Debate over a legislative resolution designating Sept. 24, 2009, as Islam Day is testing Hawai'i's reputation as a cultural melting pot.

House Concurrent Resolution 100, establishing a single day this year to acknowledge "the rich religious, scientific, cultural, and artistic contributions" of the Islamic world, ignited the passions of those concerned about the connection between the Islam religion and Muslim extremists responsible for the 9/11 attacks and other terrorist acts around the world.

Gov. Linda Lingle's office reported receiving 315 e-mails and 40 calls objecting to Islam Day. About a third were from Mainlanders stirred up by accounts of the resolution on Fox News, CNN and other outlets.

In her May 11 appearance on "The Mike Buck Radio Show" on KHVH, Lingle called the resolution "just unnecessary" and said it was attracting the wrong kind of attention for Hawai'i.

"It just received ridicule all across the country. Everybody knows that the country and all 50 states are facing these historically difficult economic times. I think it's just an expression of them being out of touch," she said.

The Hawai'i Tourism Authority received a single phone call and 18 e-mails from Mainlanders who said they would not visit the state because of the Islam Day resolution.

HTA president and chief executive officer Mike McCartney noted the state has a long list of days celebrating various cultures and religions.

"Hawai'i has long tradition of being a place where people are welcomed, where everyone in the world can visit. It's a place that has tolerance and respect for many cultures and points of view," McCartney said.

In addition to the Christianity-based state holidays of Christmas and Good Friday, state law designates March 21 as Baha'i New Year's Day, April 8 as Buddha Day, and Dec. 8 as Bodhi Day, in honor of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism.

Sept. 24 was chosen as Islam Day because it marks the day, according to the Gregorian calendar, the Prophet Muhammad left Mecca for Medina and is considered the birthdate of Islam.

The Islam Day action, passed by the Senate on a 22-3 vote on May 6 after approval by the House, is only a resolution and will not become part of state law. The resolution also does not call for any public spending or official ceremony to mark the observance.

GLOBAL CITIZENS

Rep. Lyla Berg, D-8th (Kuli'ou'ou, Niu Valley, 'Aina Haina, Kahala), said she decided to sponsor the resolution following a conversation with constituent Hakim Ouansafi about a move by schools in her district to participate in the International Baccalaureate program, which aims to mold students into global citizens.

Ouansafi is president and chairman of the Muslim Association of Hawai'i and heads a hotel and resort development firm.

"In talking with Hakim, he suggested Islam Day as an opportunity for the community to learn about Islam and promote awareness," she said. "It didn't seem unusual because we have so many days."

Ouansafi estimates there are more than 4,000 Muslims in the state. He said Islam Day will allow his religion to join the list of other faiths that have already been recognized in Hawai'i and will help "bridge the gap of understanding" between Muslims and non-Muslims.

He said the Muslim Association of Hawai'i is planning events in connection with Islam Day aimed at putting misunderstandings aside so "we can all come together and talk about it."

Despite the initial backlash against Islam Day, Ouansafi said the controversy "has actually been wonderful. We had a tremendous amount of calls and e-mails of support once people understood lawmakers weren't declaring a state holiday for Muslims."

NEGATIVE REACTION

Berg said people who learned of the resolution through Fox News and similar sources "construed the recognition day as meaning we are sympathetic with terrorists. At the very onset, most of the negative e-mails and phone calls were mostly from people from the Mainland. We're not as threatened by differences here," she said.

In her May 11 radio appearance, Lingle criticized Berg for telling a critic of Islam Day not to come to Hawai'i.

"We were getting a lot of angry calls from the Mainland saying, 'We're not coming to a place that's having an Islam Day,' for whatever their reasons were," Lingle said. "So, we referred them all to Lyla Berg. We got a copy of an e-mail that was sent to her, and her response back was basically, 'Maybe it would be just as well if you don't come here.' "

Berg said her reply to the e-mails "was meant with aloha."

"I really felt that if people are so critical of Hawai'i without being here and they are so afraid of Muslims and believe we are terrorist sympathizers, and they are not familiar with Hawai'i's multiracial and multiethnic people, my response was if they are not comfortable in a multicultural environment it may be more comfortable for them to stay home," she said.

"(The resolution) was passed in the spirit of aloha and peace. Here in Hawai'i, that's how we live. Even if we have issues here in Hawai'i, we work them out. I was surprised and disappointed with the governor that she didn't capitalize on the diversity in the community, but she didn't grow up here."

Since the initial negative reaction, Berg said her office has received e-mails from around the world praising Hawai'i's open-mindedness and tolerance.

POOR JUDGMENT CITED

Sens. Fred Hemmings, R-25th (Kailua, Waimanalo, Hawai'i Kai), and Sam Slom, R-8th (Hawai'i Kai, 'Aina Haina, Kahala), the lone Republicans in the Senate, objected to HCR 100, citing Islam's connection to international terrorism.

"It's the old cliche: Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslim," Hemmings said.

Considering terrorism's toll in the United States and elsewhere, Hemmings said the Legislature showed poor judgment in bringing up the resolution.

"I'm aghast that most of the proponents of the resolution have spent more time criticizing those of us concerned about it than criticizing Islamic terrorists," he said. "It goes to show you how misplaced some people's values are."

The senator said he received more than 100 e-mails in support of his stand against Islam Day, about half from Mainlanders.

"I don't oppose the Islamic religion, I oppose terrorists," he said. "I recognize that very many, if not most, Muslims are opposed and are not supporting terrorists."

Also opposing Islam Day, but for different reasons, was Big Island Sen. Josh Green, D-3rd (Kona, Kohala) and the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai'i. Both objected on the grounds it violates the constitutional separation between church and state.

"The Legislature should not be picking and choosing among religions to honor, no matter how well-intentioned the action," said ACLU senior staff attorney Daniel Gluck in a statement.

He said the ACLU also opposes Buddha Day, Baha'i New Year's Day and Bodhi Day.

"The Constitution does not permit the government to favor one religion over another, and the ACLU would raise similar objections to any resolution seeking to discriminate — for good or ill — against any religious group ... ," Gluck said. "All religions — along with the right not to believe anything at all — should be honored every day, but the government cannot give preferential status to one belief system over another."

Overlooked in the controversy over Islam Day is a new law passed by the Legislature during this year's session designating Sept. 11 as Patriot Day in honor of the victims killed in the 2001 terrorist attacks and acknowledging the bravery of those who assisted in rescue efforts.