Eighth Annual 
Hawaii International Forgiveness Day

Forgiveness Day Highlights: Heroes Awards and Keynote 
from Kanu Hawaii
Free community festival, with dinner for all, 
offered at UH Manoa, Sunday August 1


July 30, 2010; HONOLULU, HI: The Hawaii Forgiveness Hero Recognition Awards for 2010 will be presented to Ha'aheo Guanson and Kaleo Patterson, Roy Sakuma and Joseph Nuuanu, this Sunday, August 1 at a public ceremony at the University of Hawaii.

And young community activist James Koshiba will give the keynote address, talking about practical compassion. James is one of the founders of Kanu Hawaii (http://www.kanuhawaii.org), a respected web-based community that mobilizes the youth of Hawaii for positive change.

"Our island culture reflects a unique way of looking at the world. Because we live very closely together, we embrace many cultures easily, have a deep sense of place, a respect for the power of nature and the limits of natural resources, and a sense of obligation to each other," said Koshiba.
Kanu Hawaii proves that shrinking opportunities, environmental degradation, the loss of communities, inequality, apathy, greed, intolerance can be changed. By teaching and practicing island values (aloha, 'ohana, kuleana, ho'oponopono), and embracing a relentlessly positive style of advocacy, Kanu Hawaii takes personal responsibility for problems, and approaches challenges with humility as well as energy. 

They believe that forgiveness is the emotional fuel that can power an engine of change.

Ha'aheo Guanson and Kaleo Patterson founded the Pacific Justice and Reconciliation Center in Honolulu, which stands for creating a culture of peace and nonviolence for the children of the world. They work in churches, prisons, schools, the legislature, and universities, and champion non-violent direct action on important issues of the day. They advocate justice with a firm, quiet dignity that is worthy of their people and their ancestry. 

Joseph Nuuanu suffered one of the most cruel things a human can bear -- he watched as his two daughters and his grandchild were killed in front of his eyes. Carina and Nicole, age 24 and 22,  and young Laakea died when a drunk driver lost control and hit their car. Joseph overcame his anger, heard the voice of his daughters calling out for forgiveness, and has become a source of power and wisdom for many in the community.

Roy Sakuma was expelled from high school, suffered a childhood marred by his mother's and brother's mental illness, and withdrew in his youth from the world in pain and silence. But he overcame this with music, becoming one of Hawaii's most beloved teachers of the ukulele -- and of a positive life.

The power of forgiveness is simple. As Roy Sakuma says, "When you let go of the hurt, the hurt can no longer control you."

Hawaii International Forgiveness Day is a family festival that will be celebrated this your at the University of Hawaii Shidler College of Business, on the campus of UH Manoa. Here's a map: http://bit.ly/brEy68

Doors open at 2:00 pm. for music, classes and demonstrations. Among the performers will be Dancers Unlimited, and African Drummers; classes include meditation, lua martial arts, ho'oponopono healing, and thought field therapy.  At 3:45, people will gather outdoors, observe an energetic theatre piece from Communities in Schools, and offer a traditional Hawaiian pule, led by Kauila Clark.

The main program begins at 4:00 pm, with the keynote address from James Koshiba of Kanu Hawaii, presentation of the Heroes Awards, music and celebrations.

At 5:30 pm, a community dinner will be offered, for free to everyone. People are invited to bring their own favorite dish, to share with all.

The Hawaii Forgiveness Project is a not-for-profit organization, non-religious and open to all, which seeks to promote forgiveness in all its forms in Hawaii's society -- political, cultural, judicial, social, and educational. Forgiveness Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in August in more than 80 countries; Hawaii’s celebration is one of the world’s largest. 

More information at http://www.hawaiiforgivenessproject.org



theme image for Forgiveness Day 2010 by Chris Spezzano,
© 2010; courtesy of Form and Matter; formandmattter.com