Lei of Aloha for World Peace by Vanessa Valencia

LEI OF ALOHA FOR WORLD PEACE

by Vanessa Valencia

“Our mission with Lei of Aloha for World Peace is to send a powerful message of love, peace, and solidarity, woven into each part of the lei is the reminder that we are all connected. We are one.” Ron Panzo, co-founder of Lei of Aloha for World Peace Lei of Aloha for World Peace is a Hawaiian non-profit organization that weaves and offers a mile-long ti leaf lei in an effort to share solidarity during times of tragedy and celebration and to spread the spirit of aloha as part of sacred Hawaiian cultural ceremonies.

Founded in 2015, Lei of Aloha for World Peace began after Paris suffered a terrorist bombing. Ron Panzo, Timothy Lara, and founder of the Cynthia Rose Foundation, Sherrie Austin decided to weave a one-mile-long lei and deliver it to Paris to lay at the site of the attack. Youth delegates heading to the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference joined to offer solidarity and condolences to the Paris families.

Most recently, Lei of Aloha for World Peace offered a mile-long lei to the community of Uvalde, Texas to honor the 21 individuals who tragically lost their lives and their grieving families.

Leis have been delivered to Orlando, Florida in the aftermath of the shooting at The Pulse nightclub; Parkland, Florida; Christchurch, New Zealand; and to the people at Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. A lei was also created to promote caring for the earth and to honor the return of Hawaiian outrigger, Hōkūleʻa. This Polynesian doublehulled voyaging canoe went on a three-year, world-wide voyage to 150 ports, 18 nations, and eight of UNESCO’s Marine World Heritage sites.

In addition to creating ti leaf leis, Lei of Aloha for World Peace partners with various organizations such as Toy Parade, Inc., World Central Kitchen, Save the Children, and Catholic Relief Services to support charitable events. They have recently partnered with a local benefit on Maui to raise funds to help refugees from Ukraine and neighboring countries. WE ARE ONE Weaving together ti leaves from Kauai to Hawaii Island Kaupo to Keanae to Haiku Weaving the love and aloha to wrap around the people of the World The Lei of Aloha brings us together to support, to heal, to connect and to lift our collective spirits when we lift one, we lift us all The Lei of Aloha is about connection We sit side by side Weaving lei, weaving conversation, weaving friendship, weaving prayers Weaving leaves of every color: red, yellow, pink, light green, dark green Weaving people: gay, straight, Hawaiian, Asian, Hispanic, Caucasian People of all colors and faiths Young, and young at heart Once woven and joined together It is impossible to tell us apart WE ARE ONE