For the second year in a row, members of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard used origami cranes to spread messages of hope for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month this September.
The tradition started at the Pearl Harbor Navy Exchange last year when volunteers strung together a display of thousands of paper cranes. Patrons received inspirational messages inscribed on the pieces of origami.
Some displays comprised repurposed origami donations from last year’s event, including thousands of contributions that originated from members who were deployed.
Each crane was accompanied by a message of hope, written by volunteers and observers alike, to offer encouragement to those who may be struggling. These personal messages, woven into the display, symbolize the community’s commitment to spreading hope and supporting one another in times of need.
These messages of hope extend beyond the HIANG’s community, with additional participants and community partners such as the active-duty 15th Wing and the Cohen Clinic at Child and Family Service in Mililani.
Photo credit: Office of Governor Green