Posted on: Sunday, July 8, 2001

Festival promotes nonviolence

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

Koreti Tafaoa of Leone High School in Samoa waits for her cue to join a performance in a Victory Over Violence concert. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

The "Victory Over Violence" event held yesterday at the Neal Blaisdell Arena was even fit for a king.

Tongan King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV and Queen Mata 'aho attended the second of two concerts held as part of the Family Youth Culture Festival.

"When we heard they accepted the invitation, that was a welcome surprise," said Barbara Muromoto, one of the spokespersons for the event.

About 12,000 people were expected to attend yesterday's concerts of musical and other cultural performances.

The festival capped off Victory Over Violence Week, held to promote awareness of domestic violence and motivate individuals to stop violence within communities.

Victory Over Violence included a pledge for students, asking that they value their own life, respect all life, inspire hope in others and stand up against violence, both verbal and physical.

The week of events was co-sponsored by the Center for Global Non-Violence, the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse & Legal Hotline, Dr. Martin Luther KingJr. Coalition-Hawai'i, Honolulu Night Life Magazine, The Contemporary Art Museum, the Spark Matsunaga Institute for Peace, the SGI-USA Youth Peace Committee, and the United Nations Association USA, Hawai'i Division.