Round Top Forest Reserve Peace Road Hike

Report submitted by Hawaii District Pastor Rev. Kazuo Takami.

On Sunday, August 12, over 70 Honolulu Family Church Unificationists, friends and guests gathered together for Honolulu’s Peace Road event at Round Top Forest Reserve, one of the most beautiful scenic mountain sites in Honolulu.

Hawaii District Pastor Rev. Kazuo Takami explained that the root of the Peace Road began with the International Peace Highway Project, a visionary call for a global road and rail system linking the entire world. True Father first proposed this at the International Conference on the Unity of Sciences in 1981. True Mother launched the Peace Road in 2015 to move the project forward. Cyclists toured cities, states and regions to publicize the International Peace Highway and to pray for the peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula.

Approximately 30 people accomplished the challenging 1.7 mile peace hike. The group started at the Manoa Cliff Trailhead and hiked through an endlessly muddy path. At one point, the trail passed through a hazardous cliff zone where signs warned hikers of unstable grounds. As dangerous as it was, the group was brave and adventurous enough to take on the challenge. Along the way, the group enjoyed Hawaii’s beautifully unique trees and vegetation. It took them over an hour to reach the Public Shelter of Round Top Forest Reserve where the rest of the group had been waiting for them. From there everyone marched the 0.1 miles to the Tantalus Lookout – the final destination of the hike. At the lookout, hikers saw rewarding views over the city of Honolulu, the blue Pacific Ocean and Honolulu’s natural landmark, Diamond Head.

The peace hike was an exhilarating experience that brought families and Unificationists together to catch a glimpse of True Parents’ vision for an interconnected global family. Many of the participants stated that they enjoyed the unity among each other while connecting with nature on a sunny August day to promote the peace road project.