Kamehameha Schools has created a series of Hawaiian-focused devotionals for Lent, to honor the deep Christian faith of our founder Princess Pauahi. The devotionals were designed to be used by staffers, students and others to celebrate the coming of Easter, so please feel free to share them!

Welcome to this year’s Kamehameha Schools Lenten Devotional series. Each week our tri-campus nā kahu (chaplains) and our Hoʻonaʻauao Kalikiano (Christian Education) staff will team up with KS Deputation Team student leaders to share a devotional message with paukū (scriptural verses) to help us reflect on this year’s spiritual theme of being Fully Known and Fully Loved by God in this season leading up to Easter.
 
During these 40 days of Lent we are called to enter into a deeper manner of reflection which helps us to rid ourselves of the extra social, emotional, and spiritual baggage that we tend to carry with us for days, weeks – oh Lord help us – even generations. However, if by faith we seek our Lord’s grace we will receive it and with it the journey towards reconciliation, restoration, and peace with our Creator. Come to the Lord’s table of grace, come hungry, come thirsty and be fully nourished. – KS Hawai‘i Kahu Kaunaloa Boshard

Heluhelu Baibala / Scripture Reading 
Akā, ʻo ka hua na ka ʻUhane, ʻo ia ke aloha, ka ʻoliʻoli, ke kuʻikahi, ke ahonui, ka lokomaikaʻi, ka maikaʻi, ka manaʻoʻiʻo, Ke akahai, ka pākiko; ʻaʻohe kānāwai pāpā mai ia mau mea. – Galatia 5:22-23
 
But, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; against such there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23

Ash Wednesday Devotional
“Being Filled Means Emptying First”
KS Hawai‘i Kahu Kaunaloa Boshard

Each week my sons and I go through a different devotional series together. We read, we discuss and we pray! Our last series of meditations was on the Fruit of the Spirit which are character blessings that the Holy Spirit brings into our lives once we choose to trust and obey Jesus.
 
After our last series, I was blessed to hear their manaʻo which encouraged me to pose these questions:  How can love flourish in my heart if hate is its companion? The list continued. How can joy exist in me when anger is also present? Yes, the inner tug of war deepened. How can I be self-controlled if I’m easily annoyed and flustered by pettiness?
 
E hoʻopiha ʻia me ka hua o ka ʻUhane Hemolele reminds me that in order to be filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit, I need to first empty my self-centered pride, my unjust anger towards certain people, and any envy that may creep into my heart so that I may be filled by the Spirit of the One True God.
 
Consequently, God’s Holy Spirit guides me to be humble rather than proud and directs me to seek justice rather than revenge and to become a cheerleader for the victories of others rather than being consumed with envy. Being fully known and fully loved by ke Akua gives me the freedom to live aloha with my ʻohana, my hoapili (friends) and beyond my kauhale (community). 
 
E Kuʻu Haku Iesū, help me to empty myself then fill my spiritual cup so that I may pour out Your blessings.
Ma Kou inoa hemolele, ʻāmene

He manaʻo o ka haumāna
Keiki Kahu Naomi Schubert

“Against such, there is no law.” As we go through our daily lives, when a challenge or obstacle comes in our path, we must approach each situation with one of these spiritual attributes. Kahu Kaunaloa and I frequently talk about loving those around us. What I’ve learned is how to be fully loved by God and to be able to fully love others. If we choose to live by these fruits, evil will have no power over us. Choosing to be kind to others follows God’s plan, and by letting the Holy Spirit live through our actions, we will begin to know God intimately.