Message of Hope, Equality, and Opportunity on MLK Day

Mayor Alan Arakawa reading a Proclamation at Stone of Hope Monument, located in front of the County Building. The event was held in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Photo courtesy County of Maui, Jan. 20, 2014.

By Wendy Osher

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa was among the dignitaries that attended events honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in observance of today’s holiday.

The mayor read a proclamation recognizing the civil rights leader during opening ceremonies of a march hosted by the non-profit African Americans on Maui group.

According to the organization’s website, the march was to begin at the Stone of Hope Monument, and proceed down Main Street to the Wailuku Banyan Tree Park on Market and Vineyard.

Other government leaders also took time to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and to highlight the importance of service to others.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard released the following statement:

“Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. represents an enduring message of hope, equality, and opportunity. In Hawai‘i, we know his message and life reflect our spirit of aloha and service, and we honor his life’s work by working together, with respect and sincerity, to make our country a better place.

“Today on the MLK Day of Service, we have an opportunity to bring people together from every community to work toward a common goal of serving others. It is not a day ‘off’ but rather a day ‘on’ that we can each use to improve our communities one project at a time. I encourage people across our islands and the country to join a community service project today, and going forward, continue to ask yourself, ‘How can I best be of service?’”

The National Day of Service was established to honor King’s  life and legacy by encouraging public service and community involvement.