Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 1 September 1983 — PUʻUHONUA [ARTICLE]

PUʻUHONUA

Plaee of Rcfnge anel Zonc of Peaee

Chief sponsor for planned puhlie forums to discuss ancient and modern usage of pu'uhonua is the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, under a grant from the Hawaii Committee for the Humanities. The project director, Dr. Ramon Lopez-Reyes approached the Offlce to serve as the grant's administrative sponsor. The first forum was held this past July at Kaumakapili Church and was well attended by many from the academie and Hawaiian community. The purpose of the forum series is to introduce the idea that the pu'uhonua, as conceived by Hawaiians, could be made applicable to our modern lvies. Invited speakers at July's forum were Dr. Kenneth P. Emory of the Bishop Museum, Professor Rubellite K. Johnson of the University of Hawaii, Dr. Ramon Lopez-Reyes and Bob Krauss of the Honolulu Advertiser. The Rev. Tyrone Rheinhart, Hawaiian Specialist for the City and County of Honolulu served as moderator. Dr. Lopez-Reyes explained that as the concept of pu'uhonua was a practice of sanctuary or refuge for those who broke traditional law or those defeated in battle, it may be possible to

extend that concept to form a "zone of peaee" here in the Pacific. There is a need to establish these zones of peaee so that people ean avoid the constant conflicts of war. Lopez-Reyes says "The psychology of islanders forged the practice of pu'uhonua as a means of coping with the aggressiveness of the society." Accordingly such a Zone of Peaee was established by the United Nations in the Indian Oeean. lt was hoped that the absence of military forces in the area would lessen tensions between rival powers. Dr. Lopez-Reyes added, that although "the practice of pu'uhonua did not prevent war-making it's psychological effect upon people would be a concrete step to control the effects of war. The practice of pu'uhonua is of mercy and peaee. A community without a notion of mercy and forgiveness remains at a primitive level of belief." The public forums on pu'uhonua will continue this year with the next one scheduled for the Oahu, Kawai'aha'o Church in October. The exact date and time ean be obtained by calling the Hawaii Committee for the Humanities at Honolulu (947-5891).