Photos: 2025 United Nations Day! Parade, displays, music and dance celebrating peace and human rights

Posted on November 3, 2025November 18, 2025 by Staff

2025 is the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. This year’s theme is “Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.”

Two women in yellow, one holds the flag of Ecuador (yellow, blue and red), and one holds wool fabric with the word, "ECUADOR" woven into it with a black bird, snow-capped mountain, and the sun. — Ecuador delegation with the flag of their country, Parade of Nations, United Nations Day, Oct. 22, 2025, UH Hilo. (Photo: University Relations/UH Hilo)

By Susan Enright/UH Hilo Stories.
Photos by Kuʻulei Poy and Carson West/University Relations/UH Hilo.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo celebrated 2025 United Nations Day on Oct. 22. Each year the International Student Association and the International Student Services program host this event featuring a Parade of Nations, informational displays, and cultural performances.

Jim Mellon casual portrait in orchid lei. — Jim Mellon (File photo)

“United Nations Day is celebrated around the world in late October each year to commemorate the founding of the United Nations,” says Jim Mellon, director of UH Hilo International Student Services.

Mellon says the purpose of the day is to highlight and reflect on the shared ideals that the United Nations promotes: global peace, international cooperation, human rights, and social progress. It aims to raise awareness of the United Nations’ work and its impact on addressing global issues like poverty, climate change, and sustainable development. 2025 is the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. This year’s theme is “Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.”

“Our shared humanity during this time calls for us to stand in solidarity with those who are suffering”

Mellon says that at UH Hilo, United Nations Day is a time when the university ʻohana demonstrates unity among different people and nations of the world.

“Our shared humanity during this time calls for us to stand in solidarity with those who are suffering,” says Mellon. “Acts of war, hate, and intolerance are in opposition to the values of UH Hilo international students. People-to-people interaction and exchange is a powerful yet simple way to create a more peaceful and just world. Through United Nations Day, international students show that unity and aloha among different people is possible and powerful.”

Large group of students gather on the library lānai dressed in the traditional clothing of their home nations, many flying their country's flags. — All participants in the UH Hilo 2025 Parade of Nations gather together celebrating United Nations Day, Oct. 22. (Photo: University Relations/UH Hilo)

Mellon says in addition to highlighting the work of the United Nations, at UH Hilo the event also aims to accomplish other objectives.

“First, the event serves as an opportunity for students to learn about other nations and cultures,” he says. “By literally giving international students ‘center stage’ on campus, United Nations Day gives them a platform to be recognized on campus and highlights the presence and contributions they make to the university. It strengthens the bonds among students from places outside the United States. Finally, it is a way to celebrate and appreciate the remarkable geographic and cultural diversity we have at UH Hilo in a spirited, colorful, and ceremonial yet engaging way. With students from about 35 different nations at UH Hilo, we are truly fortunate to be able to live, study, and learn with such a diverse group of students.”

Native Hawaiian and Japanese welcome traditions

Native Hawaiian host culture

The parade opened with a group of students representing the host nation of Hawaiʻi assisting Pele Harman, UH Hilo’s director of Native Hawaiian engagement, welcoming everyone with music and hula.

Halau dancing hula, in the background are musicians. — Pele Harman, at back with ukulele, along with Kekoa Harman at left, and group of students representing the host nation of Hawaiʻi, opening United Nations Day event with music, hula, and aloha. (Photos: University Relations/UH Hilo)

Hula dancer with musicians in background.

Two hula dancers with musicians in background.

Japanese taiko

Next was Japanese taiko drums. The tradition of opening events with the power of taiko pays homage to the large Japanese American population in the state of Hawaiʻi and the art form’s deep roots in local communities.

Solo taiko drummer, in black playing drum with a big smile. — The tradition of opening events with taiko drumming pays homage to the art form’s deep roots in the local community. (Photos: University Relations/UH Hilo)

Solo drummer beating barrel-shaped drum with large sticks.

Parade of Nations

About 80 UH Hilo students representing 30 different nations participated in the Parade of Nations this year.

Student in yellow athletic uniform for Columbia soccer. She carries the Columbia flag of yellow, blue and red. — Manuela Cortes representing Colombia at the UH Hilo 2025 United Nations Day celebration, Oct. 22. (Photos: University Relations/UH Hilo)

Two entering the venue, one is carrying New Zealand's flag on a pole, one has the flag wrapped around his shoulders. — New Zealand: (from left) Turongo Henare-Ruruku and Jonah Szecket.

Portrait of three students togehter, one holds flag. — Iceland (from left): Gudmundur Ingason, Ingolfur Ingason, and Pall Ingvason.

