HUI PU: Diocesan Summer Youth Camp 2014
By Sarah Klitzke, Diocesan Youth Director

When I was a child, my summer church camp week was unparalleled to anything else I experienced all year. For one week each summer, I traveled hours from home, met new friends, participated in new games and activities, and experienced God in ways that I never imagined possible. It was so formational for me as a youth that I chose to be a lifelong Episcopalian, worked at numerous camps, and even married a priest. It was through the "mountain top" experiences learning and experiencing God with other kids from all over my diocese that made me the person I am today.

 

Now as an adult, it is a privilege and an honor to be able to help offer this experience to youth here in Hawai'i. This summer at Hui Pu 2014, the camp staff welcomed 45 campers from all over Hawai'i to experience faith and friendship in the beauty of Camp Mokule'ia on O'ahu's north shore. Episcopal youth came from St. Augustine's, Holy Apostle, Good Shepherd, St. Christopher's, St. Peter's, St. Nicholas, St. Andrew's Cathedral, and Holy Nativity. We also had youth participants from the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, Calvary by the Sea Lutheran, Queen Lili'uokalani Protestant Church, and the Wounded Warriors program, as well as Camp Mokule'ia staff children.

 

 

The high school group, 'Opio, was made up of 13 youth, many of whom had never met, but were transformed. The friendships that emerged that week were strong. The support and acceptance that every single one of those youth exhibited made me so proud to be a part of this group. Together this group completed a night hike to Ka'ena Point, the high ropes course, endless games of "Moose Moose" and "Ping Pang Pong", hundreds of riddles, and duct tape boat races. They watched the epic tale of "The Princess Bride", caught crabs on the beach at night, made up silly handshakes, did a photo scavenger hunt, buried Kevin in the sand, and so much more.

 

 

Our youngest participants came next, our elementary or Ahe group. This was a three day preview camp, and a great opportunity for young kids to experience camp for the first time. They were a breath of life, excitement and energy. They loved all the games, the music and of course, the swimming. There were sunrise hikes on the beach, crab catching contests, s'mores by the campfire, endless games, and incredible attitudes among this group of sixteen kids!  READ MORE

By Sybil Nishioka, Family Ministries, All Saints', Kapa'a

The Episcopal Church's largest event for high school youth is a triennial gathering called EYE (Episcopal Youth Event). On July 8, 2014, the Diocese of Hawai'i's delegation of twenty-four youth and five chaperones departed for Philadelphia, PA, where they spent the next few days together with over 1,100 fellow Episcopalians at Villanova University for EYE'14. Their days were filled with praise and worship, incredible speakers, workshops, and opportunities for fellowship with elaborately staged activities. Following EYE'14, they continued on to the Episcopal Mission Center where they served the community in three days of urban mission. 

However, the journey to EYE'14 really began many months ago. Last November, the announcement went out and youth were encouraged to apply to be a part of the Hawai'i delegation that was limited to 24 youth. The final selection was announced in January, and included a well-rounded representation of youth from The Big Island (1), Kaua'i (6), Maui (6) and O'ahu (11). Although the Diocese contributed a portion of the cost for the trip, participants began fundraising in earnest to raise the $1,500 required from each person. The group from St. Elizabeth's in Honolulu held weekly fundraisers every Saturday for months, washing cars, recycling and holding garage sales. On Maui, the two representatives from St. John's put on a special dinner concert, sharing their musical talents. The All Saints' group on Kaua'i hosted craft fairs, silent auctions, and ran various concessions.

The day before the group departed, most of the delegation had a chance to meet up in Honolulu, where members of Epiphany hosted a farewell dinner and showered the youth with special handmade luggage tags, goody bags, and lots of love! Bishop Bob and wife Bea were on hand to meet with the group and impart well wishes. Diocesan Youth Director and leader of the group, Sarah Kliztke, secured dozens of free Aloha shirts along with shell leis that the youth could wear and trade with others at the conference. As expected, it was a huge hit!

At the first morning worship service with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Hawai'i delegation got front row seats arranged by All Saints' youth member, Casey Nakamura, who was on the EYE'14 Design (Planning) Team. The Hawai'i delegation sang the Doxology in Hawaiian as part of this first service---what an honor and what an experience!

By The Rev. Moki Hino, Rector, The Church of the Holy Apostles

 

The God who judges the poor on honesty will also judge us on our generosity.

 

They were spoken from the pulpit at The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) Conference in Atlanta where Sister Joan Chittister addressed us and gave me a new understanding of stewardship.  Stewardship is more than a drive to fund the annual budget of the parish.  In my mind it's a call and a responsibility to co-create with God in caring for and tending to the needs of God's mission and ministry in a desperate and needy world that calls out for you and me to notice and respond with compassion and love.

