With Martin Luther King Jr. Day coming Monday, organizations and communities around the islands are preparing to honor the slain civil rights leader.
King was an activist for equal rights. His movement swept across America and affected the nation by inspiring lawmakers to adopt the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans discrimination based on color, race, sex, religion and national origin. His life was cut short when he was assassinated at a motel in Memphis, Tenn. He was 39 years old.
The Hawaii Martin Luther King, Jr. Coalition will hold events all weekend starting with a dinner at 6 tonight at Dole Cannery. The cost is $75 per person. The celebration culminates with a parade and unity rally to follow on Monday. The parade begins at Magic Island at 9 a.m. and ends at Kapiolani Park.
The MLK Jr. Day Committee will hold its seventh annual Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Service on Maui at Christ the King Church from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m. Monday. The theme this year is “We Will Stand.”
“This holiday is promoted as a day of national and community service, a time to reflect upon the principles of interracial cooperation, equality, and social change through nonviolent resolution of conflict, dedication to global peace, social justice, economic security, and the eradication of poverty as espoused by Dr. King,” the coalition’s website read.
Kaiser Permanente employees will be volunteering on every island for their 14th Annual Day of Service.
“It’s really a part of Kaiser Permanente’s mission to improve the health of the communities we serve,” Kaiser spokeswoman Laura Lott said. “And that includes health outside the walls of our hospitals and clinics.”
Oahu employees of the health care company will participate in “environmental restoration” at Ka‘ala Cultural Learning Center, Papahana Kuaola, Kako‘o ‘Oiwi and Paepae o He‘eia, according to a news release.
