Feb. 22, 2023

Nā kahu o Kamehameha have created a series of Hawaiian-focused devotionals for the season of Lent, to honor the deep Christian faith of KS founder Princess Bernice Pauahi Pākī Bishop. The devotionals were designed to be used by students, staffers and others to celebrate the coming of Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22 and ends on Easter Sunday, April 9

.Heluhelu Baibala
12ʻĀnō hoʻi, wahi a Iēhova,
E hoʻi hou mai ʻoukou iaʻu me ko ʻoukou naʻau a pau,
A me ka hoʻokē ʻai ʻana, a me ka uwē ʻana, a me ke kanikau ʻana:
13 A e haehae i ko ʻoukou naʻau, ʻaʻole i ko ʻoukou ʻaʻahu,
A e huli hou aʻe iā Iēhova i ko ʻoukou Akua;
No ka mea, he lokomaikaʻi, a he aloha kona,
Ua lohi mai ka inaina,
A he aloha nui kona,
A ua hoʻololi hou ia i ka manaʻo hoʻopaʻi.- Ioʻela 2:12-13

12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“Return to Me with all your heart,
And with fasting, weeping, and mourning;
13 And tear your heart and not merely your garments.”
Now return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger, abounding in mercy
And relenting of catastrophe. - Joel 2:12-13

He Manaʻo o ke Kahu Kalani Wong, KSK’74
With just three and a half months left in the school year, I decided to get organized and list everything that was coming up that needed preparations- chapels, devotions, classes, and special services. I know that’s a no-brainer, but sometimes I’ll get caught working on smaller things that I’ll miss out the bigger things until it’s too late. Then I’m scrambling to get things together.

I’m sure that’s life in general for so many of us. We’ll let the little things fill our lives that the big things get missed until it’s too late, and life gets away from us. To bring back order to our lives, we need to pause. That’s what ke kau Kalema, the season of Lent, is about. Forty days to pause and reflect on what should be the biggest thing in our lives- our relationship with Ke Akua, to reflect on Iesū Kristo’s sacrifice for us. We can’t do that when our minds and hearts are filled with the lesser things. So, let’s fast from the things that suck time and life from us. Fill it instead with practices that will build and strengthen our pilina with Ke Akua.

He Manaʻo o ka haumāna Alyssa Mateo, KSM’24
I know I should be focused on my relationship with God- talking story with him, reading devotionals, and singing praises to him in worship. Yet I find myself filling my time with extra-curricular things such as softball, Hawaiian Ensemble, or social life. For Lent, I will commit to what is truly important by making sure God is in every moment of my life. I will talk to him as I walk up to home plate, in every word I sing, and in my time with my friends.

Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus Kahu Kalani Wong KSK’74 and haumāna Alyssa Mateo KSM’24 remind us as we begin Lent’s 40-days of reflection to commit to the big things that build and strengthen our pilina with Ke Akua.