Posted on: Saturday, May 8, 2004
FAITH BRIEFS
Buddha's birth to be marked
The Buddha's Light International Association Hawaii and the Chinatown Merchants Association will celebrate Buddha's 2,548th birthday beginning at 9 a.m. May 22 at Chinatown Cultural Plaza Courtyard, 100 N. Beretania St. There will be a ceremonial blessing, vegetarian food, cakes, crafts, dragon and lion performances, martial arts demonstrations and ethnic dancing and singing.
A parade begins at 10 a.m. from A'ala Park, then onto King Street, then Maunakea to Beretania and ending at Sun Yat Sen Mall at the Chinese Cultural Plaza.
There will be a Buddha's "birthday altar," in which Buddhist monks pour fragrant water over the statue in a special ablution ceremony based on the legend that says when the Buddha was born, he was washed by fragrant rain that sprang forth from the mouth of nine dragons.
Information: You Soukaseum, 259-5637 or 7533-0473; Sun Hung Wong, 595-6417, or Albert Lui , 779-8822.
Speakers listed for conference
The "How to Walk 2004" daylong conference will be May 15 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Tapa Ballroom.
Speakers at the free conference include Greg Laurie, the Harvest Crusades evangelist; and six pastors. Christian musicians will also perform.
The daylong conference of talks, worship and music runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For information: Calvary Chapel, 524-0844.
Evangelist at Waikiki Shell
Evangelist Greg Laurie brings his 2004 "Harvest Hawaii" to the Waikiki Shell June 24 to 27.
The free nightly Harvest events begin at 7 p.m.
In conjunction will be Summerfest with BMX and Vert Skate shows and music, 2 to 5:30 p.m. June 26 at Kapi'olani Park.
In his seventh visit since 1991, Laurie, who's known for presenting traditional Christian beliefs through culture-current, unconventional methods, has drawn big crowds.
Christian musicians will include Crystal Lewis, The Katinas, Kutless, Doyle Dykes, and local bands Kapena and 7 Simple Pieces.Ê The New Hope Hula Halau will also perform.
• On the Web: www.harvest.org.
