2007 Hawai‘i International Forgiveness Day set for Aug. 5

The theme of the fifth annual Hawai‘i International Forgiveness Day event is “Children & Forgiveness.” The annual free event, a community gathering for all ages, featuring entertaining and meaningful presentations about Forgiveness, will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 5, at Kaimuki High School Auditorium in Honolulu with free forgiveness massages.

Also planned are Wally Amos storytelling with milk and cookies, creation of a forgiveness mural, IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre’s “the Fool” and displays by organizations promoting peace and well-being in the community.  Also on the agenda:

• Nalani Olds will present a dramatic remembrance of Queen Liliuokalani.
• Kupuna Kawohiokalani (Aunty Betty Jenkins) will present “The Bowl of Light,” a spiritual cleansing.
• Farrington High School’s T-shirt Theatre will perform.
• Hoku Award winner Paula Fuga, a Hawaii Forgiveness Hero, will perform her music.
• Forgiveness Heroes, volunteers Jan and Gene Jones, will discuss their peace work in  Afghanistan
• Jeff Gere will present a “Light Puppets” performance of “The Return,” the story of knights returning from Jerusalem.

Forgiveness Heroes to be recognized include Senator Daniel Inouye, honored for his forbearance in the face of racial prejudice during and after World War II; Paula Fuga,  honored for her triumph over tough circumstances as a youth in the State’s foster-care system; Gene and Jan Jones, honored for expressing forgiveness through times of terrorism, in Kabul Afghanistan; and Andrea Przbylinski, from local Waianae Valley, honored for her forgiving response to the murder last year of her daughter.

This festival is part of International Forgiveness Day, now held in 80 countries. Honolulu's celebration is one of the largest. The Hawai’i Forgiveness Project is a nonprofit, non-religious group, helping to weave forgiveness into the fabric of life in Hawai’i. Click here for more information.