East Hawai‘i celebrates Conflict Resolution Day with proclamation, free workshop

Hawai‘i County Mayor Kimo Alameda issued a proclamation recognizing Oct. 16 as “Conflict Resolution Day,” where partners will host their 10th free community workshop on Thursday.

The proclamation also acknowledges the long-time partnership between the County of Hawai‘i, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, East Hawaiʻi Rotary Clubs, Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center and University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.

Every year on the third Thursday in October, International Conflict Resolution Day is celebrated around the world to promote awareness of mediation, arbitration, conciliation, and other peaceful means of resolving disagreements and encourage the use of conflict resolution in schools, families, businesses, communities, government, and the legal system, according to a news release from Ku’ikahi Mediation Center on Monday.

The proclamation states that “conflict resolution processes empower individuals, families, communities and organizations to communicate and devise solutions that are acceptable to the needs and interests of all parties involved” and urges “all citizens to learn and embrace conflict resolution practices in order to apply them in their daily lives and encourage and promote peaceful and creative solutions to disruptive disputes.”

In addition, the proclamation acknowledges that “throughout Polynesia, a traditional conflict resolution practice (known as Hoʻoponopono in Hawaiʻi) has long been regarded as a fundamental process for individuals, families and communities to reunite peacefully and heal after suffering divisive and damaging events.”

In honor of Conflict Resolution Day 2025, the public is invited to the free workshop “The Aloha Spirit & How to Have Difficult Conversations” with Dr. Jo Hittner. The event is Friday, October 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. at UH-Hilo Campus Center Room 301. A reception with pupu begins at 4:30 p.m. Parking is free on campus.

Visit https://kakou2025.eventbrite.com/ to register or RSVP to Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center, call the center at 808-935-7844 ext. 8 or email carol@hawaiimediation.org.