Faiths join Eight Oahu religious leaders joined Mayor Jeremy Harris in signing a proclamation of sympathy, solidarity and aloha to be delivered this week to Mayor Rudy Giuliani of New York City and to Pentagon and Pennsylvania officials.
in isle message
of sympathy
Religious leaders and
Mayor Harris offer attack
victims supportBy Mary Adamski
madamski@starbulletin.comAbout 50 people attended the brief ceremony at Honolulu Hale yesterday. But the representatives of Buddhist, Muslim, Christian and native Hawaiian faiths addressed their remarks "from sea to shining sea" for a video also to be delivered to the communities targeted in the Sept. 11 attack.
The pen they used bore its own message and symbolism. It was a gift to Harris from the mayor of Hiroshima, target of an atomic bomb dropped by the United States at the end of World War II. The Japanese city is now linked to Honolulu as a sister city.
"From the westernmost shore of America to the East Coast we want you to know of our love," said the Rev. Dan Chun of First Presbyterian Church.
"We pray that the solace of God will comfort your hearts so you will feel forgiveness and not hate," said Salvation Army Maj. Ralph Hood.
"May all beings be happy, may all beings live in safety," chanted Bishop Chikai Yosemori of Honpa Hongwanji Betsuin Temple.
"Give America quick victory over the forces bent on destruction of democracy," prayed the Rev. Daniel Vargas of Family Life Church. He left yesterday to deliver the message from Honolulu.
Senior Bishop Merlin Waite of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Rev. Joseph Grimaldi of the Catholic diocese, Hakim Ouansafi of the Muslim Association of Hawaii and Hawaiian chanter John Lake also participated.
