Honoka‘a will host its annual Peace Day Parade and Festival on September 23, 2023, celebrating the United Nations International Day of Peace. The event aims to promote messages of peace through a vibrant display of culture and creativity, featuring musicians, dancers, and local artists.
The parade is set to commence at 11:00 a.m., showcasing a variety of community groups and individuals expressing themes of peace. Miles Okumura, chair of the Peace Committee, emphasized the importance of inclusivity in this year’s celebration, stating, “This year, we really want to be much more inclusive with the concept of Peace.” He noted the intention to keep the event simple, focusing on commonalities rather than differences in how communities celebrate peace.
Following the parade, the Peace Day Festival will take place from noon to 16:00 in downtown Honoka‘a, specifically on Mamane Street between Kika Street and Lehua Street. The festival will feature displays that encompass various aspects of culture, history, music, and food, along with performances that aim to entertain and engage attendees. “Exhibitions can be displays that relate to history, culture, music, food, performances, flags, banners, etc. We anticipate seeing some really meaningful and also fun performances and displays during the day’s events,” Okumura added.
The Peace Day Parade and Festival is organized by the Peace Committee of Honoka‘a Hongwanji Buddhist Temple and is supported by the Hawaii County, the Committee on Social Concerns of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, and the Honokaa Business Association.
For more information about the event, interested individuals can visit www.peacedayparade.org. This annual celebration not only brings the community together but also serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts towards fostering peace and understanding within society.