HAWAII’S ISLAM DAY

Hundreds of people in the US state of Hawaii have celebrated the island’s first Islam Day in recognition of the rich religious, scientific and cultural contribution of the Muslim world. “It’s a historic day. It’s long overdue,” Hakim Ouansafi, president of the Muslim Association of Hawaii, told the Honolulu Advertiser. Though adopted overwhelmingly, the resolution sparked debate across the island. “A lot of people reacted out of fear and ignorance,” said Ouansafi. “They’ve had a chance to reflect a little bit more and people are coming around.”