HANAPEPE — Martin Luther King Jr. would be celebrating his 95th birthday on Monday, and a series of events leading up to that started Wednesday with the “Goddess Chant” presented by the Storybook Theatre in Hanapepe.
On Monday, the Interfaith Roundtable of Kauai will celebrate MLK Jr.’s birthday with a special program — Celebrate Our Beloved Community — from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Kauai Soto Zenshuji Temple in Hanapepe. Programming will include inspirational talks, opportunities to share, musical expressions that inspire, and actions of community service.
All events will take place near the tall Quad Yin statue that is adjacent to the Bohdi tree.
The Rev. Susan Kobayashi and Annaleah Atkinson of the Interfaith Roundtable of Kauai are some of the speakers delivering inspirational talks.
Kumu Sabra Kauka, Liz Hahn of the Bahai Faith, and Steve Backinoff will be leaders in opportunities to share, and musicians Karen Dickinson and Michael Shooltz will take the lead in musical expressions that inspire volunteers to assemble first-aid kits during actions of community service.
“This year, we’re making 200 first-aid kits,” said Atkinson. “The Interfaith Roundtable of Kauai and friends sometimes help me put them together. The kits go to inmates who leave the Kauai Community Correctional Center as part of a support package they receive. Others go to the Kauai Fire Department to distribute at three beaches where the houseless congregate, and the Child and Family Service receives them at Nana’s Place in Waimea and Hale Hoomalu in Kapaa.”
Atkinson said other kits are given to the county’s Transportation Department for the Kauai Bus drivers so people with wounds can dress them to be able to ride the bus.
“We invite everyone to help make these healing kits with us,” Atkinson said. “This is our way to serve. If you wish, we can always use more Band-Aids. Please feel free to donate.”
Atkinson said the group can use fabric bandages in the following sizes: 3 by 4 inches, 2 by 3 inches, and boxes that contain small, medium, large and spots. She said the group could also use at least 200 pocket-sized tissue packs.
Atkinson will also share some words about the purpose of the gathering to actively help create the “beloved community.”
“We will learn some nonviolent communication, simple conflict resolution, and listen to the words of MLK himself via Stream’s presentation and videos,” Atkinson said. “Ray Catania will speak on social justice. We will then have a Circle of Sharing where each person providing an idea of how we can help each other be more loving.”
On Thursday, people are invited to meet outside the Stone Church in Kilauea from 5 to 6 p.m. with Stream and Kobayashi to walk the labyrinth, talk story, and sing freedom songs.
On Saturday, the Center for Spiritual Living Kauai invites people to the former Kapaa Hongwanji social hall location from 2 to 4 p.m. for “We Are The Ones We’ve Been Waiting For: Creating the Beloved Community” featuring the Voice Weavers women empowerment choir, Love Tribe African drumming, inspirational and educational talks and group singing, and opportunity to share.
On Sunday, there will be a special MLK program from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Makai Club garden area behind the snack shop with inspirational talks and live music.
