Soetoro-Ng to Receive First Aloha Peace Prize
The Big Island Chapter of the United Nations Association has announced its inaugural Aloha Peace Prize event.
This year’s recipient will be Maya Soetoro-Ng, a professor of education at the University of Hawaii. Soetoro-Ng is also President Obama’s half-sister.
“The award was established by the association to extend the understanding and practice of ‘aloha,’ Hawaii’s gift to the world, as part of the United Nations’ efforts to create and support world peace,” the group said in a press release.
Soetoro-Ng has worked at the East-West Center promoting international exchange, and is founder of the non-profit Our Public School, which works to bridge the gaps between public schools and their communities.
The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Nani Mau Gardens on Makalika Street in Panaewa.
The program will include performances by the Hiccup Circus, the Kamehameha Schools Hawaii Choir, and Russell Ruderman’s kachi-kachi dance band.
Tickets cost $50, which includes a buffet lunch, and can be purchased at Basically Books or by contacting Ruth Larkin at 965-0909 immediately. Admission for children is free.