Hawai'i Community Foundation to Offer Free, Live Webcasts of Pillars of Peace Hawai'i's Dalai Lama Events

HONOLULU, HI, Apr 10, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- The Hawai'i Community Foundation (HCF) announced today that three Pillars of Peace Hawai'i events featuring Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, will be available for viewing via live stream. The events offered online will include a talk specifically for students on April 14th at 11:45 a.m. HAST, a panel on Native Hawaiian culture on April 15th at 9:45 a.m. HAST, and a presentation for the general public on April 15th at 11:45 a.m. HAST. Because of support received from www.DalaiLama.com , HCF is able to offer these live streams free of charge at www.PillarsofPeaceHawaii.org . These events are part of the Dalai Lama's three-day visit to O'ahu (April 14-16) where he will participate in a series of conversations with local leaders and visits to cultural and historical sites on O'ahu.

"We will be streaming select events in real time so that people in Hawai'i and around the world have the opportunity to experience these extraordinary events as they unfold," said Kelvin Taketa, president and CEO of the Hawai'i Community Foundation.

Talks to be offered online include:

Saturday, April 14 -- Student Talk, "Educating the Heart" Live stream starts: 11:45 a.m. HAST Dalai Lama talk starts: 1:30 p.m. HAST This event is for high school and college students and is focused on encouraging compassionate behavior in Hawai'i's youth. His Holiness will discuss with Hawai'i students the importance of practicing tolerance, perseverance and persistence in everyday life. The event will also feature musical performances with messages on peace from Jack Johnson, Taimane Gardner, Anuhea Jenkins and more. Very limited tickets for the Student Talk are still available, please contact the University of Hawai'i Stan Sheriff Center Box Office at 808-956-4482.

Sunday, April 15 -- Panel Discussion, "The Importance of Native Intelligence in Modern Times" Live stream and panel starts: 9:45 a.m. HAST His Holiness will participate in a panel discussion with Native Hawaiian leaders, including Dr. Pualani Kanahele and Nainoa Thompson. Panelists will consider the positive contributions of wisdom found in Hawaiian and other native cultures and explore Hawai'i's potential for global leadership. The discussion will be moderated by John DeFries. This event is only available to the general public via the live webcast.

Sunday, April 15 -- Public Talk, "Advancing Peace through the Power of Aloha" Live stream starts: 11:45 a.m. HAST Dalai Lama talk starts: 1:30 p.m. HAST His Holiness will speak to the general public about the role of peace and compassion in daily life -- aiming to spark discussion and dialogue in the community. The event will include musical performances with messages on peace from Michael McDonald, Amy Hanaiali'i and Henry Kapono, to name a few. Due to the enthusiastic response to this appearance by His Holiness, tickets for the Public Talk are no longer available.

The Dalai Lama's visit marks the launch of a new HCF initiative entitled "Pillars of Peace Hawai'i: Building Peace on a Foundation of Aloha." The program, supported by the Omidyar 'Ohana Fund, aims to bring global peace leaders to Hawai'i to exchange ideas about the many forms of peace that exist here at home in Hawai'i and around the world. The Dalai Lama is visiting O'ahu at the invitation of Pierre and Pam Omidyar. Support is being provided by a lead grant from the Omidyar 'Ohana Fund in addition to other partners providing in-kind and cash donations.

For more information about the Dalai Lama's visit to O'ahu, please call 1-855-PEACE00 (1-855-732-2300), email info@pillarsofpeacehawaii.org or visit www.pillarsofpeacehawaii.org . Pillars of Peace is also on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pillarsofpeace and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PillarsofPeace for up-to-date information. Please follow along using the following hashtag: #PEACEHI

About His Holiness the Dalai Lama His Holiness the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent struggle for Tibet and received the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his "many enduring and outstanding contributions to peace, nonviolence, human rights and religious understanding." He recently won the 2012 Templeton Prize for his work in spiritually relevant scientific research. Author of more than 72 books and the recipient of numerous awards and honorary doctorates, His Holiness describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. For more information about the Dalai Lama, please visit: www.dalailama.com .

About the Hawai'i Community Foundation With 95 years of community service, the Hawai'i Community Foundation is the leading philanthropic institution in the state. The Foundation is a steward of more than 600 funds, including more than 160 scholarship funds, created by donors who desire to transform lives and improve communities. In 2011, more than $43 million in grants and contracts were distributed statewide. The Foundation also serves as a resource on community issues and trends in the nonprofit sector. Visit www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org for more information.

About Pierre and Pam Omidyar Active philanthropists who are guided by their belief that people are inherently capable and basically good, Pierre and Pam Omidyar have committed more than $1 billion to help individuals improve their lives and ignite change across a variety of sectors and geographies. The Omidyars received the 2011 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in recognition of the lasting impact of their work and generosity. In 2009, Pierre and Pam made an historic $50 million commitment to the Hawai'i Community Foundation to establish the Omidyar 'Ohana Fund, which is being used to launch several community initiatives. To learn more about the Omidyars' commitment to Hawai'i and ongoing philanthropic interests around the world, go to www.pillarsofpeacehawaii.org/hosts .

        
        Contacts:
        Sydney Siegmeth
        sydney.siegmeth@porternovelli.com
        Phone: 206-770-7011
        
        Crystal Yamasaki
        crystal@bennetgroup.com
        Phone: 808-753-7134
        
        
        

SOURCE: Hawai'i Community Foundation

        mailto:sydney.siegmeth@porternovelli.com
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