Every September, the official International Day of Peace is celebrated in Hawaii and around the world. It is acknowledged globally and practiced locally in Honoka‘a, with six days of peace-themed events.
These include the Peace Day Festival, the Honoka‘a Business Association’s Peace Out Saturday street fair, and this year, Katsu Goto Legacy Week.
This year’s Peace Day Festival theme is “Hometown Heroes,” in honor of the 19th century “Hamakua Hero” and labor leader martyr.
The Peace Day Festival program will kick off at the Honoka‘a Salvation Army Lawn from noon on Saturday, Sept. 23, with the Honoka‘a High School Jazz Band, Taishoji Taiko, hula halau, bon dancers and other fantastic groups. Proclamations and certificates honoring Katsu Goto will also be announced.
A special treat for the Peace Day Festival will be youth members from the cast of “Peace on your Wings,” a new uplifting musical about Sadako Sasaki and her 1,000 paper cranes.
They will sing songs of inspiration, peace and hope. The ensemble has just returned from performing in Hiroshima, Japan.
Along with the Peace Day Festival program, “Peace Out Saturday,” will be held as people come to town dressed in their best tie dye and love beads. Throughout the day, peaceniks will find food trucks, pop-up vendors, music and groovy things to do for the keiki, like origami and giant bubbles along Mamane Street.
Sept. 18-23 has been proclaimed as Katsu Goto Legacy Week by Gov. Josh Green and Mayor Roth. The public is invited and encouraged to attend commemorative Katsu Goto events in Hilo and Honoka‘a:
— Tues. Sept. 19, 4-5 p.m., University of Hawaii at Hilo, Mookini Library. Talk Story with Dr. Patsy Y. Iwasaki author of the graphic novel, Hamakua Hero: A True Plantation Story. A documentary film about Katsu Goto, is currently in production. Mookini Library Special Events web page: https://hilo.hawaii.edu/library/events.
— Thurs. Sept. 21, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Honoka‘a Library presentation. Guest speakers will include a special message of aloha from Hiroshima Prefecture Gov. Hidehiko Yuzaki.
— Sat. Sept. 23: 9 a.m.to 10 a.m., Katsu Goto Legacy Week service at Hamakua Jodo Mission. There will be a special welcome in the temple with the introduction of relatives, dignitaries and friends from Japan, the U.S. mainland and Hawaii, and youth members from the cast of “Peace on your Wings” will sing songs of inspiration, peace and hope from a new uplifting musical about Sadako Sasaki and her 1,000 paper cranes. https://www.peaceonyourwings.com/. This will be followed by a graveside service officiated by Rev. Masanari Yamagishi.
Note: The Peace Day Parade has been postponed to another date in the future. This is out of respect for the ‘ohana holding funeral services nearby at the same time.
Ring Your Bells
for Peace Day
Also on Thursday, Sept. 21, hundreds of bells, great and small, will ring out from temples, homes, schools, and favorite places around the world. The bells call everyone to stand in unity for peace, where they are and on Zoom as well. The program — which includes ‘ukulele master and peace ambassador Jake Shimabukuro — begins at 8:30 a.m., with Hawaiian blessing, music and reflections, followed by 5 minutes of bell-ringing at 9:01 a.m. To join, groups and individuals can register here bit.ly/PeaceDay2023. The Zoom link will be sent after registration.
About Katsu Goto
Katsu Goto a “first ship” Japanese plantation worker turned successful businessman, was tragically killed in Honoka‘a, in the late 19th century. (A memorial marker stands near Honoka‘a Library). Katsu Goto’s Japanese-Hawaii immigrant experience is one of hardship, success, injustice and ultimate tragedy.
Goto came to Hawaii Island in 1885, and was assigned to work on O‘okala Plantation. He fulfilled his three-year contract and opened a successful general store in Honoka‘a town, and became well known in the community for his leadership skills, character and his knowledge of English.
Goto acted as a liaison between the Japanese laborers and plantation management, facilitating mediation and advocating for improved working conditions. Tragically, this led to conflict with some managers, who conspired to have him captured and lynched. His murderers were brought to trial, given short prison sentences, and only one served the full term.
