Hawaii Hiroshima Youth Peace Forum on March 30, 2024
The Hawaii Hiroshima Youth Peace Forum, part of the Hawaii-Hiroshima Peace Programs, was held on March 30, 2024 at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. The event was an impactful exchange, bringing together distinguished speakers, scholars, and high school students from Hawaii and Hiroshima.
(L-R) Opening Remarks Co-Founders Ms. Hiromi Peterson and Ms. Naomi Hirano-Omizo, and Superintendent of Pearl Harbor National Memorial Mr. Tom Leatherman
The forum started off with opening remarks from JASH President Ms. Reyna Kaneko, followed by a few words from the Hawaii-Hiroshima Peace Program Founders, Ms. Naomi Hirano-Omizo and Ms. Hiromi Peterson. They expressed their appreciation to JASH for continuing this program and happiness to finally have this meaningful exchange in-person. The event continued by welcoming keynote speaker, Mr. Tom Leatherman, Superintendent of Pearl Harbor National Memorial, National Park Service. Mr. Leatherman expressed the importance of keeping history alive by having these types of exchanges, as well as the value of talking to one another and learning about their own experiences.
(L-R) Presentations and Discussion by 2024 HHS Scholars Ms. Haruka Morisako and Ms. Iori Kimura, and 2023 HPS Scholars Ms. Reina Gammarino and Ms. Yuuka Brown
The session continued with presentations and discussion by the 2024 Hawaii Heiwa Scholars from Hiroshima, Ms. Haruka Morisako of Kamo High School and Ms. Iori Kimura of Hiroshima Jogakuin High School. They presented their research projects related to their interviews and findings of hibakusha, or surviving victims of the atomic explosions at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Following the engaging discussion about the impacts of war in Japan, the 2023 Hiroshima Peace Scholars from Hawaii, Ms. Reina Gammarino of Punahou School and Ms. Yuuka Brown of Kalani High School, presented their research projects related to their interviews and findings of Japanese-Americans in Hawaii during World War II.
(L-R) Presentations by UHM undergraduate student Ms. Jazmin Potes Mangra and UHM alumni Yu Noguchi
After the lunch break, the session continued with presentations and discussions by undergraduate, graduate students, and alumni from the Matsunaga Institute for Peace at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa (UHM). These Peacebuilders provided a UHM perspective on peace, and are currently pursuing practicums, and mentoring with Mr. José Barzola, the Conflict and Peace Specialist at UHM. We started off with UHM graduate student Ms. Emi Obana, who presented her research on music as a dialogue in peacebuilding. UHM undergraduate student Ms. Jazmin Potes Mangra presented her studies on justice and peace following the Black Lives Movement. Next, UHM alumni Yu Noguchi presented her research in peace building through gender and sexuality perspectives. Then, UHM graduate student Ms. Yumi Saito gave her presentation on her studies and experience after visiting Hiroshima and how we can achieve security and peace for all. All of these topics made for an interactive discussion between the high schoolers and university students.
Everyone participating in the hands-on activity of folding and stringing orizuru peace cranes
Finally, the 2024 Hawaii Heiwa Scholars ended the session with a hands-on activity. After explaining the significance of orizuru peace cranes, everyone joined hands in folding as many cranes as they could and strung them together, with messages of peace, hope, and unity. The scholars brought back the folded cranes and delivered our messages at their schools, which will be brought to the Children's Peace Monument in Hiroshima on August 6. The Hawaii Hiroshima Youth Peace Forum event concluded, leaving a lasting impact and inspiring a renewed commitment to peacebuilding among youth from Hawaii and Hiroshima. Thank you to all our participants for providing their insightful comments and views. We would also like to extend a big mahalo to Pacific Historic Parks for hosting us at their venue.
