LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i celebrated the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday holiday before an audience of residents and visitors who were at Kukui Grove Center Monday. “A Celebration of Peace” brought together peoples of different cultures, as four hours
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i celebrated the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday holiday before an audience of residents and visitors who were at Kukui Grove Center Monday.
“A Celebration of Peace” brought together peoples of different cultures, as four hours of island entertainment were punctuated by proclamations from Kaua‘i Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste and Gov. Linda Lingle, the latter read by Lingle’s Kaua‘i Liaison Laurie Yoshida, in celebration of the holiday.
Sam Kaauwai rendered the opening national and Hawai‘i anthems, with Juanita Powell, organizer for the event, joining host Ron Wiley in presenting the first performance, a medley of songs performed by the keiki of Malia’s Keiki Hale, a group which has performed for the past several MLK celebrations.
The Rev. Jim Bethell of St. Michael & All Angels’ Episcopal Church in Lihu‘e, and Liz Hahn, representing the Bahai faith, offered prayers for peace.
The day-long slate of entertainment included performances by members of the Saiva Siddhanta Church, the Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko, the Kauai Visayan Club and Friends, The Rubies, Mark Jeffers, EZ Livin, Love Tribe, James Schattauer and Claire Cassell, and Hawaiian Billie and Friends.
A universal peace dance closed the program Monday afternoon.
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
