Heather Salmon plays a trio of crystal singing bowls while leading the group gathered for Saturday afternoon’s Kwanzaa celebration in a guided meditation at Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens in Iao Valley. Kwanzaa means “first fruits” in Swahili and signifies the first fruits of the harvest. The Kwanzaa holiday was started in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, who currently chairs Africana studies at California State University, Long Beach. “Kwanzaa started out to give black people more a sense of themselves,” said Gwen Gorg, president of African Americans on Maui. “I want to see it branch out. It’s for all the people. Be kind to ourselves and each other. Be kind mentally and physically. The easiest way to destroy ourselves is through hate and fear. All hate is is fear.” The seven-day holiday is celebrated by an estimated 50 million people worldwide.

SECOND PHOTO: Gwen Gorg (from left), Stephanie Redd and Ayin Adams put up the African American flag before the start of Saturday’s Kwanzaa celebration. Adams is the executive director of African Americans on Maui and author of the book “African Americans in Hawaii: The Search for Identity.”

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos