A progressive voice in Hawai'i promoting the positive healing role of religion in public life by encouraging dialogue, challenging extremism, and facilitating nonviolent community activism
2007 Community Awards
The following four Community Awards will
be presented to the following three outstanding community
organizations and one outstanding individual citizen at the 2007
TIAH Annual Celebration on October 7th, 5:30-8:30PM
at
Honpa Hongwanji Betsuin.
Healing Role in Hawai‘i Award
This award recognizes a
Hawai‘i based organization that through its witness and actions
has provided a positive healing role in Hawai’i during the past
year.
The 2007 Award is presented to:
Counseling and Spiritual Care Center of Hawai‘i
What actions taken by the organization justify consideration for the award?
The Center has gone through a recent name change from Samaritan Counseling Center of Hawaii to Counseling & Spiritual Care Center of Hawai‘i. This trans-formation highlights both the inclusive nature of the Center from its inception as an interfaith, inter-religious organization, and the fact that not only is counseling offered by the Center, but spiritual care on all levels as well to those who seek it.
Programs include: Reaching Crossroads, On the Road to Recovery, Military Support System, Clergy/Congregational Care, Aging with a Purpose, and Bereavement Support.
This year, the services of CSCCH included assistance in the selection process for the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai‘i, a relationship strengthening program called “Matters of The Heart,” co-sponsoring the International Forgiveness Project, co-facilitating a Military Support Workshop with the International Buddhist Association and Chaminade University, and strategic planning with the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin. The Center will also be facilitating a retreat for the Interfaith Alliance of Hawai‘i later this year. From 2004-2006, the Center has served 942 clients, totaling 10,114 clinical hours. 25% of these clients pay nothing out of pocket or pay a minimal amount, making counseling accessible to all.
In what ways does the organization reflect the spirit of the TIAH mission?
Counseling & Spiritual Care Center of Hawai‘i embodies the mission of TIAH in all aspects. We are particularly pleased that CSCCH has broadened its services to be inclusive to all the inter-religious community and people of no religious affiliation.
Encouraging Non-Violent Civic
Participation Award
This award seeks to recognizes a
Hawai‘i based organization that through its witness and actions
has encouraged exemplary non-violent civic participation during
the past year.
The 2007 Award is presented to:
Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
What actions taken by the organization justify consideration for the award?
It is known to the larger religious community that the denomination of the Honpa Hongwanji has grown in its involvement in social responsibility, in concerns for justice and equity and in cooperation with other agencies in the community involving education, youth issues and peace activities. There has been a marked increase in their involvement in legislative testimonies and committee work.
Originally, the actions of the members were focused in specific areas, such as Project Dana care for the elderly which was given an Community Award at our 2005 TIAH Annual Celebration. The Hawaii Kyodan has increasingly become involved in a variety of Social Concerns at the local, national, and international level in areas of interfaith dialogue and understanding, domestic violence, suicide prevention, and emergency preparedness.
This year the Honpa Hongwanji has initiated several new initiatives and forums to encourage wider community participation. These included Homelessness, Death With Dignity and a forthcoming forum on Sustainability. We also note that the new Bishop Thomas Okano has a vision of encouraging the Honpa Hongwanji in becoming more inclusive to the wider community in Hawaii, building upon the values of the early Japanese immigrants.
This summer two youth from the Honpa Hongwanji Dharma, Cameron Kubota and Ryan Nakasone, represented our TIAH Chapter at the interfaith LEADD youth leadership camp in Maryland. We believe this initiative will be a pioneer step in replicating this interfaith experience for more youth in Hawaii.
TIAH sees that the Honpa Hongwanji has grown in cohesive and comprehensive support of even larger issues of the community and thus merits this award both in recognition and in encouragement for future involvement.
In what ways does the organization reflect the spirit of the TIAH mission?
Honpa Hongwanji embodies the mission of TIAH in all aspects. It has been an effective partner in furthering non-violent civic participation in Hawai’i.
