June 24th Minister’s Message

Aloha mai kākou,

You have a team working with Rediscovering Hawai‘i’s Soul now!

A few months ago, I began speaking with the leaders of Hawai‘i Soul about our church participating in learning, workshops,  and activities to explore, sustain, and protect what is precious about our home, ‘aina, people, and values. They seek teams from organizations here to work together for our common good.

Jim Wood, Catherine Graham, Gabe Tiogangco, John-Paul Chaisson-Cardenas, and I are a team, and we have been reading their website and brochures, watching videos, and participating in an introductory Zoom session. Thursday and Friday, we will be in face-to-face workshops in Honolulu. We will be reporting back to you on what we learn. One of their bywords that I love is “Relationships are not the tool, they are the point.” I know the five of us feel the relationships we are already gaining are valuable. I will paste a graphic of their concept here.

I am reminded of a church service I led about 10 years ago that aligned the HI DOE Hawaiian basis for learning, Na Hapeno A‘o, with our UU 7 principles. Now we have eight, and they still relate!

We will be reporting to you on what we learn!

Don’t forget the Saturday, June 27, Aids Walk, “a short walk around Kapiolani Park.” The event hub and gathering area are at the bandstand in Kapiʻolani Park. Walk from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. Honolulu AIDS Walk

Later Saturday at 5 pm, join us for the “How to Help Trans Teens Survive Hate and Find Joy” panel in our sanctuary – Nico Lang, the author of “American Teenager – How Trans Teens Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy,” will serve on the panel with Kim Coco Iwamoto our friend in the Hawai‘i legislature, Sandra Harjo-Livingston, Chair, LBGTQ+ Commission, and Mika Inoue, LBGTQ+ Advocate and Mental Health Professional, and Randy Soriano, Executive Director of the Hawai‘i LBGTQ+ Legacy Foundation. We are honored to host such an impressive panel!

Before our Sunday service, led by Nico Lang and Gabe Tiogangco, Keif Arriola will open the study at 9:30 am for meditation. I hope you may join him, and this may be a regular happening!

Mahalo,
Rev. Deborah