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| The Rev. Midori Kondo opened yesterday's Interfaith Service at Na`alehu Hongwanji. Photo by Julia Neal |
THE INTERFAITH SERVICE on Worldwide Communion Sunday brought together Japanese and Tibetan Buddhists, Episcopalians, Methodists and members of other religions to Na`alehu Hongwanji yesterday. Priests and pastors of different backgrounds talked the same theme, giving examples of tolerance and of quelling fears of one another to help end violence. The Rev. Midori Kondo talked about Buddhism reaching out to the Untouchables in India. She chanted May Peace Prevail.
Hannah Uribes, from Hannah’s Makana `Ohana Halau in Ocean View, talked about growing up in a Hawaiian church with all denominations – like one family. “We forgive each other when there are unkind words.” The halau danced Kanaka Wai Wai and Kealoha.
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| Hula in the Temple. Dancers of many faiths came together for the Interfaith Service at Na`alehu Hongwanji yesterday. Photo by Julia Neal |
Na`alehu Methodist Church Minister Woodley White said music is a language that everyone understands, that brings people together. White, an `ukulele builder, introduced Keoki Kahumoku, who, along with some of his students, played and sang a few songs.
St. Jude’s Episcopal Church minister, Father Tom Buechele, talked about interfaith gathering in times of war. In the last century the rise of Naziism and communism presented many problems for churches. They “were suffering under the isms.” The church leaders, from Jews to Christians to Moslems, came together to share what they had in common.
Buechele, who served along the border between the U.S. and Mexico, said that in his time, the Berlin wall went down in Europe, while in America, a big wall went up with big lights and guards to separate families and villages of people with loving, cultural relationships. He and other pastors from Mexico and the U.S. decided to hold a procession for peace along both sides of the wall. They informed the border patrol, who gave them permission after some intense interrogation.
They visited the proposed site and were encountered by a nervous young border guard with a gun who was shaking with fear and had to call his superior before calming down. On the day of the ceremony, the Mexicans walked along one side of the wall and those from the U.S. on the other, singing and praying. When they reached the end of the wall, they set a table that straddled the border and shared bread and wine to demonstrate they are one community.
Organist Hatsume Tanaka accompanied Puna Hongwanji Choir in a rendition of One Light, One Sun.
Dr. Dennis Elwell talked about all of humankind being related, with the migration out of Africa starting about 100,000 years ago, which populated the world.
The Interfaith Service was followed by a multicultural feast. The event was dedicated to the Interfaith Service founder, Joyce Suenobu, who shared her music in many sanctuaries of differing faiths in Ka`u. It was organized by Marge Elwell.
St. Jude’s Episcopal Church minister, Father Tom Buechele, talked about interfaith gathering in times of war. In the last century the rise of Naziism and communism presented many problems for churches. They “were suffering under the isms.” The church leaders, from Jews to Christians to Moslems, came together to share what they had in common.
Buechele, who served along the border between the U.S. and Mexico, said that in his time, the Berlin wall went down in Europe, while in America, a big wall went up with big lights and guards to separate families and villages of people with loving, cultural relationships. He and other pastors from Mexico and the U.S. decided to hold a procession for peace along both sides of the wall. They informed the border patrol, who gave them permission after some intense interrogation.
They visited the proposed site and were encountered by a nervous young border guard with a gun who was shaking with fear and had to call his superior before calming down. On the day of the ceremony, the Mexicans walked along one side of the wall and those from the U.S. on the other, singing and praying. When they reached the end of the wall, they set a table that straddled the border and shared bread and wine to demonstrate they are one community.
Organist Hatsume Tanaka accompanied Puna Hongwanji Choir in a rendition of One Light, One Sun.
Dr. Dennis Elwell talked about all of humankind being related, with the migration out of Africa starting about 100,000 years ago, which populated the world.
The Interfaith Service was followed by a multicultural feast. The event was dedicated to the Interfaith Service founder, Joyce Suenobu, who shared her music in many sanctuaries of differing faiths in Ka`u. It was organized by Marge Elwell.
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| Friends of the Ka`u Libraries sold books and baked goods at Ka`u Plantation Days on Saturday. Photo by Julia Neal |
KA`U PLANTATION DAYS brought the multi-ethnic community together over the weekend to celebrate the heritage created by the rise and fall of the sugar industry. Meeting around kitchen tables to prepare for the event were organizers Ella Louis, Gail Kalani, Lynn Hamilton and Dorothy Kalua. Beyond them were dozens of people helping, from making lei for horses and riders, to tree trimming at the Pahala manager’s house yard, to providing music and teaching ethnic dance.
“It is so amazing that all these people gave their time and talent,” said Hamilton. The Portuguese community provided a history display, Portuguese soup and bread. Japanese ladies got up at 4 a.m. to make sushi and worked on their paper crafts during the event. Filipino and Chinese history displays, music and dance filled the day. “These were but a few of the many who gave their time,” she said.
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| Participants shared a bon dance at Ka`u Plantation Days on Saturday. Photo by Julia Neal |
THE LARGE METAL OBJECT on the coast below Na`alehu was still resting on the lava rock coast when representatives of the state Department of Land & Natural Resources traveled to the Ka`u Coast over the weekend. Officials are concerned about the cylinder refloating should surf come up, whether shellfish attached to it are invasive species, and they are attempting to find out the origin of the large metal container-like object that is some 12 feet tall and 20 feet wide. It was first discovered by a youth hiking group last Wednesday.
