Religion Briefs
Local Buddhist clergy to join peace summit
Two local Buddhist clergy members will join representatives of the major world religions at the 15th anniversary of the Interreligious Peace Summit Aug. 3 and 4 in Japan.Bishop Ryokan Ara of Tendai Mission of Hawaii and the Rev. Eshin Irene Matsumoto of Palolo Kwannon Temple will attend the summit at the Tendai sect's headquarters on Mount Hiei in Kyoto.
"Dialogue with the Muslims" will be the theme of the meeting. Representatives from Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, and Catholic and other Christian organizations are expected to attend, Matsumoto said.
Albert Lui, president of the Hawaii Association of International Buddhists, said that the way Muslims in America have been perceived and treated since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks "is similar to the way many people behaved right after the Second World War (began), treating all Germans and Japanese as their enemies."
"Tremendous patience and wisdom should be applied in a situation like this," he said in a letter congratulating the Tendai organization for its effort to promote world peace.
Matsumoto will deliver the message at the conference.
Choral singers sought for special occasions
Good choral singers are in demand by two Honolulu religious organizations with very different performances planned.The Church of the Crossroads seeks to expand its choir for an Aug. 24 performance of the Agnus Dei movement from Gabriel Faure's "Requiem." The work will be sung at a 10 a.m. memorial service for jazz musician and church member John H. Norris. Rehearsals will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 21 and 8:30 a.m. Aug. 24. Call the church office 949-2220 for details.
Temple Emanu-el is seeking singers, particularly with low voices, for its High Holiday Choir. Rehearsals began this month for the 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6 Rosh Hashanah service and the 7:30 Sept. 15 Kol Nidre service on the eve of Yom Kippur. Call cantor Ken Aronowitz at the temple office, 595-7521.
Military occupation of land to be discussed
The issue of U.S. military occupation of island lands will be the topic of a Wednesday panel discussion sponsored by the U.S.-Japan Committee for Racial Justice and the Church and Society Committee of Harris United Methodist Church.Speakers at the 6:30 p.m. session at the church at 20 S. Vineyard Blvd. will discuss efforts by people of several countries to end military use of their lands, including Hawaiian activists' opposition to U.S. Army use of Makua Valley.
Participants will include Kukui Maunakea of Ohana O Makua; Elma Coleman of the Pacific Islands Asian American Ministries, United Church of Christ; Kyle Kajihiro of American Friends Service Committee Hawaii; and Julia Estrella of Island Tenants on the Rise. Ron Fujiyoshi, Big Island lay minister, will serve as moderator.
Speakers will report on the "Our Land is Our Life" conference last year on Guam, which passed a resolution calling for the U.S. government to return Chamorro lands.
Wednesday's event will be preceded by a 5:30 p.m. potluck dinner.
Sing-along scheduled at Nuuanu church
There will be live backup music at a Wednesday morning program of old Hawaiian songs, popular Japanese songs and well-known oldies.The 9:30 a.m. program at Nuuanu Congregational Church will feature "Eastwind" with Doris Mugiishi on guitar, EdeanKinoshita on violin, Stanley Kawaguchi and Bucky Matsuoka on shakuhachi, or flute.
The sing-along is sponsored by Hui Hoaloha, the senior fellowship of the church at 2651 Pali Highway. It is free and open to the public.
Muslims protest lack of head covering
CLEVELAND >> Muslim and community leaders are protesting a jail's refusal to let an Islamic woman wear a head covering to court.About 50 people demonstrated at the Justice Center on behalf of Aisha Samad after jail officials refused to let her wear a head covering for a June 27 appearance in court in a child custody case.
Her attorney, Rufus Sims, said she was also denied the right to wear a small cap.
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