It was warm around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Hiroshima Torii at Mōʻiliʻili Triangle Park in Honolulu when government officials, local media, community groups and members gathered to kick off the 80th anniversary commemoration of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
The event was put on by the United Japanese Society of Hawai’i, along with other individuals and organizations. Roughly 60 people were in attendance.
After several remarks from distinguished guests and flower and incense offerings, a moment of silence and prayer with bells ringing in the background took place promptly at 1:15 p.m. Aug. 5, which in Japan was 8:15 a.m. Aug. 6. During the same time and day in 1945, the U.S. dropped the first of two atomic bombs in Hiroshima during World War II, which killed an estimated total of 140,000 people.
Longtime member of the Honolulu Hiroshima Kenjin Kai and president of the United Japanese Society of Hawaiʻi, Brian Taniguchi, served Tuesday as master of ceremonies.
He shared about his relatives amongst the 70,000 people who immediately perished. Thankfully, his grandfather was on the outskirts of town when the first atomic bomb dropped and wasn’t hurt. But he did jump in to help.
Gov. Josh Green shared about his wife’s Japanese heritage and his family’s immigration to Hawai’i, with gratitude for being able to meet and live here together.
“We are here today to help people remember, so that we may never again experience such pain,” Green said. “It’s about responsibility… empathy… unity for generations to come.”
Simultaneously, City and County of Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi was in Japan to meet with Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui and visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Taniguchi told Aloha State Daily that Mayor Matsui was especially pleased Blangiardi made the trip.
“Standing in Hiroshima, I was profoundly moved by the resilience of its people and their unwavering message of peace,” Blangiardi said in a statement from the city. “As we observe this solemn anniversary in Honolulu, we are reminded to reaffirm our commitment to peace, healing and the understanding that our shared future depends on how we care for one another.”
Also present at the Honolulu event were Faith Fukumoto of Hibakusha in Hawai’i, Consul General of Japan in Honolulu Yoshinori Kodama and Dr. Nobuyuki Miki of Kuakini Medical Center. Bishop Shuji Komagata of the Hawai'i Buddhist Council delivered the message of peace, proceeded by a chant.
With the help of city workers and lawmakers, Painter’s Warehouse and Raymond’s Painting Co. cleaned the park area and repainted the Torii, a scale replica of the gate at Miyajima Island near Hiroshima.
President of Painter’s Warehouse Wayne Kato told ASD the company has donated labor and materials for this event before and this time around was able to complete to the work in four days.
Hiroshima Gov. Hidehiko Yuzaki’s message included in the event’s program shared its commitment to abolish nuclear weapons through three approaches of humanitarian impact, sustainability and business’ role in advancing peace.
“Hawai’i holds a very special place in my heart. Since the establishment of our Sister State relationship in 1997, I have worked to foster deeper ties between Hiroshima and Hawai’i. I have also supported our Sister School exchanges. … These meaningful relationships not only strengthen understanding between our communities, but also cultivate a shared commitment to a peaceful future. … No more Hiroshimas!”
Other upcoming events to commemorate the bomings include:
Aug. 6: Hiroshima Commemoration & Peace Bell Ceremony by Honolulu Hiroshima KenjinKai and YMCA of Honolulu; 11 a.m. at Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawai’i
Live performance and film; 7-9p.m. at Waikīkī War Memorial Natatorium
Aug. 8: Remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki; 1-3 p.m. at Hawai’i State Capitol, Senate Chambers Auditorium
"Lights for Peace" event; Pearl Harbor National Memorial
Aug. 9: Remember Nagasaki; 9:30a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts
Mission Memorial Auditorium including a Nagasaki Peace Ceremony, will be held in partnership with the Hawai'i Rotary District 5000.
Aug. 10: Reflections on Hiroshima and Nagasaki; 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. at Jodo Mission of Hawai’i
Aug. 12: Ceremony will include a Hawaiian and Japanese blessing, remarks from city leaders and testimony from an atomic bomb survivor at Battleship Missouri Memorial.
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