Solo male enters lānai carrying the blue flag of Chuuk. He wears a grass skirt. — Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia: Rycris Lomongo.

Woman in red top and woven head piece, man carries Chuuk's blue flag. — Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia

Three students stand together in the venue, one holds flag. — United Kingdom: (from left) Cerys Brown, Rory Campbell, and Clarissa Murphy.

Solo woman carries the red, white, and green flag of Hungary. — Hungary: Lili Regeczy-Nagy.

Student carries the flag of Norway. — Norway: Melisa Ranvik.

Solo woman stands with flag of Australia. — Australia: Riley Welsh.

Three students come down the steps with the blue flag of Ponhpei, Federated States of Micronesia. — Ponhpei, Federated States of Micronesia

Three students in traditional grass skirts, with the blue flag of Ponhpei. — Ponhpei, Federated States of Micronesia

Solo woman enters venue with the flag of Denmark. — Denmark: Marika Cebula.

Woman enters lānai with the flag of Denmark, red with a white cross. — Representing Denmark: Marika Cebula.

Solo man comes down the stairs carrying flag of Italy. — Italy: Filippo DiPerna.

Portrait of man carrying flag of Italy: green, white and red. — Representing Italy is Filippo DiPerna.

Two women in kimono carry the Japanese flag as they enter the venue. — Japan

Portrait of two students in traditional kimono. — Japan

Fiji delegation enters the lānai. — Fiji

Man in grass skirt dances with flag of Fiji. — Fiji: Josefa Tuiova

Solo man enters venue with flag of Czech Republic. — Czech Republic: David Knravek.

Portrait of man with flag of Czech Republic, white, red, and blue. — Representing Czech Republic is David Knravek.

Palau delegation comes down the stairs, woman in front carries the flag. — Palau

Woman from Palau delegation. — Palau: Chriiktoi Taima.

Multiple delegations at their seats. — Student delegations seated after entering lānai.

Woman with the flag of Kiribati: red, white and purple with a yellow rising sun and bird. — Kiribati: Thalynn Mika.

Solo male in a t-shirt with "Oklahoma" across the front, carries the green flag of Turkmenistan. — Turkmenistan: Suvan Jummyyev.

Woman with the German flag wears a t-shirt with "University of Konstanz." — Germany: Isabel Dengel.

Kosrae delegation enters the venue carrying their blue flag. — Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia

Delegation from Mexico enters the venue carrying their flag. — Mexico

A spectator joins in the dance with the Marshall Islands delegation. — Marshall Islands

Portrait of the Marshall Islands delegation, woman in woven skirt, man carries the flag. — Marshall Islands

Student with the Cayman Islands flag, blues and reds. — Cayman Islands: Fiona Ryan.

Two women coming into the venue carrying the flag of Ecuador. — Ecuador

Portrait of the delegation from Yap, colorful traditional clothing, person on end is holding their blue flag. — Yap

Women dancing as they enter the venue carryong the flag of Barbados. — Barbados

Four women in the Barbados delegation stand with their flag. — Barbados

Large delegation from Sāmoa in traditional attire enters the lānai carrying their flag. — Sāmoa

Sāmoa dance

Man and woman, she in large headdress, both in cloth and woven garments. He has tusks around his neck. — Sāmoa delegation enters the library lānai to begin their dance. (Photos: University Relations/UH Hilo)

Woman in large headdress dances, someone is handing her money in a traditional gesture.

Male dancers in red lavalava and grass fringe on their legs.

Women dancers in red dresses and tusks around their necks.

Group of women dancers in red with lead woman in large headdress.

Informational displays

Tables on the Mookini Library lānai were staffed by 22 students featuring informational displays about international services and various nations. In addition, students from about 15 different language groups created short videos introducing people to their languages. The videos (available for viewing online) were on display in the lobby of the library during the month of October, along with information about the United Nations in the display cases.

Two students at the passport table. People in the background are viewing more displays — Tables on Mookini Library lānai featured informational displays about international services and various nations. (Photos: University Relations/UH Hilo)

Lots of people at the info tables on the library lānai.

Big crowd at the info tables on the library lānai.

Close up of open passport with stamps from Canada, Korea, and other nations.

A visitor at the passport table looks at his stamped passport.

At the info table for Germany, a woman talks to someone visiting the table.

People viewing the poster display for South Korea.

The poster display for the Republic of Palau. Lots of photos and information.

A student helps someone at one of the info tables.

A person in a cap and holding a file folder talks to a visitor at an info table.

Story by Susan Enright, a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.

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