Introduction

The initial meeting for the formation of this interfaith group was held at the Konko Mission of Honolulu on November 25, 1991. The Rev. Michio Miyake of Konko Church of Tokiwadai in Tokyo, who was involved in WCRP or World Conference of Religions for Peace in Japan, initiated to hold an informal interfaith religious meeting with the coordination of the Rev. Katsuo Yasutake, in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack by the Japanese Imperial Navy in December, 1941. At this meeting, the Rev. Miyake made a suggestion to form a WCRP unit in Hawaii.

The very first WCRP Hawaii Chapter meeting was held on May 27, 1992 at Chaminade University of Honolulu. Seventeen local religious leaders were present. In recognition of the affiliation to the WCRP, we adopted the name of the organization as WCRP Hawaii Chapter. The official title of the organization, the HCRP or the Hawaii Conference of Religions for Peace was adopted in correspondence to the registration of the organization to the State of Hawaii as a non-profit organization in 2002.

This organization has been granted the IRS tax exemption status of 501(c)(3) on September 24, 2007.

Universal Prayer

The Hawai‘i Conference of Religions for Peace

We pause in quiet reflection to offer this prayer for a peaceful world. In our individual and personal ways, we call upon the Holy One who sustains our lives and who inspires us to live with compassion and kindness and peace.

We ask for daily guidance in all of our personal relationships, in our work and play, and in our community involvement that we might model the possibilities of peace in everything we say and in everything we do.

We pray for wisdom and compassion within the hearts and minds of all world leaders who have the power and responsibility of making decisions that impact the presence of peace.

We pray for courage, dedication, and integrity within the spirits of all those who work for peace around the world.

We pray for all those who harbor thoughts and feelings of hatred, violence, and greed that their hearts, minds and souls will be transformed into Your likeness of compassion and kindness.

We are thankful for Your presence within our lives and ask for Your blessing as we try to live peaceful lives and seek ways for all people to live in harmony and peace.

Cup-full of Peace Project:
The inspirational “Cup-full of Peace Project” was initiated by the Rev. Tatsunori Kamiya of Gedatsu Church of Hawaii for the annual interfaith HCRP Peace Prayer Gathering since 2008. The project provides an opportunity for each individual to develop personalized messages and thoughts in the form of drawings or words on the mug. The “art work” functions as a reminder about the importance of personal involvement in building peace in oneself, the community they belong to, and the world at large. It also helps the growth of individualized thoughts for peace, as well as invites other people in joining to spread the messages of peace. The cups inscribed with messages of peace are displayed at this gathering place. We hope the waves we have created through this project will create a ripple effect to get the message of peace out into the world.

Annual Interfaith Prayer for Peace
and Notable Events

The first annual Interfaith Prayer for Peace coordinated by the WCRP Hawaii Chapter was held at the State Diamondhead Crater Park on October 3, 1993. The members conferred six times before the inauguration of the first annual observance of the peace prayer. Approximately 50 people from various organization, such as Christian denominations, Gedatsu Church, Rissho Kosei-Kai, Hindu faith, Lutheran, Perfect Liberty Church, Christian Science, Hale Krishna, Konko Churches, University of Hawaii Religion Department, and others showed up for the gathering. The Peace Pole inscribed with the word of “Peace” in many different languages was placed at the center of the gathering.

2nd Prayer for Peace was held on Saturday, February 11, 1995 at the Church of Perfect Liberty. Dr. Ramon Lopez-Reyes made a presentation.

3rd Prayer for Peace was held on August 13, 1995 at Kaka‘ako Waterfront State Park. The theme of the meeting was, “Interfaith Gathering for Reconciliation and Peace With Justice.”

4th Prayer for Peace was held on October 20, 1996 at Pu‘u Ualaka‘a State Wayside Park in Tantalus. Image of Peace: Unity in Diversity was adopted.

5th Prayer for Peace was held on October 19, 1997 at YWCA Kokokahi Park in Kaneohe.

6th Prayer for Peace was held on October 25, 1998 at Kapiolani Park Band Stand. Featured by musical performance by Oahu Civic Orchestra.

The members of WCRP Hawaii Chapter participated to the interfaith meeting organized by Open Table and Bridges for Compassion and Justice held on October 7, 1999 at Kaka‘ako Waterfront State Park. The theme: “Prayer Vigil Against Hate, Crimes and Violence.”

A special Interfaith Prayer for Peace was observed on July 24, 2000 at the Baha’i Community in Nu‘uanu.

7th Prayer for Peace was held on October 28, 2000 at Ala Moana Park in commemoration of the 30th anniversary celebration of WCRP. Featured by a volunteer activity to clean up the park. Theme: “Make A Difference Day.”

8th Prayer for Peace was held on October 20, 2001 at Diamond Head Crater.

WCRP coordinated “Rejecting Terror, Promoting Peace with Justice: Religions Respond” An International Symposium of Leaders of the World’s Religions held on October 23, and 24, 2001 in New York. Rev. Eshin Matsumoto and President, Rev. Yasuhiro Yano and Mr. Ruben Betancourt, who was the ex-president of the organization and moved to New York, in representation of WCRP Hawaii Chapter responded to attend the meeting. The meeting was coordinated in response to the 9/11 Terror Attacks in New York.

