“May Peace Prevail on Earth” Expressed Through Peace Pole

As a mark of tribute to world peace, the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa planted a peace pole in the Campus Center courtyard in the early 1990s to display its support to world peace and remind others to do the same.

Behind the tent that shadows the outdoor concerts, the large signs that promote upcoming campus events and the grocery vendors stands the firmly planted peace pole in the Campus Center courtyard in front of the Ka Leo building.

The peace pole is a white, hand-made wooden structure that stands about 8 feet tall and displays the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in four different languages on each of its sides. UHM’s peace pole displays this message in English, Hawaiian, Japanese and Tagalog. Its presence is shaded under the trees in the courtyard; however, the importance of the peace pole is not shaded.

Former Director of the Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace Lou Ann Ha‘aheo Guanson, who was involved in the planning of the UHM’s peace pole, says that the pole’s message is simple yet profound.

“The peace pole is simply a symbolic message of peace. It is symbolically planting the seeds of peace,” she said over a telephone interview.

During the planning stages of the peace pole, she said difficulties arose when some people thought the pole promoted religion.

Guanson said: “We had difficulty fighting for the pole because there was an issue about the separation between religion and state. We just wanted it to be a constant reminder of peace to those who pass by the pole, like a bell going off in their head.”

After a year of planning, the pole was erected on the UHM campus in the early 1990s. A peace pole dedication ceremony was held for its unveiling, during which they sang John Lennon’s song, “Imagine.”

Photo by Tina Ng

Students often walk past the peace pole, which is located in the Campus Center courtyard.

As of now, there is one peace pole on each UH system campus.

Although the peace pole has been in the same spot for more than a decade, it is nearly undetectable to passers-by.

Art major Jamie Kumashiro walks through the Campus Center courtyard about once or twice a day. She says that she is aware about UHM’s peace pole, but only because she saw a similar pole on the Windward Community College campus.

“I attended a summer program at WCC and my instructors took us to its peace pole and told us it’s a symbol of peace and that’s why there are the different languages to represent the different cultures in Hawai‘i,” Kumashiro said.

She also believes that the peace pole is an important structure to have on the UHM campus, but she suggests “it needs to be put in a better location or maybe put it on a stand so it’s shown off in a better angle.”

Ramon Valentin is the manager of Kahuna Dogs and his hot dog and nachos vendor is stationed across from the peace pole. He works at the vendor everyday and has noticed the peace pole because it is directly across from him, but he was unaware of what the pole represented.

“There is no plaque, no explanation as to what it is,” said Valentin. “It would be nice to have something there to show that it is there and its purpose.”

As unfamiliar the pole is to some people on campus, many would also not have known that the peace pole project is an international movement. Nearly 200,000 peace poles are planted around the world in places like Spain, Baghdad, India, Bethlehem and Alaska – a total of 180 countries.

Peace poles can be used to commemorate an occasion. After the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, a memorial peace pole was presented to New York City to honor the victims and show commitment to a world of peace.

For more information about the Peace Pole Project, visit http://www.worldpeace.org.