The fifth annual Hilo World Peace Festival is slated for 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at Moku Ola (Coconut Island).
The fifth annual Hilo World Peace Festival is slated for 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at Moku Ola (Coconut Island).
The World Peace Festival is a free-to-the-public event presented by the County of Hawaii, sponsored by Soka Gakkai International USA, International Committee of Artists for Peace and Hilo Downtown Improvement Association to celebrate cultural diversity contributing to the creation of a peaceful world.
The festival features performances, food and beverages, as well as opportunities to experience dance, music and art.
Mayor Billy Kenoi created the festival to promote the spirit of aloha: the universal language of love, which means “to honor and revere our elders; to love, nurture, and protect our children, and to respect the harmony of our families, thus creating a healthy community and island.”
The Hilo World Peace Festival performances currently scheduled include hula by the SGI Hilo Youth Group, Taiko drumming performed by Hui Okinawa’s Kobudo Taiko, The Irish Whirlijigs, To‘a Here Tahitian Revue and musical performances by award winning musician Darlene Ahuna.
Hilo World Peace Festival organizers include Roxcie Waltjen, Bert Mukai and Morty Carter from the county Department of Parks and Recreation, who are supported by International Committee of Artists for Peace assisted by SGI-USA and Hilo Downtown Improvement Association representatives Eden Patino, Callie Villanueva, Taylor Martin and Allyssa Cortez.
The Office of the Mayor can be contacted through Char Shigemura, cshigemura@co.hawaii.hi.us.
For more information about food and craft vendor opportunities or to volunteer for this event, contact Eden Patino at 987-0118 or hilo.aloha.ambassador@gmail.com.