When Dr. John Graz, director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the General Confernce, visited Hawaii earlier this year to promote the idea of a large public festival of religious freedom, Hawaii church members responded enthusiastically. Hawaii is known for its generous “Aloha” spirit, and both members and conference leaders welcomed the opportunity to bring the Aloha spirit of living together in peace despite deep differences in religious faith. Graz promoted the festival as an opportunity to say “thanks” for religious freedom, to God, to the government, and to those who paid the price to secure liberty in the first place.

Hawaii also has an excellent track record in its support of religious freedom. The Adventist Church was ably represented in recent years by Rep. David Pendleton, who served as Minority Whip in the Hawaii House of Representatives, while also serving as a Seventh-day Adventist minister, and heading the church’s religious liberty ministry in Hawaii. The former conference president, Arnold Trujillo, now vice president of the Pacific Union, previously served in the Pacific Union as associate director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty. The Honolulu Central church has been very active in promoting religious freedom, raising funds for Liberty magazine, and distributing literature, led by Norma Gully. She even began an Ohana cell group to study religious liberty.

When the Pacific Union PARL deparment and Graz began to consider the viability of conducting a festival of religious freedom in Hawaii, they immediately noted that Hawaii would be an ideal place for several reasons:

1. Hawaii is an example of many different religions living together in peace. The Aloha spirit offers what much of the world desperately needs.

2. The relatively small size makes it easier to bring government officials together with church leaders to make such an event a success.

3. Hawaii is where East meets West, and work there can be used to influence both sides of the Pacific.

4. Everyone loves to come to Hawaii, including renowned advocates of religious freedom.

In meetings with several government officials during the week, strong support emerged for the festival. Initial plans were laid to conduct the festival on July 6, 2008, in conjunction with the celebration of the nation’s birth. If successful, a festival in 2009 is expected to become part of the 50th anniversary celebration of Hawaii's statehood.

Hawaii church members are eagerly laying plans for the 2008 Aloha Festival of Religious Freedom to thank God for providing religious freedom, thank the government for preserving it, and thank the founding fathers for pledging their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to secure freedom. Such a festival is intended to renew the commitment to preserve religious freedom. Although the emphasis will be primarily local, all are welcome to attend. For more information or to join the North American Religious Liberty Association, visit http://www.religiousliberty.info/ or call 805-413-7396.