Upcoming Events

21st Annual Celebration of Mahatma Gandhi Day and International Day of Nonviolence

Friday, October 2, 2026, 5.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. (HST)

Biographies of our speakers and performers

	Dr. RAJ KUMAR is the Founder and President Emeritus of Gandhi International Institute for Peace (GIIP) in Hawaii. In December 2014, Dr. Kumar initiated Senate Bill SB 332, through GIIP in the Twenty-Eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii. It was unanimously passed in the House & the Senate and signed into Act 5 by former Governor David Y. Ige on April 9, 2015, making Hawaii the first state in the nation to declare October 2 as “Mahatma Gandhi Day in Hawaii”. In December 2018, Dr. Kumar initiated House Bill, HB 349, through GIIP in the Hawaii Legislature. Again, this bill was unanimously passed in the House and the Senate and signed into Act 102 by former Governor David Y. Ige on June 21, 2019, making Hawaii the first state in the nation to declare “June 21 each year as International Yoga Day in Hawaii”. Dr. Kumar has authored numerous books. He has contributed several articles on faith, peace, nonviolence and health in Hawaii’s leading newspapers between 2005-2018.
	The Royal Hawaiian Band Founded in 1836 by King Kamehameha III, the Royal Hawaiian Band is the only full-time municipal band in the United States with a royal legacy and is currently an agency of the City and County of Honolulu. The mission of the band is to promote music, to preserve Hawaiian musical culture, inspire young musicians, and enrich the lives of the people of Hawai'i. Clarke Bright is the 22nd Bandmaster of the Royal Hawaiian Band and he was appointed as Bandmaster of the Royal Hawaiian Band in 2011.
	Hawaiian blessing by Dr. Kahu Kaleo Patterson Dr. Patterson is the President of the Pacific Justice and Reconciliation Center, an ordained priest in both the United Churches of Christ and the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii. Has served many historic Hawaiian Churches, and former co-convenor of the Racial Justice working Group of the National Council of Churches. He has been an Indigenous representative of Church World Service and several United Nations General Assemblies, Pre-Cons, and meetings on Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights, Justice and Racism. Serving on the Executive Committee of the Native American Legal Rights Fund, Dr. Patterson has worked many Native American and Native Hawaiian issues and legal cases. Dr. Patterson has also served Hawaii Government and Church denominations as a mediator and arbitrator.
	Indian Spiritual invocation by Veda Das aka Devaji: Veda Das is an inspired practitioner of Bhakti Yoga for 50 years. Founder and President of Krishna Books which has printed and distributed over 15 million books on the science of self-realization authored by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Proactive vegetarian since 1970 founding several restaurants and now managing Creative cuisine a plant based catering service. Founder of Share Bliss! a movement designed to resolve conflicts through self-introspection.
	GUEST OF HONOR Senator Sharon Moriwaki was elected in 2018 to represent Waikīkī, Ala Moana, Kaka‘ako, McCully, Mō‘ili‘ili, and part of Makiki in the State Senate. After she returned from California with a University of Southern California doctorate and a Loyola (L.A.) law degree and was working in a private Honolulu law firm, Governor Waihe‘e chose Sharon to be part of his first cabinet as Labor Department Deputy Director. Four years later, Waihe‘e appointed Sharon as his Director of Human Resources, where she instituted major personnel system reforms. Sharon's subsequent leadership included serving as Hawaii Court System Administrative Director and as UH Assistant Vice President. Senator Moriwaki's passionate advocacy for community included caring for the Makiki Stream and ahupua‘a, preserving Kaka‘ako's makai shoreline, and bringing people together to develop and implement Hawai‘i's clean energy goals and projects. She co-hosts Think Tech Hawai‘i's television show, "Hawai‘i: The State of Clean Energy," is vice-president of the Hawai‘i Technology Institute, which primarily helps disadvantaged native Hawaiians, and volunteers with her church's program aiding houseless families.
	Taiko Center of the Pacific Founded in 1994 by Kenny and Chizuko Endo, Taiko Center of the Pacific (TCP) is a school dedicated to both preserving traditional Japanese drumming and creating innovative new music. Based in Honolulu, TCP welcomes students of all ages—from toddlers to seniors in their 80s. Its mission is to use the power of taiko to connect people across cultures and generations. TCP has performed throughout Hawaii and around the world sharing the energy and spirit of taiko with global audiences. Through rhythm and community, TCP promotes unity, cultural understanding, and peace.
	Janani Lakshmanan and Elizabeth Mager Aloha Natyam is a collective of Indian Classical Dancers from diverse training and backgrounds. We are eager to share the love of the beautiful artform Bharatanatyam with the community of Hawai’i, which inspired our name. Bharatanatyam is a storytelling dance form with its roots over 2500 years old. The style is characterized by rhythmic rapid foot movements, intricate hand gestures, and elaborate facial expressions. The performers are Mia Davies and Tamara Luthy.
	Nalina Academy of Performing Arts Ms. Piyusha Vijay, Aahana Agrahari Mishra and Mythili Rao will perform an Indian classical dance.
	Dr. Jeff Nakama - Christianity Jeff has a master’s in religious education and a Doctor of ministry from The Unification Theological Seminary in New York. Jeff has worked in different capacities inside and outside of the church: as a student member and leader of CARP, the college branch of the unification movement, a missionary, a branch manager for a seafood company in Maui, as a behavior specialist with Bayada working in the DOE school system, as Hawaii’s Universal Peace Federation Director and most recently as the Honolulu Family Church Pastor here in Honolulu. Jeff was matched and blessed with Keiko from Japan with 2074 other couples in New York on July 1, 1982. They have 5 children and 3 grandchildren...SO FAR. Jeff studied the teachings of Father and Mother Moon. He learned that the perfection of human beings is not about superior health but about TRUE LOVE & living for others.
