Tourists and Residents in Hawaii Support Practitioners’ Event Commemorating the April 25 Appeal

(Minghui.org) To commemorate the 27th anniversary of the April 25 appeal in Beijing, Falun Dafa practitioners held events in Waikii, Honolulu, Hawaii, on April 25 and April 26, 2026. They did the exercises, held banners, distributed flyers, and talked with passersby about the appeal and the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution and its transnational repression.

Tourists from across the world were on Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki. Some quietly stood to watch the videos on TV played by practitioners; some took photos, signed a petition calling for an end to the persecution, held posters, and some stood with the practitioners. One young man helped distribute flyers to let more people learn about the issue.

Practitioners demonstrated the exercises in Chinatown and held posters to draw attention. Many gave practitioners who were holding posters a thumbs-up. Some drivers who passed by had hand gestures of Mahalo (Hawaiian language, meaning thanks or admiration).

A man from China asked a practitioner who was holding a poster that read “Stop the CCP’s transnational repression” in a skeptical tone, “Is this true? Do you have any evidence?” When the practitioner showed him some more information, the man responded that this was too evil and added, “You should expose the evidence and let everyone see!”

Another Chinese man took a photo and praised the practitioners’ perseverance. “People around the world should support Falun Gong,” he said.

Another tourist said, “Why does the CCP persecute Falun Gong? I think Falun Gong is good and peaceful. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is so great. I don’t understand why they persecute Falun Gong.” After a practitioner explained the issue, the tourist said, “I truly hope I can do something to help you!”

From Believing in Communism to Supporting Falun Gong

Crista, a local resident and a biostatistician, greeted practitioners when she passed by the information site. She told practitioners she was a staunch atheist and even liked communism, as she felt communism had been depicted very beautifully and was about letting people live a life they aspire to.

From talking with practitioners again and again, she understood what the Communist Party is actually doing and that what the Party depicts is deceitful and will never be realized. She was awakened after seeing evidence that practitioners suffered torture and were even subjected to the CCP’s state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting. She signed the petition without hesitation. She said that she could not accept the persecution and that freedom of speech and freedom of belief are rights that everyone should have and should not be violated.

Crista said she would write to Hawaii’s senators to help pass the Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act

She passed by the event on April 25 and saw many practitioners. She asked what was going on. Practitioner Betty told her about the April 25 appeal 27 years ago and the bill S.4009, Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act, introduced in the U.S. Senate.

Crista searched online and said she wished to do something. When she knew that the bill was introduced, she said she would write to the senators in Hawaii to help pass it. She said that the U.S. government should have done it earlier and that safeguarding human rights is what we should do.