Flags to Fly at Half-Staff in Remembrance of Nelson Mandela

File photo, American flag, by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Flags have been lowered to half-staff at all state offices and agencies in Hawaiʻi to honor the memory of South African former president, humanitarian and anti-apartheid advocate, Nelson Mandela.

Flags will remain lowered until sunset on Monday, Dec. 9, according to an order issued by Hawaiʻi Governor Neil Abercrombie.

In a statement following Mandela’s passing, Governor Abercrombie said Mandela reminded us of “our common humanity.”

“It’s less that he is passed from us than the message of his life stays with us. If we can retain that in our hearts and our minds, then we, too, can focus on our common humanity for the benefit of all,” said Governor Abercrombie.

After emerging from 27 years of imprisonment, Mandela was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, and became South Africa’s first black president in 1994.

“He was the symbol and the living reality of what perseverance and determination a human being can bring to bear on behalf of the freedom of us all,” said Governor Abercrombie.

Mandela died on Thursday, Dec. 5, at the age of 95.