A Message from Our Kahu

“A Generous Congregation”

When I stood before my colleagues at Aha Paeaina, the annual gathering of all the United Church of Christ congregations in Hawaii, I received three certificates of recognition on behalf of Koloa Union Church:

• 5 for 5: This certificate is given to congregations who participated in the past year in all five denominational offerings included in “Our Church’s Wider Mission.” OCWM includes (1) Basic Mission Support, (2) One Great Hour of Sharing, (3) Strengthen the Church, (4) Neighbors in Need, and (5) Christmas Fund.
• Top Giving Church: This recognition is for the congregations throughout the state of Hawaii that give the most to OCWM.
• Per Capita Support: This special certificate is for the congregations who are among the top ones who give the most per member.

What a difference we have made not only in our own community but throughout the world! I am so grateful for the generosity of our congregation, which allows us to have such a vital congregation on Kauai and meaningful local outreach on the island, and also support the missions of our denomination and support projects that touch every continent!

Thank you so much for those who make annual financial commitments. Thanks also to those who keep up on your commitments, especially over the summer months when our income historically lessens.

And now, for those of you have some extra dollars in the bank, I want to let you know about some of our current needs. The Church Council has identified 26 projects which they would like to complete this year. Please scroll down and see each of these projects and the estimated cost involved for each one. If you would like to give an “over and above” gift for any of these projects (in part or in full), please contact the church office to see if they are still available.

Thanks so much for your generosity!

Aloha Nui Loa!
Kahu

A Message from Our Kahu

“The Isoda Room”

When James and Melicent Smith moved onto the mission property in Koloa in 1842, they lived in a small house with a roof thatched with grass. They were surrounded by some 25 acres of land, previously given to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (A.B.C.F.M.) by Kaikioewa, the Governor of Kauai. The parcel stretched from Waikomo Road to Koloa Road, and from Poipu Road to Weliweli Road. James listed on his mission report in 1850 that the land was worth $250 and consisted of “about 25 acres”. (It was actually larger.) There were few trees, and no tall ones like the ones today, not many flowering plants, and the population of Koloa was almost entirely populated by the indigenous people of Hawaii nei.

In the 1850’s, the A.B.C.F.M. withdrew from Hawaii once the board considered that their mission here was accomplished. As compensation to the missionaries who remained, the board turned over much of its land to them, which seemed like fair compensation since the board would no longer be supporting the missionaries financially. Frankly, some of the missionaries could no longer support their families and moved back to the United States.

However, James Smith was not only a preacher (ordained in 1854 in Koloa), but also the only western-trained medical doctor for all of Kauai and Niihau. Melicent not only kept house (eventually, a much larger one) and raised nine children (seven to adulthood). She also founded and ran Koloa Boarding School for Girls, and taught Bible study and sewing classes for Hawaiian women. The couple also found time to garden and plant trees on their property, including an orchard, which extended from the front yard of the current parsonage to Poipu Road. For over a century, their children and descendants lived on and visited the property, and many are buried in the Smith-Waterhouse Cemetery adjacent to the parsonage property.

The family gave the parsonage and the acre of land that it sits on to Koloa Union Church in 1928 in order for its pastors to have a comfortable place to live while serving the church. For 98 years pastors and their families from all over the United States and abroad have enjoyed the Smith Memorial Parsonage—including another Smith family who were missionaries in China during the early years of World War II.

The parsonage has been my home for over twelve years now. For nine of those years I have sold my watercolors in order to fund projects at the parsonage. Many of you reading these words have also supported Koloa Union Church, its pastors and their families with both physical and financial support. I am deeply grateful for your generosity! As the gallery has now winded down, I know that the support of the Smith Memorial Parsonage will continue. For those of you who wish to make a financial gift in the future, please write “parsonage fund” on the note section of your check or in the comment box when giving online. We will also have greeting cards at church for a donation of $5, with the proceeds going to the parsonage fund.

I looked out my dining room yesterday and saw a brilliant rainbow. When I walked outside to see it, there were actually two rainbows, and they both rested on the parsonage (photo above). I was reminded of all my blessings since living in this beautiful and comfortable home—and feeling grateful for all of you!

