Rep. Gabbard Speaks at Gandhi Day Celebration

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard spoke at the 13th Annual Mahatma Gandhi Day on Oct. 2, 2018. Courtesy photo

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawai‘o-02) spoke at the 13th Annual Mahatma Gandhi Day at the Gandhi statue in Kapiolani Park on O‘ahu on Oct. 2, 2018.

The event, hosted by the Gandhi International Institute for Peace, focused on bringing communities together to celebrate the birth of Mahatma Gandhi and his legacy of peace, love and respect for all people.

Hawai‘i is the first state in the nation to recognize Oct. 2 as Mahatma Gandhi Day.

This year’s ceremony also recognized the historic sister-state partnership between Hawai‘i and Goa, India, which was finalized at a signing ceremony at Washington Place on O’ahu on Friday, Sept. 30. The Goan delegation, led by Gurudas Pilarnekar, director of Art and Culture, Goa State Government, has conducted multiple visits and engagements across the islands in various sectors like education, security, culture, agriculture, and more.

“Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy continues to inspire generations,” Rep. Gabbard said. “Dr. Martin Luther King spoke about how much Mahatma Gandhi’s life and message inspired his own work for peace, justice and equality in America. Both Dr. King and Mahatma Gandhi shared the universal message of love and respect for all, regardless of their race, ethnicity or religion. Their leadership and example were critical for their time, and their universal message of love continues to be so necessary for our country and the world, as we are faced with ever deepening divides. May we continue to be inspired by them, and defeat bigotry and hatred with love and aloha.”

About Goa, India

• Goa’s per capita GDP is one of the highest in India, a country that currently boasts the third largest GDP in the world.
• Goa has a growing market for US food and retail products, with imports of US agricultural food products doubling in 2015 to $20.6 million.
• Goa is a top tourist population globally (7,785,693 visitors in 2017), known for its beaches, abundant seafood, tropical climate, and historic architecture, which has also attracted film opportunities.
• Goa has many multinational companies with offices in the state covering various sectors like fisheries, pharmaceuticals, information technology, tourism, and hospitality.
• Goa’s biodiversity is rich and is home to thousands of species ranging from plants, animals, and marine life.
• Hawaiʻi’s agreement with Goa highlights the continued growth of US-India relationships, with the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue concluding earlier this month.