A Message from Kahu Akana

by admin | Feb 2, 2019 | Message from Kahu

Kalaupapa Peninsula

“Kalaupapa Sunday”

On Sunday, we observed Kalaupapa Sunday. Churches throughout Hawaii remembered Kalaupapa this week as that isolated peninsula on the north shore of Molokai where the Hawaiian government sent people who had Hansen’s Disease (leprosy) to live and die there separated from family and community. I began my message by sharing the tragic story of the murder of Dr. Jared Knapp Smith in 1897. Jared grew up right here in Koloa, the son of Dr. James and Melicent Smith, who arrived here in 1842. James was the only Western-trained medical doctor on the island and served all of Kauai and Niihau. Jared went to college and medical school in New England, and returned to Koloa to follow in his father’s footsteps. He not only had a busy medical practice but also started Koloa Industrial School for boys (after his family started and ran Koloa Boarding School for Girls). He met Margaret Brewer of Honolulu and fell in love. They were engaged to be married. One September evening, Jared sat down in his room and wrote her a letter. Just before he finished writing, he thought he heard a knock on his door. His life ended that night. When I shared the entire story on Sunday, I made the connection between Kalaupapa, on the island of Molokai, and Koloa, for it was because of the dread of loved ones going to Kalaupapa that Jared Smith was murdered. I reminded the congregation that Kalaupapa affected every community throughout Hawaii.

Our Gospel reading on Sunday was Luke 5:12-16—the story of a man with leprosy who dared to cry out in Jesus’ presence, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” This was an outrageous and illegal request. I pointed out the command in Leviticus that people with leprosy were to yell from a distance, “Unclean! Unclean!” The man was actually breaking the law by even being close enough to Jesus to make his request. Jesus also broke the law! He was not allowed to be that close to the man; and yet, he touched the man with leprosy—thereby making himself unclean. In the eyes of Jesus’ society, Jesus himself was unclean in God’s eyes, and deserved to be separated both from God and community. And yet, Jesus made a choice to touch the man! “I do choose,” said Jesus, “Be made clean.” We too get to choose whether or not we separate and divide people on the margins of society or risk scorn and ridicule from others by reaching out and touching with compassion all those who suffer emotionally, physically and spiritually. Jesus made it clear which was the better choice.

Two weeks prior to Sunday, I stood at Kalawao on Kalaupapa Peninsula with my son Palani. I took in the stunning beauty of the place and was reminded that this was the most dreadful place in the world for Hawaiians (and others living in Hawaii) with leprosy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. What irony: sadness, loneliness and terror at a place of such incredible beauty. And yet, this is part of the human story—even in our darkest moments, God shows up in light and beauty, reminding us of a loving presence that sustains even the worst times that we face.

May we all open our eyes and our hearts so that we will see the beauty—even during the darkest moments of our lives.

Aloha nui!

Kahu Alan Akana

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Our Kahu (Pastor) offers a weekly message in church most Sundays during the year. Click HERE to see a video of a recent message from Sunday morning. You may see the Koloa Union Church YouTube channel to see many of his past messages and subscribe in order be notified when a new message is posted. Please share these videos with friends and invite them to church. Please feel free to “Like” any of the videos you see and share them on social media, such as Facebook, so that others will notice them.

“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana” is provided most weeks by the Kahu (Pastor) of Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.

A Message from Kahu Alan Akana

by admin | Jan 18, 2019 | Message from Kahu

“Kalaupapa Sunday / Annual Meeting”

Sunday, January 27, 2019

I know, I know, I’m jumping ahead a whole week, but attendance on January 27 is so important, I want to give everyone plenty of warning!

Last week, I had a fantastic time on Molokai with my son Palani where we stayed with former Koloa Union Church Pastor John Lunn. We enjoyed a trip to Kalaupapa, where a Congregational Church existed since the first year people with Hansen’s disease (leprosy) were sent there a part from their families and friends. We also hiked through the Kamakou Nature Preserve, way up in the mountains, where lehua blossoms and songs of native birds were abundant. On our last day, we hiked at Moomomi Nature Preserve, which is located along the northern coast far to the west of Kalaupapa and where native coastal flowers flourish. The trip gave me new subject matter for future watercolors. It also gave me some perspective on life at Kalaupapa over the years. The peninsula there is beautiful beyond description. It is hard to imagine thousands of people who were sent there to suffer and die far away from family members and friends. I look forward to sharing with the congregation on Kalaupapa Sunday, January 27 some thoughts from this recent trip.

Church members are asked to attend our Annual Congregational Meeting after the worship service on the 27th. Besides our usual business, reporting and voting that is conducted each year, the Open & Affirming Core Team will present a draft of the “Open & Affirming Covenant” to the congregation—a task directed by the Congregation on October 21 in order to create a statement showing our openness and sense of welcome to all people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and those questioning their gender and/or sexual orientation. The intention is that our members will hear the presentation and read the draft on that day, and then spend a month in discernment and prayer. Everyone is invited to consider the intention of the covenant and how it might land on others; to give input on the covenant in its final form; and to envision all people knowing that they are welcome among us. Please offer any comments or suggestions to any member of the team: Lee Anderson, Sheri Fu, John Gilmore, Michael Horning (Chair), Tiffany Marrotte, Penny Osuga, Becky Sakimae, or me. Part of the discernment is to take a look at what the Bible actually says about gender and homosexuality and the various ways particular passages are interpreted. Although there are many ways people are different (ethnicity, gender, culture, politics, etc.), there are often strong feelings when it comes to differences in how others understand their gender or sexuality. I will offer two identical Bible studies for people who would like to read passages in the Bible and learn about how they are interpreted; there will also be time for questions and conversation. Please sign up on the church bulletin board for Sunday, February 3, after Aloha Hour in my office OR Wednesday, February 6, at 7 p.m. at the parsonage.

Aloha nui!

Kahu Alan Akana

__________________________________________

Our Kahu (Pastor) offers a weekly message in church most Sundays during the year. Click HERE to see a video of a recent message from Sunday morning. You may see the Koloa Union Church YouTube channel to see many of his past messages and subscribe in order be notified when a new message is posted. Please share these videos with friends and invite them to church. Please feel free to “Like” any of the videos you see and share them on social media, such as Facebook, so that others will notice them.

“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana” is provided most weeks by the Kahu (Pastor) of Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.