 

"Walking the Way," the theme for The Episcopal Network for Stewardship's gathering, means that we are compelled to put our words into action.  The way we use our money is one of the most significant things we do as disciples.  How do we use our money to live into our admonition to love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds?  How do we use money to love our neighbors as ourselves?  I ask myself that question and I hear Sister Joan over and over again:

 

The God who judges the poor on honesty will also judge us on our generosity.

 

If I'm called to be generous, then perhaps I ought to spend less time taking the inventory of the poor and spend more time thinking about how I spend my money.  One of the workshops I attended was called "The Other 90%".  I left that room realizing that God isn't interested only in the 10% that I tithe to the Episcopal Church.  God is also judging me for the other 90%, looking at whether or not I'm making socially responsible investments; buying products that don't exploit children and overseas workers; or giving waiters, waitresses, shuttle drivers and hotel housekeepers a fair and generous tip.  I also have to ask other difficult questions of myself.  Do I drive a car that conserves gasoline?  Do I shop at establishments that treat their employees fairly?  These can be uncomfortable questions, but as the presenter Rosa Lee Harden says, "We talk about sex so much in the church these days because it's easier to talk about sex than it is to talk about money."

 

I will turn 50 in less than a year.  The remainder of my time on Earth will likely be less than the time I've already spent.  It makes me think about my legacy to the church, to the world, and to God.  In response to that I became the 100th member of Ho`ike Ulu, the diocesan legacy society.  I also decided to honor the admonition on page 445 in The Book of Common Prayer by preparing a will that in addition to leaving 10% of my estate to the church also makes a provision for the care of my family members.  I want to be sure that God's will is reflected in my will.  The Episcopal Church Foundation has countless resources for anyone who would like to prepare a will, join a legacy society, or start a legacy society.  As Sister Joan says:

 

Nothing we do changes the past, but everything we do changes the future.

 

So we have to do the hard work of collecting a database of donors, making phone calls, writing thank you letters and the like.  But we also have to bring the Holy Spirit into the stewardship process to discern how we use our money inside and outside the church so that we can give glory to God, the God with whom we are co-creators.  We can use our spirituality of stewardship to set out to make a new world that seeks and serves Christ in all persons and respects the dignity of every human being (as we say in our Baptismal Covenant).  We can ask the Holy Spirit to help us tap into our creativity as co-creators.  We can embrace our call to partner with God to address issues of poverty and social justice.  Sister Joan pointed out that oftentimes we ask why God doesn't do something to intervene and relieve oppression in the world and God says:

 

I did do something.  I created you.

 

What if we used our creativity to surround people in stewardship-feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, tending the sick, visiting the prisoner (as the gospel reading for the feast day of our Holy Sovereigns says)? 

 

In a workshop called "Symbols of Stewardship" The Rev. J.R. Lander talked about sacramental stewardship, meaning that stewardship ought to be an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.  Father Lander then went on to say that we should be courageous and preach about money and money choices.  What is the meaning of money?  What is the stewardship of our lives?  How do we serve God as stewards of God's creation?  How does our worship reflect our call as co-creators with God as God's stewards and God's disciples?  Father Lander suggests that it might be an opportunity for liturgical renewal where we write our own intercessions, consider how we do our offerings, and make visible connections between wine, bread, and money.

 

The TENS keynote speaker, The Rev. Charles LaFond stressed our call to be authentic disciples in an authentic church.  He went on to say that the work of the church is spiritual work with logistical implications; not logistical work with spiritual implications.  He pointed out again and again that Jesus says:

 

Be not afraid. 

 

Our calling, therefore, is fearlessness.  Do we have the courage to be authentic?  Do we have the courage to pay the price of being God's stewards and God's disciples?  Pledges, after all, can be costly.  So can lives of prayer.  We might have to sacrifice certain things for proportional giving.  We might have set aside extra time during the day to talk with and listen to God.  So my question to myself is:  Do I have the courage to be generous?  Father LaFond points out very sternly that:

 

Greed is how scared people SCREAM.

 

I don't want to scream.  I want to laugh.  I want to dance.  I want to sing.  I want to be joyful.  I want to be a disciple, an authentic steward, disciple and co-creator with a generous God.  And I want all of us to join together in living into that call!

 

By Bruce Hanohano, Commission on Native Hawaiian Ministry 

 

By S. Kala Holden, President, Diocese of Hawaii DOK Assembly

East Honolulu Regional Confirmation at St. Clement's

On Sunday, June 15, 2014, the annual Regional Confirmation for East Honolulu took place at St. Clement's Episcopal Church. From the host church, four persons were confirmed: Wyatt Hee Wah Asami Young (also baptized), Jaedi Kathryn Yukari Cadavona Tamura, Pamela Chayene Taueva Lino, and Tanner Yujiro Loren Haworth; one person was received: Bradley Thomas Rentz. From St. Mark's, three were confirmed: Renee Castle, Susie Graeb and Raine Reavis.  From Holy Nativity in Aina Haina, four were confirmed:  Margaret Perreira, Denisse Kwan, Greg Kwan and Louisa LeRoux; six were reaffirmed: Sosamma Abraham, George Abraham, Alika Souza, Catherine Burton, Lynda Sayegusa and Shauna Nakamura; and one was received: Lori Bloom. Congratulations!  (Pictured above is Bishop Bob Fitzpatrick laying his hands on a confirmand and at right, the Rev. Paul Lillie with the three St. Mark's Confirmands, Photos are from the St. Mark's website.)

