Malu 'Aina

Malu ‘Aina sponsors a weekly peace vigil on Fridays from 3:30-5PM fronting the downtown Hilo Post Office.  The vigil was started on September 12, 2001 to urge restraint not vengeance.  We have continued every week since then.  Each week we prepare a new peace leaflet for distribution via the internet and our website, and also handed out to people in downtown Hilo.  If you would like to be put on our peace action list to receive the weekly leaflet please email ja@malu-aina.org or simply check out our website for new postings.

The five points of unity for our weekly peace vigil are:

1.  Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties. 4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, etc. 5. Seek peace through justice in Hawai`i and around the world.

At the vigils, people stand on the grass at the edge of the sidewalk holding a sign of their choice for peace.  Bring your own sign if you wish, though we always have extras.  We have peace flags, banners, large 3 feet by 8 feet plywood signs with various messages such as Stop the War, End Occupation, War is Sin, Big Mistake to Escalate, Make Peace, Work for Justice, etc.  A peace vigil is a good entry point into non-violent activism to express the courage of your convictions.

We encourage vigilers to

1. Hold their signs steady

2. Make eye contact with motorist  and their passengers in each car as it passes; wave to them and smile at them.  If they respond with smiles, or toots, wave again and say “Thank you.”  They will read your lips.  Ignore occasional insults.  Never respond in kind.

3.  Socialize with others standing with you before the vigil and afterwards.  Please do not distract them or yourself from your essential task of communication with motorists and passengers during the vigil.