Facilitating Community Activism
Award
This award seeks to
recognizes a Hawai‘i based organization or institution that
through its witness and actions has facilitated community
activism during the past year.
The 2007 Award is presented to:
Japanese American Citizens League of Hawaii
What actions taken by the organization justify consideration for the award?
The League conducts annual Day of Remembrance programs that recall Executive Order 9066 which interned Japanese-Americans and other racial groups during World War II;
JACL was among the first civil right groups in Hawaii to support Native Hawaiian Sovereignty;
It provided legal and administrative support to Bruce Yamashita in his racial discrimination case against the United States Marine Corps;
It gave financial and strong moral support to Lt. Ehren Watada in his refusal of deployment to Iraq arising from his objection to the war in Iraq.
During the past session of the Hawai’i Legislature, the JACL was involved with over a dozen bills that pertained to the civil rights of our citizens or to other matters of justice, such as:
• Urged the public to vote “yes” on Hawaii Constitution Amendment. Question #3 regarding repeal of mandatory retirement for state justices
• Urged congressional offices to support HR 4574, the Filipino Veterans Full Equity Act
• Submitted testimony to the Hawai’i Legislature in support
• HB 2778 HD 2 which provides a cause of action for persons who are denied language access when seeking services from State or County funded programs
• HB 34 (2007) which prohibits the Employees’ Retirement System from investing securities in companies engaged in Darfur
• HM 908 (2007) which provides for civil unions.
In what ways does the organization reflect the spirit of the TIAH mission?
In unison with TIAH’s mission, JACL is also dedicated to protecting America’s basic freedoms of speech, press and religion. A fine example of the unity of these groups was their joint sponsorship of the Symposium on Religious Diversity held on May 14, 2005. TIAH has also joined forces with JACL in sponsoring the Day of Remembrance programs and supporting legislative bills of common concern and interest (see above).
Flame of Hope Award
This award seeks to recognize a Hawai‘i resident, who through
his or her witness and actions has ignited or fanned a flame of
hope in Hawai‘i.
The 2007 Award is presented to:
Ann Wright
What actions taken by the organization justify consideration for the award?
She resigned her State Department official position to protest the invasion of Iraq.
She coordinated functioning and activities at the Cindy Sheehan Camp outside President Bush’s ranch in Texas.
She has, both in Hawaii (where she resides) and elsewhere, in spite even of arrests, spoken out and demonstrated against this illegal war and for peace, being in multiple instances the featured speaker.
Her commitment and activity continue. She is, for example, speaking and also emceeing at the Veterans for Peace National Convention this month. Locally, she just wrote…”as a retired U.S. Army Reserve Colonel and a former U.S. diplomat”…a compelling, featured letter to the Editor about the impeachment process.
In what ways does the organization reflect the spirit of the TIAH mission?
Ann Wright’s ardent pro-peace activities encourage dialogue, challenge extremism, and encourage nonviolent activism.
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Nominations came from TIAH members and its board of directors. The selection committee consisted of Advisory Council Members
Msgr Daniel J. Dever
Rev Yoshiaki Fujitani
Rev Teruo Kawada
Rev Barbara Grace Ripple
Prior Year Community Awards
2006, 2005 & 2004
Healing Role in Hawai‘i Award
H-3 Hawaii Helping the Hungry Have Hope
Hawai‘i
International Forgiveness Project
Hina Mauka
Encouraging Non-Violent Civic Participation Award
Kokua Council for Senior Citizens
Project Dana
Clean Elections Hawai‘i
Facilitating Community Activism Award
Life of The Land
Veterans for Peace,
Hawai‘i Chapter
Hawaii Juvenile Justice Project
Challenging Religious and Political Extremism Award
American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
Equality Hawai‘i
Flame of Hope Award
Lt Ehren Watada
Grace Furukawa
Hawai‘i Coalition for Separation of State and Church