Gandhi Peace Institute Leads Honolulu’s International Yoga Day Celebration

India-West Staff Reporter

HONOLULU, HI — More than 150 people gathered at Kapiolani Regional Park on June 22 to mark the seventh Annual International Yoga Day, hosted by the Gandhi International Institute for Peace (GIIP). With the theme “Yoga for Health and Peace,” the event aimed to share a message of healing and harmony with communities across the globe, especially those facing conflict and unrest.

Free and open to the public, the event featured a blend of physical wellness, spiritual reflection, and cultural performance. Yoga instructors led demonstrations of traditional asanas (postures), while a spiritual invocation and Bharatnatyam dance performance set a serene and celebratory tone. The use of crystal bowls for sound healing added a meditative dimension to the gathering.

The event was co-sponsored by the Consulate General of India in San Francisco and the City and County of Honolulu. Deputy Consul Rakesh Adlakha attended as the chief guest, and Hawaii State Senator Mike Gabbard was present as the guest of honor.

Notable speakers and presenters included Dr. Raj Kumar, founder of GIIP; Professor Matthew S. LoPresti; Nilanjan Sarkar; Michele Santos; Amber Ricci; and Dr. Veena Howard, who traveled from Fresno, California to participate.

GIIP was honored with proclamations from Hawaii Governor Dr. Josh Green and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi. The Hawaii State Senate and House of Representatives also presented certificates recognizing the occasion.

Founded in 2001 by Kumar, the Gandhi International Institute for Peace has worked for over two decades to promote peace, nonviolence, and healthy living in Hawaii. Through its educational programs and public events, GIIP continues to spread the values of Mahatma Gandhi across the islands.