National Parents’ Day
Written by : Donna Shaver
WFWP-HI participated in the National Parents’ Day celebration on Sunday, July 25, 2026, at Ka Lama Iki–Hawaiian Mission Academy School from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event honored two nominated couples for the Hawaiʻi State Parents of the Year and Excellence in Parenting awards. Ten WFWP-HI members joined more than 55 attendees, including families with young children, while five Zoom screens connected virtual participants.
Kahu Lokoʻolu from the Hawaiian Church of Hawaiʻi Nei opened the program with the traditional blowing of the conch shell, accompanied by chants of blessing and protection for all participants. Joshua Fontaine served as Master of Ceremonies and warmly welcomed everyone with a cheerful “Aloha.” Angela Fontaine read the Parents’ Day Proclamation from Representative Diamond Garcia, honoring parents and recognizing exemplary parents on National Parents’ Day.
The program included scripture readings from several faith traditions—including Baha’i, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and Confucianism—with readings focused on parents and family. Dr. Nakama introduced the Universal Peace Federation, where the National Parents’ Day project began, followed by a video highlighting previous national and local recipients of the Parents of the Year and Excellence in Parenting awards. Donna Shaver then presented a musical performance of Where Peace Begins.
Joshua Fontaine introduced the Parents’ Day honorees by reading their biographies. Certificates of acknowledgment and gift bags were presented to the award recipients. The Excellence in Parenting Award was presented to Niaghat and Anwar Quadri, although Anwar was unable to attend. The couple has three sons and one daughter, whom Niaghat describes as “the biggest achievement in her life.” Niaghat serves as a program coordinator for the Hawaiʻi Department of Health and is also a business owner who founded Rainbow by the Sea. Anwar is retired from the Department of Health.
The 2026 Hawaiʻi Parents of the Year Award was presented to Thomas and Karen Gibson, who have two daughters. Thomas works as an account executive for Spectrum. Karen is an entrepreneur who founded Brain Builders in 1999 and Letting Go with Aloha in 2020. She is also an author, artist, certified life coach, certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming practitioner, former special education teacher, and contributing writer for Hawaiʻi Parent Magazine, reaching readers throughout Hawaiʻi.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Nakama offered words of encouragement about meaningful ways to honor Parents’ Day. He congratulated the honorees and expressed appreciation to everyone who participated. The celebration concluded with the song Higher Ground, a closing prayer by Rev. Bismark, and a group photo commemorating the occasion.
The celebration reflected the vision of WFWP founder Mother Moon, who emphasizes that, “The path to peace is not found through political compromise or military might, but through the realization of true love within the family.” She also reminds us that, “When mothers, with their innate spirit of giving and nurturing, raise children to love humanity, we lay the foundation for a world of lasting harmony.” Through this meaningful celebration of parents and families, participants experienced the beautiful Aloha spirit of ʻohana—family, affirming the vital role of parents and strong families in creating a more peaceful world.
