KAPAA — Kauai’s newest Peace Pole was dedicated earlier this month in a ceremony that included about 30 people, including school officials from nearby schools, officials from community churches, and supporters of peace poles and peace.
Led by Kauai Peace Pole coordinator Teri Mansfield, the newest Peace Pole is located near the “peanutabout” that is nestled between St. Catherine Church, Kapaa High School and Ke Akua Mana Church.
“During these challenging times, we are grateful for the opportunity to reach out to each other in peace as we help to create an inclusive positive respectful movement in Kapaa, and on Kauai, and all of Hawaii,” Mansfield said. “We placed hundreds of written peace messages inside the hollow aluminum peace pole, including many from Kamehameha Preschool 2- and 3-year old keiki in Kapaa.”
Following the ceremony, all joined hands and recited “May Peace Prevail on Earth” three times before breaking into “Let There Be Peace On Earth,” and “Hawaii Aloha.”
Mansfield said, “May Peace Prevail on Earth” is on hundreds of thousands of Peace Poles on this planet, including many here on Kauai.
“Following World War II in Japan, Masahisa Goi coined this simple but inspiring message for his fellow Japanese, and eventually, for all the world,” Mansfield said.
In addition to the “May Peace Prevail on Earth” message, there are 13 other peace messages including “May We Be an Instrument of Peace,” “Aloha Wau ia Oe” and “Malama Aina.” The word “peace” is also depicted in sign language, Hebrew (Shalom), Arabic (Salaam), as well as Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and Filipino.
“We thank Kapaa High School Principal Tommy Cox and his school crew for planting the Peace Pole,” Mansfield said. “We thank Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami, the Department of Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Wally Rezentes for helping us secure the location, and Mayor Kawakami and all the Kauai County Council members who approved this Kapaa Peace Pole placement.”
Peace Poles are 8-foot-tall handcrafted global symbols for peace. Their purpose is to spread the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth,” and to act as a constant reminder for everyone to be peace. They are often dedicated on Sept. 21, the International Day of Peace.
The Kapaa Peace Pole joins more than 250,000 Peace Poles in more than 190 countries on Earth.
“My husband and I saw our first Peace Pole in 1997 in Hanalei, Kauai,” Mansfield said. “In addition to Hanalei, Peace Poles can be found all over the island, including but not limited to near the Bull Shed Restaurant, Lydgate Park and Kamalani Playground, Kauai Community College, Kapaa Middle School, Peace Park in Lihue, Matsunagaa International Children’s Peace Garden in Hanapepe, Anaina Hou Community Park, Stone Dam, Kilauea Dog Park, St. Catherine Parish, private homes, and now, near the new Kapaa roundabout.”
