March 4, 2020 Report on World Interfaith Harmony Event The Third Annual World Interfaith Water Ceremony for Religious Harmony Event Hawaii had its 3rd Annual World Interfaith Harmony week event at the University of Hawaii Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies. Although the UN initiative is officially the first week in February, activities can go through the first week of March. Because of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) 2020 World Summit our event was scheduled on Wednesday night the 26th of February, 2020. About 60 people attended the event. Hawaiian Kahu (priest) Loko’olu Quintero and three members of his Hawai’I Nei Church opened the ceremony with several loud blast of a sea shell and a welcoming chant. MC Dr. Jeff Nakama (UPF) welcomed all guest, participants and Family Federation members. He then urged everyone to take a couple minutes to greet their neighbors and find out what religion and background they came from. The quiet sound of an empty auditorium soon erupted with the energetic sounds of loud and enthusiastic greetings. The opening chant and the guest greeting each other really opened the hearts of everyone present and set the tone for the evening. Dr. Thomas Lynch of the Interfaith Academy offered grace for the dinner. As dinner was winding down sponsors (UPF, CARP, FFWPU and UH Center for Hawaiian Studies) were acknowledged. UH students Sejoon Nakama and Yongqi Lin read commendations from the Governor of Hawaii and Mayor of Honolulu. Rev. Sage Chee, from the Ohana Family of the Living God, gave a couple beautiful songs that lifted the already electric atmosphere and mentioned Mother Moon's event in New Jersey and the idea that, “peace starts with me.” This was followed by a short but recent video clip of summit 2020 that was edited by Rev. Takami. It showed the recent developments of UPF, especially the IAPD (Inter-religious Association for Peace and Development) which was most relevant to our interfaith event, the IAPP (Inter-religious Association for Parlimentatians for Peace) and their important combined role in sustaining peace. The video clip included the profound words of Father and Mother Moon. Rev. Ernie Ho (ACLC) gave an exciting introduction to the water ceremony. However, before the actual ceremony the UPF video, World Interfaith Harmony Week, was played as members prepared (off stage) the order of participants, cups, bowls and water. The “We Are One” Water Ceremony The MC explained that the water being used for the ceremony were brought by the Hawaiian priest and are the rain water that have fallen unto the leaves and were gathered into his gourd. This pure water (symbolically coming from heaven) has not yet touched the earth. The MC explained that the faith representatives would come on stage in alphabetical order of faith. They would be given a cup of the sacred water and they would read a minute of prepared text from their sacred writings (or pray) and then pour the water into a large crystal bowl. They were 8 major world religions represented along with 2 other faiths: Bahai, Buddhism, Christianity, Hawaiian Religion (state Christian hybred), Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Shintoism and Unificationism (worldwide Christian denomination). The Hindu representative had a family emergency to attend, so the Hindu religion was not represented. Both the Bahai and the Hawaiian religion had young participants so they could also represent the unity of world religions to the next generation. It was inspiring and uplifting to see and feel the sacred ceremony. Most participants wore some element of their traditional clothes, but the Buddhist, Hawaiian, and Shinto representatives came with full blown ceremonial garb. The variety of religious scriptures and clothes combined with the different cultures with the symbolism of the world religions harmonizing into oneness with the mixing of the water was a beautiful sight to behold. After the final representative had finished pouring the water into the bowl and while they were still on stage the MC urged all the participants and audience to pray out loud or in silence for world peace for a minute. This concluded the “We are One Water Ceremony” part of the program. * The MC also explained to the audience that the mixed sacred water would be divided into 3 parts and given to 3 representatives. The Hawaiian priest would pray and pour the sacred water on a mountain, Dr. Lynch would pour the water in the ocean and Dr. Nakama would pour the water around 2 peace poles at the University of Hawaii. Therefore, a condition was made to spread interreligious harmony on mountain, land and ocean on Oahu and throughout the Pacific Rim Region. Look at bottom of last page. World Harmony Resolution While the participants were still on stage a table and resolution was brought out. Signing a World Harmony Resolution was the brain child of Keiko Nakama and Rev. Takami and Rev. James Mitchell worded it. The MC read the resolution and then urged all the participants and religious leaders to sign it. Later (after the program) all present were asked to sign. Photos of the participants and group photos were taken. Finally, everyone came off stage, made a circle and Rev. Chee led the closing song as everyone sang, “Let There Be Peace On Earth.” An amazing thing happened; one of the members of The Hawaiian Church of Hawai’I Nei began an impromptu hula of the song. It caught the audience by surprise but they all loved it. The MC thanked everyone for coming and gave some final word of encouragement. * Sacred ceremonial water poured unto 2 UH peace poles, mountain and ocean. Symbolizing interreligious harmony in Oahu and the Pacific rim region (land, mountain and water). For photos of the event click the following link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/W1KPXhcDJaV221E2A

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