	Roger Epstein, Esq.-Judaism Roger Epstein has been a business attorney for 55 years, and actively involved with interfaith activities for 50 years. In 1995 he became a good friend and mentee of Gerry Jampolsky, whose book “Forgiveness”, was used as the basis for “The Hawaii Forgiveness Project in 2002. In 2003, Roger became the HFP host, holding monthly meetings at his law firm and the annual Hawaii International Forgiveness still held each year. Roger helped with the legal formation of GIIP and has provided legal advice since it’s founding. Roger has spoken to many groups about the importance of living forgiveness, including a 3 day forgiveness workshop in Frankfurt on the 80th anniversary of Germany’s surrender in WWII.
	Sharon Suzuki Sharon Suzuki is a Buddhist practitioner representing Shinnyoen-en Hawai’i, best known for the Memorial Day Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii event at Ala Moana Beach Park. Shinnyo-en emphasizes that all people have the seeds of enlightenment within them. By acting with compassion and concern for others, everyone can cultivate that seed and find their true self. Sharon has worked in health care for more than 40 years, and is a performing singer and musician. Community service focuses on preparing meals for the houseless, helping our animal friends, and assisting those who need help with organization.
	Jared Yurow, Psy.D. Jared Yurow, Psy.D. is a student of Uncle Pono Shim of the Aloha Response and a Ho’oponopono student of Aunty Malia Craver of the Queen Lili’uokalani Children’s Center (now Lili’uokalani Trust). A licensed psychologist, he has worked for the Hawaii Department of Health for 30 years and currently serves as Chief Clinical Officer for its Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, Hawaii Psychological Association and American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. He is also a registrant with the National Register of Health Service Psychologists and an initiate of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology. A past President of the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Agency Directors (NASADAD) National Treatment Network and Vice-President for Treatment on the NASADAD Board of Directors, he is the recipient of four NASADAD awards, including the 2023 Lifetime Service Achievement Award. He has presented locally, nationally, and internationally on culture and its application to addiction recovery and its service system.
	Arini Shankaralingam Arini is learning Bharatanatyam and Hula, and she loves dancing, drawing, and coloring. She enjoys her time at the beach and loves to build sandcastles with her friends. Arini also has an interest in solving puzzles and reading books. She has participated and danced in various events at Honolulu Museum of Arts, Hawaii Polo Club, Wai’ alae got talent and Lotus Hawaii (Oahu Based cultural organization) Interested in cooking and participated and won kids heart association cooking contest. She Choreographed this shanti mantra song.
	Michele Santos Having spent her childhood living in Brazil, Sun Yoga founder Michele Santos found a special connection to Hawaii at the age of eighteen while attending Hawaii Pacific University. The light and warmth of the islands spoke to Michele and guided her to make Hawaii her home. She took her first teacher training through Bikram Yoga in 2007 and soon realized that yoga was her true passion finding great joy in fostering connections with her fellow practitioners. In 2012 Michele fulfilled her dream and founded a Hot Yoga studio; Sun Yoga is her labor of love, a calling from her heart, a unique practice that helps others fulfill their desire to feel happy and fit, experience peace, personal growth and heal within. Throughout the years of practice and many certifications & trainings, she discovered that yoga is much more than a physical practice for health and wellness. Yoga is a way of living. It is a gentle reminder that helps us to let go of the suffering that comes from living in the past, or the anxiety about the future. Yoga is the art being, living the magical present moment. For Michele yoga is love- a path of much aloha!
	Adrija Halder She is a 9 years old girl from West Bengal, India. She loves to study; especially reading, and drawing. Now she is taking lessons in Singing, Ballet Dance, Piano, Swimming, Basketball and Shotokan Karate. Recently she sang at Chinatown peace festival and in a couple of other events, she performed two piano recitals in the schools. She has an interest in cooking and baking with her mom. She loves to play with her toys and spend time with family in her free time.
	Peter Greenhill Peter Greenhill is the retired founder of the `Iolani Peace Institute, where he was its director for seventeen years. The Institute frequently collaborated with and supported GIIP. Mr. Greenhill has a degree in Philosophy from Princeton University and taught at `Iolani School in Honolulu from 1986 until 2021. For his work, he was a recipient in 2016 of an award from the International Organization of Human Rights. Though a retired teacher now, he continues his activism to promote peace, social justice, and human rights.
	Leticia Sharp Leticia Sharp has been trained for nearly 3 decades in sacred healing techniques including, Reiki, body work, sound, shamanic traditions, essential oils, crystals, and energy work. This was activated for her when she was 5 years old and she comes from a strong lineage of diverse healers. Leticia invites you to ignite your own unique light within and find your healing in this life.
	Closing remarks by Harendra Pannalal, MSE, PE, RME Harendra Panalal is President of GIIP. He holds BSE and MSE degrees from university of Michigan. He has been on the BOD of GIIP since its inception. All ancestors of his wife and him were born and raised as Jains. His family has lived in Honolulu for over fifty years. He is a retired mechanical engineer in construction industry. He is on the board of All Believers Network. He is also on BOD of two large condominium buildings in Honolulu.