Hawaii Betsuin will host a presentation and discussion about the Golden Rule historic peace boat and its mission on the afternoon of Saturday, November 23. The event takes place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the temple’s Social Hall and will include speakers, a short film, and an opportunity for participants to add their own messages to a peace banner to be taken by the Golden Rule to Japan.

click the image for a full-size flyer

In 1958, Quaker activists sailed Golden Rule towards the Marshall Islands to interfere with atmospheric nuclear weapon testing. They were stopped and arrested in Honolulu, which spurred worldwide outrage that ultimately resulted in the Limited Test Ban Treaty of 1963.

Now, 61 years later, Veterans For Peace is sailing Golden Rule to Japan to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Once again, Golden Rule is in Honolulu, where you can visit her at Ala Wai small boat harbor, the very place she was when the crew was jailed. “The little sail boat with a big mission” — to stop the possibility of nuclear war — is on Oahu through November 28, 2019.

Speakers at the November 23 event at Hawaii Betsuin include, Helen Jaccard, Golden Rule Project Manager and crew member; Reverend Tatsuo Muneto, retired Honpa Hongwanji minister; Dr. Seiji Yamada, family physician practicing and teaching in Hawaii; and Bishop Eric Matsumoto for opening and closing words. The film to be screened is a 10-minute version of the award-winning “Making Waves: The Rebirth of the Golden Rule.” The event is free. Light refreshments will be offered.

Later the same afternoon, from from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., the Golden Rule invites attendees to drop by and visit the peace boat at Ala Wai Harbor, slip 638.

Primary event sponsors are Hawaii Betsuin and Veterans For Peace Golden Rule Project. Co-sponsors include Honpa Hongwanji’s Office of the Bishop, Committee on Social Concerns, and Honolulu Hongwanji Council as well as BDK Hawaii, Hawaii Association of International Buddhists, and Sunrise Ministry Foundation.

Hawaii Betsuin is one of the Four Petals Partners that host the annual peace walk from the Betsuin temple building to the Nagasaki Peace Bell near Honolulu Hale. The walk takes place on August 9, the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, and is a kinetic aspiration for continued nuclear restraint. Hawaii Betsuin has formally endorsed ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

For contact information for the Golden Rule and additional links, including to a front-page article about the Golden Rule’s visit in the Star-Advertiser, please see the associated event web page. For Facebook users, there is a Facebook event where you may indicate your interest in attending.

Golden Rule peace boat images by Aj Jaeger.