This article is contributed by Akiko Taira, chair of the Japanese Department and a supervisor for Japanese National Honor Society (JNHS).
Many of ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY’s community members already know about the story of Sadako Sasaki from IPA’s school production “A Thousand Cranes” in 2015. Sadako Sasaki was only two years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. About ten years later, she was diagnosed with leukemia. During her hospitalization, she learned that folding one thousand cranes would make wishes come true. While Sadako endured her illness, she deepened her compassion for those around her and prayed for peace. Her story has become well-known around the world, and origami cranes have become a symbol of peace.
Since 2013, a small paper crane folded by Sadako has been exhibited at Pearl Harbor as a symbol of reconciliation and hope for peace.
After the Sadako Exhibition started, volunteer students and teachers from Punahou School started the Sadako Project at Pearl Harbor. They teach how to fold origami cranes to visitors from all around the world on the second Saturday of each month. They also share Sadako’s story and her message of peace.
It has been our privilege and honor for the Japanese National Honor Society (JNHS) at IPA to join this project since last school year. This project has been nurtured by the initiative, great effort, and dedication of teachers and students of Punahou School. It means a lot that the young generation shares this important message to people around the world as peace builders. All the volunteers have been working hard with warm smiles.
This year’s JNHS president, Alyssa Estenson (’18) exhibited her leadership and dedication to continue this community service. Alyssa shared her passion for origami in her speech at the 2017 Japanese Language Achievement & Speech Award by the United Japanese Society of Hawaiʻi.
“Because of Sadako’s story, not only is the origami crane a symbol for sharing Japanese culture, but also for world peace. I was fifteen years old when I learned about Sadako,” shared Alyssa. “After that, origami was not just a cultural art, it became a story. It is easy to teach someone how to fold a crane, and origami is a simple way to tell a meaningful story. The reason why I love origami is that I am able to teach others both of my Japanese culture and of the harmony of the world.”
