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Honolulu marks International Yoga Day with community wellness celebration
Event highlighted yoga's role in promoting health, peace and cultural connection.
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Staff Reporter - Tue, 14, Jul 2026
- 05:01 EDT
- 21
Participants gather for the eighth annual International Yoga Day celebration at Waikiki Bandstand in Honolulu on June 21. / www.gandhipeace.org
The Gandhi International Institute for Peace hosted its eighth annual International Yoga Day celebration at Waikiki Bandstand in Honolulu on June 21, bringing together community leaders, government representatives and yoga practitioners for a public event focused on wellness and cultural exchange.
Organized in collaboration with the Consulate General of India in San Francisco and the City and County of Honolulu, the free event was held under the theme, "Yoga for Physical, Mental and Spiritual Transformation."
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Among those attending were Hawaii State Sen. Sharon Y. Moriwaki, Deputy Consul Nahas Ali from the Consulate General of India in San Francisco, and Deborah Zysman, deputy director from the Office of Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi. Zysman presented a proclamation to Dr. Raj Kumar, founder of the Gandhi International Institute for Peace. Veena Howard, professor at California State University, Fresno, delivered the keynote address.
The celebration opened with a traditional Hawaiian blessing, Oli "Pule Aloha," performed by Kumu Malia, followed by a spiritual invocation by Veda Das. Participants then joined an integrative yoga session led by Michele Santos, founder of Sun Yoga Hawaii, Robin Shepard of the Still & Moving Center, and Amber Ricci.
The program also included yoga posture demonstrations, breathing exercises aimed at supporting cardiovascular health, guided meditation, crystal bowl sound healing, Hawaiian hula performances and Bharatanatyam dance presentations. Community leaders delivered remarks throughout the event highlighting the role of yoga in promoting physical and mental well-being while fostering cultural understanding.
International Yoga Day was established by the United Nations in 2014 to recognize yoga's contribution to health and well-being worldwide. Hawaii became the first U.S. state to officially observe Yoga Day after former Gov. David Y. Ige signed Act 102 in 2019, declaring June 21 as Yoga Day in the state. The annual observance coincides with the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
"International Yoga Day brings our community together in the spirit of health, peace, and cultural connection," Raj Kumar said in a statement. "This event reflects Hawaii's deep commitment to unity, wellness, and honoring diverse traditions that promote harmony across generations."
Kumar, author of The Secrets of Health and Healing, said yoga represents the union of individual consciousness with the universe and encourages a disciplined, balanced and spiritual way of life. He added that regular yoga and meditation practice can help reduce physical and mental stress, anxiety and depression.
The annual event continues to serve as a platform for strengthening cultural ties between India and Hawaii while encouraging broader community participation in practices that promote holistic health and well-being.
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