honor and our kuleana to bring together people of many religions
and philosophies -- to find the fundamental unity of all hearts in
forgiveness.”
This is a free event, for the whole family; participation, questions
and discussion are encouraged. People are invited to arrive at 1:00 pm.
for community tables and pre-event gatherings; the main program begins
at 2:00 pm. and concludes at 4:00 pm. The address is the Jisso
Center, 47-451 Hui Aeko Pl, Kaneohe, Hawai’i 96744; not far from the
Valley of the Temples -- here is an interactive map: https://goo.gl/maps/6tBjPLuzTnbrtYq16
For information see
http://www.hawaiiforgivenessproject.org
Contact: Merton Chinen, 808-226-6797
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