REPEALING THE PUBLIC LAND DEVELOPMENT CORP law is the aim of a statewide rally today with sign waving. On this island, designated sites are the state building in Hilo where the state Department of Land & Natural Resources is located, on Hwy 11 by the Mormon Temple in Kailua-Kona and in North Hawai`i on the lawn behind the Kamehameha Statue.
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| Iwao Yonemitsu presented a historic slideshow at Ka`u Plantation Days. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie |
The PLDC was formed to allow government to partner with private enterprise to develop state-owned lands. A statement from organizers mentions the possibility of the PLDC fast-tracking geothermal projects in Ka`u, Puna, Kona and Maui “or other costly and toxic energy development.” It says the group wants to “demonstrate to our state elected officials and to the PLDC board of directors that there is broad, deep, and diverse opposition to the PLDC.
“The public’s opposition is on so many levels -- from the PLDC’s exempting itself from regulatory, planning, preservation, civil service, and competitive bidding requirements; to the shift in the DLNR’s balance from a preservation and conservation role to one of development for money; to the incompatibility of contemplated development with low or inverse market demand; to the burdens this development places on local infrastructure; to the shutting out of our local communities by holding public meetings about proposed development only on O'ahu; to excluding our city/county governments from any requirements to involve them in the evaluation, planning, and regulatory processes; and to how the PLDC and its exemptions shows disregard and contempt toward our host culture (Kanaka Maoli and Kanaka Hawai`i) for the stewardship and public trust responsibility of Crown/“Ceded” Lands.
“The public’s opposition is on so many levels -- from the PLDC’s exempting itself from regulatory, planning, preservation, civil service, and competitive bidding requirements; to the shift in the DLNR’s balance from a preservation and conservation role to one of development for money; to the incompatibility of contemplated development with low or inverse market demand; to the burdens this development places on local infrastructure; to the shutting out of our local communities by holding public meetings about proposed development only on O'ahu; to excluding our city/county governments from any requirements to involve them in the evaluation, planning, and regulatory processes; and to how the PLDC and its exemptions shows disregard and contempt toward our host culture (Kanaka Maoli and Kanaka Hawai`i) for the stewardship and public trust responsibility of Crown/“Ceded” Lands.
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| Ikebana graced the plantation manager's house at Ka`u Plantation Days. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie |
“We are being asked to abrogate our responsibilities to future generations of Hawaiians who must rely on us to properly steward these precious and fragile resources for them in the name of increased revenue.” A history of the formation of the PLDC has been written by a former state senator and former director of the state Office of Environmental Quality Control at http://garyhooser.wordpress.com/.
HERE ARE MORE RESULTS from Ka`u Chamber of Commerce’s art show and contest for The Directory 2013. Graphics: Alan Moores, 2nd place; Dee Hyde-Begany, 3rd place. Photography: Savory Yarrow, 2nd place; Frank Lorenzo, 3rd place. Sculpture: Savory Yarrow, 2nd place; Don Elwing 3rd place. Craft: Olivia Ling, 2nd place; Ola Kochis, 3rd place. Wood: Terri Chopot, 2nd place. Keiki Division: Rio Chopot, 2nd place; Shay Lorsen, 3rd place.
TODAY AT 4:30 P.M. IS THE DEADLINE to register to vote in Nov. 6 general election. Registration forms are available at all U.S. post offices, public libraries, in phone books, through hawaii.gov/elections, county clerk’s office and most state agencies.
Anyone registering must be a U.S. Citizen, a resident of Hawai`i and at least 18 years of age. Those with name changes and those who have recently moved should re-register.
HERE ARE MORE RESULTS from Ka`u Chamber of Commerce’s art show and contest for The Directory 2013. Graphics: Alan Moores, 2nd place; Dee Hyde-Begany, 3rd place. Photography: Savory Yarrow, 2nd place; Frank Lorenzo, 3rd place. Sculpture: Savory Yarrow, 2nd place; Don Elwing 3rd place. Craft: Olivia Ling, 2nd place; Ola Kochis, 3rd place. Wood: Terri Chopot, 2nd place. Keiki Division: Rio Chopot, 2nd place; Shay Lorsen, 3rd place.
TODAY AT 4:30 P.M. IS THE DEADLINE to register to vote in Nov. 6 general election. Registration forms are available at all U.S. post offices, public libraries, in phone books, through hawaii.gov/elections, county clerk’s office and most state agencies.
Anyone registering must be a U.S. Citizen, a resident of Hawai`i and at least 18 years of age. Those with name changes and those who have recently moved should re-register.
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| ILWU displayed historic photos at Ka`u Plantation Days. Photo by Julia Neal |
A SPECIAL SCREENING OF Nona Beamer: A Legacy of Aloha takes place tomorrow at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Linda Kane’s film includes words from some of the people profoundly affected by this musician, hula dancer, composer and teacher.
This After Dark in the Park program begins one-half hour earlier than usual, at 6:30 p.m. $2 donations support park programs, and park entrance fees apply.
OVER 20 CHOICES of vegetables plus chicken, beef, pork, fish and tofu are featured at Cooper Center’s Mongolian BBQ this Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Seventy cents per ounce includes dessert and beverage. Visit thecoopercenter.org for volunteer opportunities, or call 936-9705 for more information.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
This After Dark in the Park program begins one-half hour earlier than usual, at 6:30 p.m. $2 donations support park programs, and park entrance fees apply.
OVER 20 CHOICES of vegetables plus chicken, beef, pork, fish and tofu are featured at Cooper Center’s Mongolian BBQ this Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Seventy cents per ounce includes dessert and beverage. Visit thecoopercenter.org for volunteer opportunities, or call 936-9705 for more information.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.