On behalf of WCRP Hawaii Chapter, the Rev. Yasuhiro Yano forwarded a petition against the introduction of gambling in Hawaii to the State legislator on January 14, 2002.

The Hawaii Conference of Religions for Peace registered the state of Hawaii as a non-profit corporation on July 26, 2002. The name of the organization was officially changed from WCRP Hawaii Chapter to The Hawaii Conference of Religions for Peace and much emphasis has been placed on localized activities in Hawaii.

9th Prayer for Peace was held on October 20, 2002 at the Neal Blaisdell Park in Pearl City.

10th Prayer for Peace was held on October 26, 2003 at the Gedatsu Church of Hawaii. Theme: “Peace Through Harmony” Speaker: Rev. Sam Cox.

Symposium sponsored by USCRP (The United States Conference of Religions for Peace, an affiliate of The World Conference on Religions Peace and coordinated by the HCRP was held on February 18, 2003 at the Central Union Church. Theme: “Economic Disparity Among Us.” A reception for the speakers was held at the Baha'i Center in Nu‘uanu on February 19, 2003.

11th Prayer for Peace was held on October 24, 2004 at the Gedatsu Church of Hawaii, co-sponsored by The Interfaith Alliance of Hawaii. Theme: “Global Peace” Speaker: Professor Jay Sakashita.

“Universal Prayer” for HCRP, drafted by Rev. Dr. John Heidel was adopted for use.

The HCRP and Church of Perfect Liberty co-sponsored the Season for Peace and Nonviolence Hawaii Closing Event and Aloha Peacemaker Award.

12th Prayer for Peace was held on October 30, 2005 at the Gedatsu Church of Hawaii, co-sponsored by The Interfaith Alliance of Hawaii. Theme: “Global Peace” Speaker: Chaplain Yuki Hamada, Punahou Chaplain.

13th Prayer for Peace was held on October 29, 2006 at the Rissho Kosei-Kai Buddhist Church of Hawaii, co-sponsored by The Interfaith Alliance of Hawaii. Theme: “Peaceful Communication” Speaker: Dr. Gregg Kinkley.

14th Prayer for Peace was held on October 28, 2007 at the Gedatsu Church of Hawaii, co-sponsored by The Interfaith Alliance of Hawaii. Theme: “Pono” Speaker: Michael North “Practical Personal Forgiveness-Exercises for Building Global Peace in Daily Life.”

The HCRP co-sponsored the third annual symposium, “Celebrating Our Spiritual Similarities; Savoring Our Ritual Differences” on September 2, 2007.

Recognized as IRS tax exempt status of 501(c) (3) on September 24, 2007.

15th Prayer for Peace was held on October 26, 2008 at the Gedatsu Church of Hawaii, co-sponsored by The Interfaith Alliance of Hawaii. Theme: “A personal Approach to World Peace”
Speaker: Dr. Harriet Natsuyama “Physics of Peace.”

The Cup-full-Peace Program was initiated by the Rev. Tatsunori Kamiya of Gedatsu Church of Hawaii in August, 2008 for the annual Prayer for Peace.

Edna Yano of Konko Mission of Wahiawa, in representing the HCRP, performed the sacred dance of “Kibimai” for a meeting held as part of the International Academy for Intercultural Research on August 15, 2009 at the Shidler School of Business at University of Hawaii.

In October, 2009, Mrs. Masago Asai, the HCRP coordinator of Presidential Obama’s Peace Prayer Project, forwarded a petition with signatures of more than 2,504 people to President Obama for his visit to the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Memorials and spread the message of peace to the world through his extended prayers upon his visitation to Japan in 2009.

16th Prayer for Peace was held on October 25, 2009, at the Gedatsu Church of Hawaii, co-sponsored by The Interfaith Alliance of Hawaii. Theme: “Making Peace in Our Homes” Speaker: Rev. Al Miles “Domestic Violence.”

17th Prayer for Peace was held on October 24, 2010 at the Gedatsu Church of Hawaii, co-sponsored by The Interfaith Alliance of Hawaii. Theme: “Appreciation” Speaker: Rev. Dr. John Heidel.

18th Prayer for Peace was held on October 23, 2011 at the Gedatsu Church of Hawaii, co-sponsored by the Interfaith Alliance of Hawaii. Theme: “Homelessness in Hawaii.”

The Hawaii Conference of Religions for Peace, 20th Anniversary Peace Prayer Celebration on October 28, 2012 at Konko Mission of Honolulu. Speaker: Sister Joan Chatfield M.M., PhD. Theme: “Peace”-Appreciation of Mutual Interdependence in the Universe.

Religious Community Participation

All Believers Network
Aloha Peace Project
Baha'i Community
Buddhism
Byakko Shinko Kai
Christianity (Catholic)
Christianity (Protestant)
Church of Perfect Liberty
Gedatsu Church of Hawaii
Hawaii Forgiveness Project
Hinduism
Institute for Religion and Social Change
Islam
Judaism
Kagyu Thegchen Ling
Konko Mission of Wahiawa
Palolo Kwannon Temple
Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Church of Hawaii
United Church of Christ
*The groups listed above have participated in the 2010 Peace Prayer

Board of Directors

President: Irene Matsumoto
Vice President: Yasuhiro Yano
Secretary: Masago Asai
Treasurer: Tatsunori Kamiya