The ninth annual Hilo World Peace Festival is slated for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. today at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.
Festivities are free and open to the public. The event is a partnership between Soka Gakkai International USA, the International Committee of Artists for Peace, Destination Hilo and Hawaii County.
The festival celebrates cultural diversity and promotes the creation of a peaceful world. It features performances, food and beverages, as well as opportunities to experience cultural expressions of dance, music and art.
The Hilo World Peace Festival was created to promote the spirit of aloha; the universal language of love, which encourages acts “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 lifestyle.”
The entertainment lineup includes Kimo Awai and the Hilo Soka Gakkai Hula Group, Lopaka and Friends, DD and the High Rollers, Iwalani Kalima and Hula Halau O Kou Lima Nani E and Taishoji Taiko.
For more information, call the county Culture and Education Office at 961-8706.