2019 Peace Boat Cultural Exchange

The Peace Boat is a non-government Japanese organization that is raising awareness and building connections internationally among groups for peace, human rights, environmental protection and sustainable development around the world. The ship embarked in Honolulu on September 11, 2019. 45 guests chose to visit the Women of Wai'anae at Kahumana Farms in Wa'ianae. They were hosted by 12 WOW members and volunteers in a cultural exchange.

The guest s were taught flower lei making by our member Sylvia Day. The hula lessons were instructed by an

awardee Monica Aiwohi Makekau and her daughter and poi pounding lessons was conducted by Vince Dodge.

Pupus served were macademia nuts, pineapple kabobs decorated w/ plumeria, and a a huge edible fruit arrangement, cookies, ahi jerky, giant shrimp chips w/ various dips, a large vegetable tray and assorted fruits - grapes, bananas, citrus - ice tea and iced filtered water.

For lunch, WOW served our Japanese guests kalua pork, long rice, lomi salmon, poi, pa'i'ai (from poi pounding), huge delicious green salad, baked ulu w/ garlic, olive oil and spices (from Kahumana), and fruit pasta salad. The desert was poi mochi and pineapple pastry dumplings. The pupus, lunch and deserts were outstanding !!!

The Japanese guests loved everything, and in return, they gave us various bags of origami and other small gifts they had made. They especially enjoyed practicing their English with us and several had prepared speeches. They also sang several songs for us. Our president, Karen Young shared WOW's mission and our desire for peace among countries as well. There was also a Bon Dance taught by one of the guests who was dressed in her in kimono.