Aloha Nui Loa!
Kahu

A Message from Our Kahu

Smith Memorial Parsonage “Feeling Grateful for All of the Blessings”

When James and Melicent Smith moved onto the mission property in Koloa in 1842, they lived in a small house with a roof thatched with grass. They were surrounded by some 25 acres of land, previously given to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (A.B.C.F.M.) by Kaikioewa, the Governor of Kauai. The parcel stretched from Waikomo Road to Koloa Road, and from Poipu Road to Weliweli Road. James listed on his mission report in 1850 that the land was worth $250 and consisted of “about 25 acres”. (It was actually larger.) There were few trees, and no tall ones like the ones today, not many flowering plants, and the population of Koloa was almost entirely populated by the indigenous people of Hawaii nei.

In the 1850’s, the A.B.C.F.M. withdrew from Hawaii once the board considered that their mission here was accomplished. As compensation to the missionaries who remained, the board turned over much of its land to them, which seemed like fair compensation since the board would no longer be supporting the missionaries financially. Frankly, some of the missionaries could no longer support their families and moved back to the United States.

However, James Smith was not only a preacher (ordained in 1854 in Koloa), but also the only western-trained medical doctor for all of Kauai and Niihau. Melicent not only kept house (eventually, a much larger one) and raised nine children (seven to adulthood). She also founded and ran Koloa Boarding School for Girls, and taught Bible study and sewing classes for Hawaiian women. The couple also found time to garden and plant trees on their property, including an orchard, which extended from the front yard of the current parsonage to Poipu Road. For over a century, their children and descendants lived on and visited the property, and many are buried in the Smith-Waterhouse Cemetery adjacent to the parsonage property.

The family gave the parsonage and the acre of land that it sits on to Koloa Union Church in 1928 in order for its pastors to have a comfortable place to live while serving the church. For 98 years pastors and their families from all over the United States and abroad have enjoyed the Smith Memorial Parsonage—including another Smith family who were missionaries in China during the early years of World War II.

The parsonage has been my home for over twelve years now. For nine of those years I have sold my watercolors in order to fund projects at the parsonage. Many of you reading these words have also supported Koloa Union Church, its pastors and their families with both physical and financial support. I am deeply grateful for your generosity! As the gallery has now winded down, I know that the support of the Smith Memorial Parsonage will continue. For those of you who wish to make a financial gift in the future, please write “parsonage fund” on the note section of your check or in the comment box when giving online. We will also have greeting cards at church for a donation of $5, with the proceeds going to the parsonage fund.

I looked out my dining room yesterday and saw a brilliant rainbow. When I walked outside to see it, there were actually two rainbows, and they both rested on the parsonage (photo above). I was reminded of all my blessings since living in this beautiful and comfortable home—and feeling grateful for all of you!

Aloha Nui Loa!
Kahu

A Message from Our Kahu

The Season of Easter “Joy and Hope”

After our service and luncheon on Easter Sunday, I went home carrying feelings of joy and hope; and I was reminded that the Season of Easter lasts from Easter Sunday until Pentecost Sunday, which falls on May 24 this year.

In my Easter message I spoke about Mary Magdalene, her remarkable reputation in the early centuries of the Christian Church, and how she taught us all an important lesson about recognizing Jesus in our midst in times of fear and grief.

We are currently living in such times. Think of places in our world where fear and grief are prevalent: the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan, and the United States. Think of people in our communities where grief and fear are prevalent: immigrants, refugees, transgender persons, religious minorities, the poor, the hungry, the homeless. Think of individuals you know who are struggling to make ends meet, sick, or have recently experienced a great loss.

Fear and grief are normal parts of life, but so are joy and hope. I don’t know of any better way to experience joy and hope than to look for Jesus in the eyes of the other. Whether you are looking into the eyes of a newborn, a dear partner or friend, or someone whom you find challenging to have in your presence, I encourage to look until you recognize Jesus and then do your best to love them as Jesus loved all of us.

I included the photo of the beautiful lehua blossoms above, because the ohia tree on which they grow is one of my favorite symbols of joy and hope. So far this year, I have seen lehua blossoms on Maui, at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and on the Kalalau Trail on Kauai’s scenic north shore. I’ve seen them in magnificent shades of red, orange and yellow. They bring such joy and hope to the landscape, even in some of the most unlikely places. After fresh lava hardens, one of the first signs of life emerging from the cracks in the hardened rock are the ohia trees. In landscapes that one might imagine being beyond all hope of life, colorful blossoms adorn those places, as if to say, “Even destruction and death can’t keep us from adding beauty to the earth.”

