Growing up, I knew nothing about Lent. All I knew was what my school friends spoke about – fasting, refraining from certain foods, and giving up candy for 40 days. In my juvenile understanding, I remember thinking that Lent must make life miserable.

Today, I understand differently. It is a time of reflection, goodness, and victories. It is a time of building up and a time of overcoming human nature. It serves as a reminder that you and I can overcome death by choosing life and that we can overcome destruction by choosing love.

Mōhala i ka wai ka maka o ka pua
(People thrive where living conditions are good)

Hate, jealousy, and revenge always promote death – death in relationships as well as the wellbeing of people.

One day, when I was about 10, my cousin Allyn and I were fighting. While we were playing on the street, he attempted to hit me with his bike. Being two years older and a little tougher than he was, I stood still.

After the collision, Allyn found himself on the ground hurt and screaming. I ran to the house to hide, and he followed me with his green eyes full of tears.

My mom, a minister, heard his crying and immediately I was forced to mihi (ask forgiveness) for allowing him to hit me. I couldn’t believe it!

“It wasn’t my fault. He hit me!” I said. But my words fell on the ears of a minister who was herself a great example of healing relationships. 

Mihi and kala (forgiveness) were to be practiced intentionally in our family, regardless of whether we thought ourselves to be in the right or wrong. Peace and strong relationships were more important to my mom than being right. It became part of who I am.

Unforgiveness can bring destruction and death to relationships. But forgiveness serves as a form of healing which not only restores, but strengthens bonds. It propels relationships on a path toward growth: a path to life.

Ke Kānāwai Māmalahoa
(The Law of the Splintered Paddle)

Author Stephen Desha, in his book “Kamehameha and His Warrior, Kekuhaupi‘o,” tells of Kamehameha’s Kānāwai Māmalahoa, Law of the Splintered Paddle.

The law was conceived after Kamehameha and his beloved steersman suffered blamelessly unjust harm while powerless and weak. According to history, Kamehameha was hit on the head with a canoe paddle by a Puna fisherman, Kaleleiki. His steersman – as described by Desha – was killed by the mistreatment of jealous high chiefs on Kamehameha’s court.

Created to protect the helpless, the weak and the blameless it reads: Let the old men, old women, and children lie by the roadside and no one shall harm them.

Through this law, Kamehameha brought peace to the lands he ruled, and many were saved from death.

According to Desha, even the people of Puna were forgiven for the actions of Kaleleiki and his friend Kamanō, as Kamehameha graciously judged that they did no wrong in protecting their own lives.

Ua ola loko i ke aloha
(Love is imperative to life and welfare)

Today, I do my best to practice mihi and kala at home and at work to ensure that my relationships with my children, my husband, my friends, and others around me are healthy and well. I’m certainly not perfect, but forgiveness is just one thing I learned during my childhood that can be practiced as I reflect on all that Jesus did for me on the cross.

Easter will come and go, but regardless of circumstances when a choice is laid before us to forgive or not forgive; to edify or demoralize; to uplift or ignore; to commend or condemn – may we choose life.

Kānāwai Lua (Deuteronomy) 30:19
Ua waiho aʻe nei au i mua ou i ke ola, a me ka make, i ka pōmaikaʻi a me ka pōʻino; no ia mea, e koho mai ʻoe i ke ola, i ola ʻoe a me kou hua.

I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.

Sing along with the Good Friday hīmeni, ʻCreate in Meʻ

Sing along with the Good Friday hīmeni, “Hoʻomaʻemaʻe Mai Iaʻu” (Create in Me) as performed by KS Maui Hawaiian Ensemble members Makaio Lorenzo, Kahealani Benjamin, Māhie Kama, Quincee Taguchi, Sarah Ikioka and Ikaika Renaud. KS created Hawaiian-focused devotionals for use by students, families and others to celebrate the coming of Easter. Each includes scripture, student and staff messages, a prayer and more. The devotionals will posted to the KS I Mua Newsroom every week leading up to Easter. See the devotionals as they post at http://www.ksbe.edu.

KS Maui Kahu Kalani Wong and Community Relations Director Kau‘i Burgess contributed to this week's Lent devotional on forgiveness.

KSK Kahu Kordell Kekoa, KSM Kahu Kalani Wong and KSH Kahu Kaunaloa Boshard developed the Lent series. View their intro to the devotionals in the video below.

KS Maui Hawaiian Ensemble members Makaio Lorenzo, Kahealani Benjamin, Māhie Kama, Quincee Taguchi, Sarah Ikioka and Ikaika Renaud sing the hymn, “Create in Me” as part of this week’s devotional. Sing along by viewing the video below.

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