Our Current Projects
Introduction to Islam - 8 Week Course
Are you curious about other faiths? Join us for an 8-Week online course: Introduction to Islam. This course will be taught by a local Imam, Hashim Usman of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Together we will learn about 8 subjects:
1) The Basic Tenets Rites and Rituals of Islam
2) The Holy Quran, The Sunnah and The Hadith
3) The Life of Muhammad
4) A Brief History of Islam
5) Main Islam Sects & Their Origins
6) The Concept of Jihad in Islam
7) Jesus, Mary, and the People of the Book of Islam
8) Islam in the Current World.
We will hold our weekly meetings on Zoom every Monday evening from 5:00 to 6:30 PM HST, and the course is expected to run from September 23, 2024, to November 11, 2024. All are welcome! If you are interested in signing up, click the sign-up button to the right.
Please note that this course is for educational purposes only and is designed to create mutual understanding and connection between people of different faiths and walks of life
Student Peacebuilding Competition
The Pono Pono Peace Initiative is excited to announce that we will be hosting our 1st Annual Student Peacebuilding Competition in the Fall of 2024!
This is a competition where peacebuilding students will develop and propose projects and organizations focused on peacebuilding and bringing peace to the Asia-Pacific area. The contest is open to any students majoring or minoring in peacebuilding in Hawaii.
To be informed of updates and timelines, subscribe to our newsletter!
Our Past Projects
Tracing the Shared Lineage
An Interfaith Dialogue at BYU-Hawaii
In June of 2023, our founder, Naomi Pedersen, collaborated with the David O. McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding to host an impactful interfaith conference.
This gathering aimed to facilitate a profound exploration of the connections and commonalities shared among the Abrahamic religions of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.
The conference was rooted in the recognition that while these faiths have evolved and diversified over the centuries, their fundamental origins can be traced back to the patriarch Abraham. Pedersen saw this as a unique opportunity to foster meaningful dialogue and mutual understanding among adherents of these Abrahamic traditions.
The day-long event featured an impressive lineup of speakers, each offering unique insights into the shared lineage of the Abrahamic faiths.
Empowering the Next Generation of Peacebuilders
Reflections on our Collaboration with the David O. McKay Center
On May 15, 2024, our organization participated in discussions centered around peace and intercultural understanding at the David O. McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding.
This event brought together students from diverse backgrounds to explore the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in peacebuilding efforts.
One of the key takeaways from our interactions was the profound significance of local and indigenous knowledge in addressing global challenges.
During our discussions with the Hawaiian studies program, we learned about the cultural symbolism of the wa'a (canoe) Iosepa, a canoe that represents the interconnectedness and journey of the Hawaiian people.
This exchange highlighted the importance of incorporating diverse perspectives and traditional wisdom into our approaches to peace rather than relying solely on top-down, Western-centric models.