May we feel that same joy and hope during this Season of Easter.

Aloha Nui Loa!
Kahu

A Message From Our Kahu

Alan Akana Gallery to Close

For the past nine years I have been operating that gallery from the Smith Memorial Parsonage living and dining rooms. The primary reason is because I love sharing my art! Watercoloring the indigenous flowers of Hawaii has been one of the greatest joys of my life, and the gallery has given me an opportunity to share that joy. Another important reason is because I wanted to give people in the church and community the opportunity to support the parsonage. There are still some projects that we want to accomplish, but we have made some major improvements over the years, including the installation of a new roof (which I am especially grateful for during these rainy days!), repairing structural damage, upgrading electrical needs, painting the exterior, landscaping, and much more. Of course, the income from the gallery did not cover all of these expenses, but I am glad that I was able to help.

When the Church Council gave me permission to open the gallery in 2017, we agreed that I would provide the art and the space, and volunteers from the church would assist with hosting events and preparing items for sale. I want to take this opportunity to say MAHALO NUI LOA to each and every one of you who volunteered in so many ways. We could not have had the success we have experienced without you! I also want to offer a very special THANK YOU to Penny Jessup, who has been our volunteer manager for nearly 8 years. She has organized and hosted events, kept all of the sales records, managed the finances, paid the taxes and bills, and made sure that all of the art was ready for sale on time, and so much more. I also want to thank our past managers: Palani Akana, Sherry Hines, and Owen Strong.

I consider the gallery to have been a tremendous success. We have not only raised thousands of dollars for the parsonage while sharing my art, but the gallery has connected people with the church and with one another. However, I would like to spend more time actually watercoloring (rather than running a business) and also having the parsonage as just a home again (rather than a place of business that is open to the public).

I plan to continue making my greeting cards available at the church and have begun discussions with galleries and gift shops that are interested in selling my art. I’ll keep everyone posted as things unfold.

In the meantime, please mark your calendars for our final Open House Reception on Sunday, April 26. We will open the gallery to church members at 1 p.m. and then to the general public at 2 p.m. Please contact Penny Jessup if you are able to bring some food, provide entertainment, or help host.

I will also be available at times during the month of April to welcome guests who would like to visit the gallery. Almost everything in the gallery will be available for sale at least 50% off until we close.

Aloha Nui Loa!

Kahu

A Message From Our Kahu

The 3 Pillars of Lent

The Season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday in just two weeks. It is the period of six weeks in which faithful followers of Jesus prepare for Easter. The story of Jesus’ resurrection is the high point of the Christian year, and yet it is easy to miss the impact of the story if we don’t prepare for it. We prepare in order to repent, and repentance simply means “to change.” It can mean a change in how we see things, a change in perspective, a change in attitude, a change in our actions or the patterns to which we are accustomed.

The three traditional ways of preparing for Easter are: prayer, fasting and generosity.

• Prayer is simply communicating with God. It involves both speaking and listening. You might consider spending some extra time each day having a conversation with God about something that is important to you. You might pick a word, a topic or an idea that you want to focus on for six weeks. You may also want to write your conversations down in a prayer journal.
• Fasting has to do with giving something up that you normally do on a regular basis. Some people give up eating certain kinds of food or drink, such as meat, sugar or alcohol. Some give up eating altogether, sometimes for an entire day each week. Others give up actions that are part of their daily patterns, such as watching television or scrolling through social media. Fasting can be especially helpful if you decide to spend the time you are giving something up on something else that might provide great joy or meaning to you or someone else. For example, you may want to spend the time you normally watch television by reading through one of the Gospels, of maybe even all four (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), and thereby concentrating on the life and teachings of Jesus.
• Generosity is giving something to someone else without expecting anything in return. By offering a bit of our time, our talents, or our treasures to someone, we are reminded of the abundance of God’s generosity. Think about an individual, a family or a group who might really need something you have to offer, and then offer it without the thought of reciprocation. You may be surprised at how much more grateful you feel as you consider that this is how God gives to us every day of our lives!

May you find great joy and meaning as you build the three pillars of Lent into your lives—and may you feel fully prepared to celebrate Easter Sunday by doing so!

Aloha Nui Loa!
Kahu