KS envisions its learners to be grounded in Christian and Hawaiian values. To celebrate the coming of Christmas, nā kahu o Kamehameha have created weekly Hawaiian-focused Advent devotionals for haumāna and others to follow and share.
It’s the holiday season. A great time for parties and getting together with family and friends. My wife and I tend to keep our home pretty clean but if we were to have friends over, there’s a whole other level of clean.
We’ll go through a whole container of wet wipes and several Swiffer pads to be able to pass the white glove test. Since it’s Christmas, all the decorations need to come out to create a festive mood. Of course, you gotta have food and it can’t be just chips and canned dip. So much goes into preparing for guests coming over.
What if that guest were an aliʻi? What more would you do? This is also the season of Makahiki. It was a time when a truce was called and all warring ceased. It was a time for ke aliʻi to visit his people. On Maui, King Pi‘ilani built a trail that stretched around the entire island so he could easily make his way around on his annual visit. Folks would hurry before him clearing the path of any obstacles and filling in any holes so the mōʻī’s journey would be smooth.
The makaʻāinana made a variety of preparations to welcome the aliʻi to their ahupuaʻa and to hoʻokupu (offer) their tributes. In various places the edges of the ponds were decorated so that when the aliʻi drink, the petals of the ʻōhiʻa lehua would tickle their faces. They would decorate nā hale with fragrant vines such as maile to scent the air.
The people would kālua the puaʻa and chew the ʻawa so that when the aliʻi arrived all is ready on time and there was little to no waiting. Even nature played a role in greeting ke aliʻi. As one approached Waiʻehu, ka makani kili oʻopu carried the scent of broiled fish, a favorite of the mōʻī. Or in Kaimū, Puna, people would bend down the niu so that they seem to be bowing down in honor of the aliʻi. Much went on to prepare for the coming of the aliʻi.
In preparation for the coming of Ke Aliʻi o Nā Aliʻi, the way would be made clear. Roads in those days followed the trade routes, weaving from city to city. The voice calls us to make the way straight for Ke Aliʻi. Forget the turns and the twists. Go right through the desert. The valleys would be filled in and the mountains made low. Nothing would impede His coming.
The season of Advent marks the coming of Jesus, Ke Aliʻi o Nā Aliʻi. The birth of the Christ-child, Emmanuel, means God is with us. Yet do we live as if God is with us? What road blocks do we put up to keep Ke Akua from being in our midst? Within the last several weeks, I’m sure we put a lot of effort into making a list of all those we need to get gifts for, researching the best gift for each person, checking out the ads, maybe even parking ourselves on the couch shopping online, waiting for the lightning deal to go live.
Are we missing out the true meaning of Christmas? In the midst of your party or gift giving preparations, take time for your heart preparation. Clear the pathway to your mind daily to see the gift of life in Christ that we have been given. Start off each day by waking up ten minutes earlier and spend that time in prayer asking Ke Akua to open your eyes so you might see His presence around you. During the day, share the gift of Iesu Kristō with others in real and genuine ways. When you lay down to sleep, say a prayer thanking Ke Akua Manaloa for His watchful presence over you.
Make a way in the wilderness for the coming of the Lord, let the valleys be filled and the mountains made low. Let Ke Akua rule in your lives so you might see Emmanuel, God with us.
Download this week’s Advent devotional
WHAT:
Hawaiian-focused devotionals created for use by KS students, families and others during the season of Advent. Each devotional includes:
- A scripture reading
- Some manaʻo
- A prayer
- A keiki activity
- A mele
WHO:
Developed by KS Hawaiʻi Kahu (chaplain) Kaunaloa Boshard, KS Kapālama Interim Kahu Sherman Thompson, KS Maui Kahu Kalani Wong, and KS Cultural Specialist Hauʻoli Akaka.
WHY:
To honor the Christian faith and Hawaiian values of KS founder Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.
WHEN:
The remainder of the devotionals will be posted to the KS I Mua Newsroom every Friday leading up to Christmas.
View an introduction to our Advent devotional series by Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi Kahu Kaunaloa Bochard and watch the accompanying wikīo hīmeni – video hymn below.
DOWNLOAD OUR WEEK 2 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL
Make a way in the wilderness for the coming of the Lord, let the valleys be filled and the mountains made low. Let Ke Akua rule in your lives so you might see Emmanuel, God with us.
Kamehameha Schools Maui Kahu Kalani Wong shares our second Advent devotional – “E Hoʻomākaukau ʻOukou I Alanui No Iē with ahova – Prepare the Way of the Lord” with a special wikīo hīmeni (video hymn) performed by KSM jumor Chase Fevella.
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