Honolulu, Hawaii – On the birthday of Princess Ruth Ke’elikolani, our Love Peace Harmony Foundation volunteers were honored to inaugurate a permanent Love Peace Harmony Field at a school named in her honour, the Princess Ruth Ke’elikolani Middle School. This day of immense significance and celebration marked a momentous occasion in our journey towards creating a nurturing and transformative environment for the youth.
The Love Peace Harmony Team has been dedicatedly volunteering at Princess Ruth Ke’elikolani Middle School for the past two years. Throughout this period, the team has witnessed remarkable transformations in the youth. The positive changes are a testament to the power of love, peace, and harmony in shaping young lives.
In 2022, Principal Joe Passantino asked for our help with the detention sessions during lunch and after school. On an average day, he had 18-24 students in detention for social and learning behavior issues. We engaged youth aged 11-13 in bi-weekly Love Peace Harmony meditations. By the end of the school year, we had served 971 students, significantly reducing the number of students being sent to detention.
The second issue that Principal Joe needed help with was the fact that the school has a high population of Pacific Islanders, mainly from the Marshall Islands. The students were far below educational standards in reading, mathematics, writing, social, emotional, and behavioral skills. The whole school was put in a mandatory national tutoring program, and there was a high absenteeism rate due to the lack of value of education for some students’ future.
Principal Joe asked if we could help with these issues. Our Love Peace Harmony Team was assigned to support Librarian Holly Gates, who, due to a shortage of teachers, was teaching six periods of 11–12-year-old students. The team hosted 10 minutes of Love Peace Harmony meditation and practices every Friday. Special Education Teacher Abe Solomon also asked our team to serve his students because he had heard of the program’s success.
The program’s success is evident in the students’ reactions to learning, singing, and practicing with the Love Peace Harmony calligraphies. The team started each meditation with a brief explanation of Love Peace Harmony Calligraphy, meditation, forgiveness, and gratitude. Then they played the Love, Peace and Harmony song and led the students to trace the calligraphies. At first, the team didn’t ask the students to sing out loud, since they are often self-conscious and sensitive to singing in front of others. As the sessions progressed, the students began singing the Love, Peace and Harmony song all on their own, and could be heard singing it as they left the room or in the hallways. The team went on to introduce the Love Peace Harmony videos, which the students responded very positively to, happily singing with the team during the meditations.
One heart-touching response to the program was from the students in the special education program. At first, some of the students were not interested in engaging, one boy keeping his head down on the table despite the teaching aide’s encouragement. Then later, as more students sang and traced, this boy began to join them. Now, they all stand up and want to lead the sessions in singing Love Peace Harmony, especially this boy who was formerly shy. The students’ goal is to someday perform Love Peace Harmony for the entire school.
Our team has been featured in the school annual and a Department of Education video about the school’s programs. Significant improvements have been observed in the students who participate. Ms. Gates has repeatedly shared with our team that she can’t manage without the meditations to help settle and focus her students during class periods. She was particularly surprised by one Samoan boy who, despite having a hard time in school, would intently watch and join the team in tracing the Love Peace Harmony Calligraphy. When students were flighty or misbehaving, she would stop the class and ask our team to lead a meditation. She even asked the team to promise to return next school year.
The students have improved in their classwork, and many have been able to catch up and complete their required learning modules. Several students in Ms. Gates’ classes have received awards for creative writing and academic performance. The whole school has seen significant test score improvements. Principal Joe has been named Secondary Principal of the Year for the entire State of Hawaii, and will participate in a national contest on the mainland.
While we cannot say for certain the source of these successes, it is evident that the partnership between Principal Joe Passantino, Librarian Holly Gates, Special Education Teacher Abe Solomon, staff, students, and the power of Love Peace Harmony has been a valued and key part of their environment and curriculum.
On our last day, our Love Peace Harmony Team experienced the students’ reciprocation, now giving back their love and appreciation for the difference that has been made, as they expressed their sincere feelings of gratitude. This is a true testament to how they feel about what our volunteers do, and the impact of the Love Peace Harmony song and calligraphy practices.
We extend our deepest gratitude to those who have made this journey possible: including Aunties Diane, Sophie Ann, and Joanne; Uncles Greg and Herbert; and Cousins Hardeep and Yanan. Your unwavering support and love have been the backbone of our efforts. A heartfelt mahalo (thank you) to Principal Joe, Librarian Ms. Gates, and all the teachers, administrators, and staff for their continuous support and collaboration. Your commitment to the well-being and growth of the students is inspiring.
We also honour Princess Ruth and her legacy. We honor her contributions and the lasting impact she has on her people and all of Hawaii. Her spirit and values continue to inspire and guide us in our mission to create a harmonious and loving environment for the children.
As we move forward, the permanent Love Peace Harmony Field will serve as a beacon of hope, love, and positivity for the students. It is a culmination of our collective efforts as well as our vision for a bright future for the youth. We are excited to continue this journey, creating an environment where every child can thrive and shine.
Together, we can make a difference and create a world filled with love, peace, and harmony. Let’s honor Princess Ruth’s legacy by nurturing the next generation with compassion, kindness, and understanding.
Greatest mahalo to all who have supported us on this incredible journey. Here’s to a future filled with love, peace, and harmony for all.