By Barry Villamil, President, Rotary Club of Pearlridge
I am extremely proud to share coverage below from the Cross Academy School (Our Savior Lutheran School) H.O.P.E. – Heal Our Planet Earth Club that continued their environmental and global unity at the Pearl Harbor Peace Bell on Earth Day, April 22, 2025.
The Cross Academy H.O.P.E. Club is made up of members of the school’s Student Council and Interact Club. I created H.O.P.E. – Heal Our Planet Earth to invite our youth to get involved in caring and healing our planet earth through their own words and vision for the future.
H.O.P.E. is part of the Messages of Life W.A.L.L. – With Aloha, Love Lives (forever in our hearts) That is located at the Pearl City Shopping Center.
The Cross Academy H.O.P.E. Club is reaching out and touching hearts with their efforts to make a positive impact on our environment and well-being.
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By Principal Clarence De Lude, Cross Academy School
On Earth Day
On Earth Day, Tuesday April 22, Cross Academy students demonstrated their commitment to both environmental and global unity. Members of the school’s H.O.P.E. (Heal Our Planet Earth) Club and Student Council participated in a field trip to visit and clean the iconic Peace Bell in Blaisdell Park. Here are some insights from the students:
- “We want to remind others that peace and forgiveness are an important part of life too!” – Krystana, 8th
- “We show Aloha ‘Aina by putting trash and cigarette butts in waste baskets not near our peace bell.” – James, 7th
- “We need to take care of our Earth today so we can have it tomorrow.” –
During their visit, students, parents and staff spent time cleaning up the surrounding area of trash, and removing weeds, dirt and debris from the Peace Bell plaques, showing their ecological care and community spirit on this very important day. This particular Japanese Peace Bell, was erected in 1991 was to mark the 50th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It’s beside a hiking and biking trail on the Diamond Head corner of Neal Blaisdell Park. From the park, the Peace Bell is situated between the Arizona and Missouri Battleship Memorials. A student said, “This Peace Bell is our pearl of great price and we should know its story.” Here is the poem that the students read aloud after the clean up, first in English and then in Japanese:
Pictures: Earth Day Pictures 2025
Until the Earth is Tinted with a Rosy Hue
By Bishop Ekan Ikeguchi
Clouds! Winds! Waves!
Only you know of the days long past.
When the sky burned and the earth was razed.
Columns of water spewed high into the sky from the sea.
Oh the foolishness of war.
Oh the fruitlessness of war.
Who is it now that opens the door to peace?
Who is it now that shades the flag of peace?
It’s you and me and all the people in the world.
Peace sprouts from the heart of each of us.
Peace is what each of us earnestly prays for.
Cloud, wind, waves to you we swear
Never again will we repeat the hellish scene
of burning skies and razed land
Sea spewing columns of water high in the sky
Let the bell of peace ring and echo loudly and widely
Until the whole earth be tinted with a rosy hue.
