LIHU‘E — Liz Hahn of the Baha‘i community on Kaua‘i said people interested in participating in the Kaua‘i Family Conference need to register, or sign up, early.
“We need to have people register early so we can anticipate the amount of food we need to prepare,” Hahn said.
An event flier states that “light meals” will be provided, and registration is required for the conference that will take place Saturday and Sunday, April 9 and 10, at the Kaua‘i Philippine Cultural Center in Puhi.
Conference hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on April 9, and from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 10.
The Kaua‘i Family Conference is part of a worldwide series of conferences inspired by the teachings of Baha‘u‘llah that means “The fundamental purpose animating the faith of God and His religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men,” states the mayoral proclamation celebrating the Kaua‘i Family Conference and presented to representatives of the Baha‘i community on the island.
The conference theme is “Ke Ala O Ka Po‘e Aloha Ou, The Pathway of Thy Loved Ones,” and will offer Kaua‘i families an opportunity to consult about current conditions and what is needed to work for an inclusive, unified effort to address the spiritual and material prosperity of communities.
“The Kaua‘i Family Conference will be exploring the inherent oneness of humanity and a universal call to work for the betterment of the world,” Hahn said. “Each conference includes large and small group discussions with the integration of the arts. Families are welcome, and sessions will be offered for children and junior youth.” Hahn said Baha‘u‘llah, whose name translates into English as “the glory of God,” appeared less than 200 years ago in Persia, and was imprisoned, tortured and eventually exiled to the Holy Land for teaching that “the fundamental purpose animating the faith of God and His religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men.”
“Among his teachings were concepts that were revolutionary in his time,” Hahn said, “calling for universal peace, the equality of women and men, the harmony of science and religion, the need to eliminate racism and prejudices of all kinds; that there is but one God and the divine manifestation, including Christ, Buddha, Moses, Krishna, Muhammad, and others who were sent by the same God to educate humanity, and that the elimination of the extremes of wealth and poverty requires a spiritual solution.”
“Today, Baha‘is are offering to all people an opportunity to view the turmoil in the world through the lens of the concepts and learnings they are gaining as active community builders,” Hahn said.
• Info, registration: bahaihawaii.org/conference, 808-822-3166
