WFWP HI- June Events

Written by : Donna Shaver

AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Veterans Gift Bags and Card-Making Project

On June 20, 2026, eleven members of the AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary gathered at the Kapilina Community Center from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. for their monthly meeting and July 4th Veterans Gift Bag and Card-Making Project. Three participants—Doris Edwards, Marie Francoise Mitchell, and Donna Shaver—are also members of the Women's Federation for World Peace Hawaiʻi (WFWP-HI), strengthening the growing partnership between the two organizations.

The afternoon began with members creating handmade Independence Day cards and adding personal messages before assembling gift bags for veterans. The formal meeting opened with Mimi Mitchell leading the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by words of inspiration from Melodie Bell and reports from officers and committee leaders.

A major focus of the meeting was planning the upcoming AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Hawaiʻi Post HI-001 Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, scheduled for July 11, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Kapilina Community Center. Members enthusiastically shared ideas, confirmed plans, and finalized preparations to ensure a meaningful event honoring the organization's dedicated volunteers.

As expressed during the meeting:

"Our volunteers are the heartbeat of the AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary. They show up every day to ensure our veterans are never forgotten, and now it's our turn to serve them. This event is a dedicated space for our selfless helpers to recharge, connect, and feel the community's gratitude."

The luncheon will also serve as a fundraiser to support future programs and activities benefiting veterans.

Following the meeting, members completed the veterans' gift bags, and volunteers were assigned to deliver them to hospitals and nursing homes throughout the State of Hawaiʻi before the July 4th holiday. Facilities included Maunalani Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and Hale Ho Aloha Nursing Home. These visits brought joy and encouragement to veterans while expressing heartfelt appreciation for their service. Many recipients shared their gratitude that community organizations continue to honor and remember those who have served our nation.

As more WFWP-HI members become active in the AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary, a meaningful collaboration continues to flourish—one rooted in community service, relationship-building, and the practice of living for the sake of others. This partnership reflects WFWP's vision of building a world of lasting peace through the "Logic of Love" while supporting the Peace Starts with Me Alliance initiative.

WFWP-HI Members Attend the Hawaiʻi ACLC Prayer Breakfast

On Saturday, June 27, 2026, the American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC) Prayer Breakfast was held at the Honolulu Family Learning Center in Mānoa, Hawaiʻi. The event was hosted by Reverend James Mitchell and his wife, Marie Francoise Mitchell.

Sixteen people attended, including five WFWP-HI members: Rafia Hasina, Doris Edwards, Diane Araki, Keiko Nakama, and Mimi Mitchell.

During the program, ACLC Pastor Samuel Samuela and Doris Edwards shared heartfelt testimonies about their experiences during the 2026 Peace Starts with Me Alliance Korea Pilgrimage. Both described how deeply the pilgrimage had impacted their faith and expressed their desire to participate again next year.

Mimi Mitchell reflected on the importance of working together across organizations, stating, "On the foundation of True Parents' vision, we each bring our unique gifts." She shared that several attendees had first become connected through WFWP, while her husband, Reverend James Mitchell, serves through ACLC—demonstrating the powerful partnership of husband and wife working together to advance True Parents' vision.

The gathering also provided an opportunity for participants of different faith traditions to share their personal experiences. Rafia Hasina spoke about her participation in the 2025 WFWP Korea Pilgrimage, contributing to a spirit of mutual understanding, respect, and fellowship.

The Prayer Breakfast beautifully united people of diverse faith communities as one family centered on Heavenly Parent, True Parents, and Jesus Christ, while reflecting ACLC's continuing commitment to carrying forward the spirit and legacy of True Parents through interfaith cooperation and service.

Watch Party Central – Tabernacle Choir 100th Anniversary Hollywood Bowl "Songs of Hope"

On Saturday, June 27, 2026, WFWP member Elizabeth Lim invited members of the WFWP-HI Chapter to attend the Watch Party Central—Tabernacle Choir 100th Anniversary Hollywood Bowl "Songs of Hope," held from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Honolulu Stake Tabernacle on Beretania Street in Honolulu.

Five WFWP sisters—Elizabeth Lim, Mimi Mitchell, Diane Araki, Debbie Nanod, and Donna Shaver—attended with family members and guests.

The event supported three international humanitarian organizations—CARE, Helen Keller International, and The Hunger Project—with one hundred percent of ticket proceeds donated and matched to benefit these charitable causes.

Guests were warmly welcomed by young missionaries and invited to enjoy a delicious local Hawaiian dinner before entering the sanctuary, where a large screen and immersive sound system broadcast the Hollywood Bowl celebration.

President Dennis Takashi Fujii welcomed attendees and offered the opening prayer.

The evening featured an inspiring musical celebration by the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, joined by renowned performers David Foster, Katharine McPhee, Stephanie J. Block, Sebastian Arcelus, The Bonner Family, Daniel Emmet, and Donny Osmond. The performances celebrated one hundred years of music, hope, and faith while uplifting the audience through messages of unity and service.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints warmly welcomed everyone with genuine hospitality, reflecting the true spirit of aloha through kindness, fellowship, and service.

The evening concluded with renewed appreciation for the power of music to unite people of all backgrounds and faiths. As quoted by Holy Mother Han:

"All we need to do is to let the love of God shine from our hearts and radiate all around us, and trust—absolutely trust—that it will create miracles of forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace."

The event beautifully reflected WFWP's mission of building one global family under God by promoting compassion, service, and harmony among people of every faith and culture.