HONOLULU (KHON2) — The 32nd Annual Nagaski Peace Ceremony took place in the heart of Honolulu on Aug. 9, honoring the victims of the U.S.-led nuclear bombing of Nagasaki, Japan that killed up to 80,000 people, most of which innocent civilians.
Nagasaki was bombed on Aug. 9, 1945, making this year the 80th anniversary of the tragedy.
The ceremony included messages from interfaith clergy, the government and community leaders.
There were also live messages from Nagasaki, which led to a processional to the Nagasaki Peace Bell led by the Royal Order of Kamehameha.
In addition to the speeches and procession, the Royal Hawaiian Band held a mini-concert.
Topping off the event was a lei ceremony and a ringing of the Nagasaki Peace Bell, with each ring symbolizing a call to action against the use of nuclear weapons.
“The Nagasaki Peace Bell is really an unknown peace treasure, right? And so [I’m] really grateful because we could have all of this. Every year we’ve been doing this in small ways, right?” said Joanne Tachibana, president of Una-Hawaiʻi-Honolulu. “And this is a significant year — 80 anniversaries. The end of bombing of Nagasaki, Hiroshima, the founding of the United Nations, the end of World War II.”
Events honoring the lives lost in the nuclear tragedy will continue into Aug. 10, with the 80th Commemorative Anniversary entitled “Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki” at the Jodo Mission of Hawaiʻi.