Daniel Pearl Foundation - Shines a Light of Truth So We May All Live in Harmony | Community Spirit

The Pacific Buddhist Academy is honored to recognize the Daniel Pearl Foundation. The October 21st “Lighting Our Way” event acknowledges individuals and organizations that are lighting our way in the community and exemplify the leadership values taught at the Pacific Buddhist Academy High School.

One vital aspect of the experience is the student interaction with each of the honorees. Starting in 2010, under the direction of Mr. Josh Hernandez Morse, Assistant Head of School, senior students work as teams to interview the honorees. The students create lines of questioning, meet the honorees for the dialogue and then transcribe the interviews that become the raw materials of actual event program.

To many the name Daniel Pearl may be familiar. His story was chronicled in a book “A Mighty Heart: The Brave Life and Death of My Husband Danny Pearl” by his widow Mariane Pearl. To those who are not familiar, he was the reporter that was kidnapped and killed by Al-Qaeda in 2002. Daniel was a U.S. citizen working as the South Asia Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal based in India. He went to Pakistan to research a story where he was captured and tragically beheaded.

Below is an excerpt written by Pacific Buddhist Academy seniors Drew Nakamura, Christopher Tokita and Jadyne Yomono. After some planning, it was arranged for the students to speak with Daniel Pearl’s parents on the mainland, via Skype. Dr. and Mrs. Pearl graciously shared many amusing, humorous and heartwarming stories of their son with the students.

“Daniel Pearl was a man who was sure of his place in the world,” his mother fondly recalls. Mr. Pearl’s unyielding curiosity led him to become an extremely talented and driven journalist. He tirelessly sought the unbiased truth, but sometimes the field yielded stories that no one expected. Once he was sent to cover an election in Iran; he returned with a story of the largest Persian rug in the world, which was promptly published on the front page of The Wall Street Journal.

Mr. Pearl’s view on journalism was that it had the potential to change the world. His compassion was reflected in the style of his writing. He was born to be a mentor. He never failed to guide new writers on their first article. He wanted them to love life the way he did.   

Today, many know of Mr. Pearl only through his murder in Pakistan in 2002. But his legacy transcends his passing through the foundation founded posthumously by family and friends. The Daniel Pearl Foundation strives to create a dialogue between different cultural groups through writing and music in order to help the youth learn that cultural differences should never lead to violence. The organization hopes to educate writers with ideals similar to Mr. Pearl’s: truth, integrity, and a drive for global friendship. Today, it allows teens to become reporters and publish their articles for the entire world to read, to shine a light of truth so that we may all live in harmony.

The Pacific Buddhist Academy is privileged to recognize the Daniel Pearl Foundation as a “Lighting Our Way Leader” in the community. The event's title sponsor if the Bank of Hawaii Foundation. The event will be held Friday, October 21, 2011 at the Waialae Country Club. The Honolulu high school’s mission is to develop smart, creative young leaders who contribute directly to peace.  This event will raise funds to support the school’s unique college preparatory program. 

2011 Lighting Our Way Honorees:

• Dr. Michael J. Chun – President & Headmaster Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus
• Mr. Daniel Feldhaus – Educator/College Counselor
• Mr. Monty Richards – Chairman & Trustee Kahua Ranch Big Island
• Daniel Pearl Foundation – Promoting Cross-Cultural Understanding via Innovative Communications
• Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center – Offering Healthcare & Human Services

For more information on the event:

Pacific Buddhist Academy

Telephone:  (808) 532-2649

For more information on the Daniel Pearl Foundation:

www.danielpearl.org