July 30, 2026 Minister’s Message

Aloha from a perch above the Hudson River!

Traveling – expanding views!

After time with NY family, museums, shows, and seeing the magnificent dance of one great-niece and the great comedy of another– I am off to California on Friday. These young people give me hope and joy! (If you like, click the links for very short, very rough videos.)

In line with our focus on “Between Screen and Soul” and the many complex questions our various generations face:

Hawai‘i public schools announced a ban on cellphones in school yesterday.  Along with other districts across the country, in response to lost focus in the classroom, our Board of Ed set, and our district HIDOE is implementing the new cellphone policy. Cellphones are banned for students in elementary and middle school, and high school principals can give some extra leeway for students to use phones before and after classes. 35 states and over three-quarters of U.S. public schools now ban cellphones during instructional time. These limits come as we all see the awesome and worrisome advances of AI. I believe this is a subject we will continue to wrestle with here.

I feel connected, though at a distance via emails, texts, planning, an OMG Zoom, and you all present in my heart and mind.  Email me as needed – minister@unitariansofhi.org.

Mahalo for all you do!

Rev. Deborah