Honolulu Regional Confirmation at St. Peter's

On Sunday, June 22, 2014, the annual Regional Confirmation for Honolulu took place at St. Peter's Episcopal Church. From the host church, three persons were confirmed: Sonja Noelani Barba, Elizabeth Louise Winternitz, and Steven Kenneth Mitchell. From the Cathedral of St. Andrew, three people were confirmed: Donald Irving Jones, Marilyn Rittenhouse Harris, and Hulali Grace Puakinamu Suelan Mariko Pua'a Alford; five were received: Ha'aheo LA Guanson, Stephan Fabel, Richard N. Salvador, Brian McCarthy, and Sam Samuelu. From St. Elizabeth's, ten people were confirmed: Kevin Espin, Kesfin Esa, S-Fin Esa, Inoleen Eichy, Alexandra Teiti-Gierlach, Neitan Neeto, Simion Singueo, Saimon Singueo, Simo Singueo and Jersey Rukuop.  From St. Paul's, Erica Silao was confirmed; six were reaffirmed:  Sally Domingo, Mhar Ancheta, Tessie Silao, Joseling Silao, Celestino Manuel and Perlina Manuel; and two were received: Jeffrey Daguio and Maria Lecely Faustino. Congratulations! (Pictured above is the ceremony in St. Peter's - Photo from St. Elizabeth's July newsletter, and at right, newly confirmed, Sonja Barba from St. Peter's - Photo contributed by Jesand Amodo)

By Kathryn Xian, The Cathedral of St. Andrew

By Bruce Hanohano, Epiphany Episcopal Church, Honolulu

On Sunday, July 27, the members of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Honolulu were treated to a special presentation by seminarians Ernesto "Jar" Pasalo and Annalise Castro, about their recent trip to the Holy Land. Both Jar and Annalise are attending Virginia Theological Seminary and are back in the islands for the summer.  (Photos from the St. Peter Facebook page.)

Drumming up Pentecost

The Joyful Noise keiki drummers at St. Michael and All Angels in Lihue, were ready to receive the Holy Spirit on Pentecost in a big (and loud) way! Pictured here are the keiki drummers and older Taiko drummers performing, under the direction of Aki Conquest, during the Pentecost service on, June 8.

Housing the only "real" pipe organ on Kaua'i, All Saints' Episcopal Church in Kapa'a is committed to saving its pipe organ that is in dire need of repair and updating. Organ consultant Morris Wise, suggested switching to an electronic system that would avoid having to repair the crumbling pieces of the organ that would need continual repair in this tropical climate. The cost would run well over $150K, but members have begun the task of fundraising and to raise awareness in the community as well.  

The 9th annual Fun in Fellowship Dodgeball Tournament at All Saints' in Kapa'a is nearly an institution, and despite a late start and limited practices, it didn't hamper the number of participants and teams. The tournament, that took place on July 25 & 26, saw returning visitors from New York, Las Vegas and California, along with a young team from Virginia. But the event is really for the families of Kaua'i, and children as young as 5 years old to adults in their 60's played with the same amount of excitement and fervor. The two-day event is kept free and funded by grants and donations. The KeAkua Youth Group of All Saints referee Keiki and Youth division games while adult church volunteers officiate the adult matches that call for 4-5 referees per game. The ECW ladies help with hospitality, and other members help with clerking, set-up, and the many other duties necessary to pull off such a large event. Next year marks the 10th year, and there are plans to make it a very special tournament. To learn more about FiF Dodgeball, visit the website HERE or the Facebook page HERE, and bring a team to Kaua'i next year!(Photo by S. Nishioka)

 

On Saturday, June 14, 2014, the annual Maui Regional Confirmation Ceremony took place at St. John's Episcopal Church in Kula. From the host church, four people were confirmed: Svetlana Kalinina, Frank Alan Wiseman, Rachel Nicole Kalanikauiokewakea Lopez and Sarah Herndon Simpson; and one was received: Sara Wood Appel. From Good Shepherd in Wailuku, two persons were confirmed: Corry Matthew Garcia Brown and Chancellor Keefe Garcia Brown; From Trinity By-the-Sea, John Moore Stafford was received. Congratulations!

By Gina Hara Chun, The Church of the Holy Apostles, Hilo

By Malia Dela Cruz, Office Administator, St. Augustine's

By Cindy Sakai, St. Augustine's

Church of the Holy Apostles in Hilo has a beautiful new labyrinth that was blessed on July 31, 2014. The Rev. Moki Hino invited the community to come out and join them in the blessing. (Photos contributed by Moki Hino.)