Nov. 27, 2015
Contributed by Nadine Lagaso
Nā kahu o Kamehameha – Brian Boshard, Kordell Kekoa and Kalani Wong – created a set of Hawaiian-focused devotionals for the four weeks of Advent. Although designed with students in mind, they can also be used by families or individuals to celebrate the coming of Christmas.
Ka Hikina, or Advent is the word meaning “the coming or the arrival.” When we mention this word, Advent, we are not referring to the coming of our relatives and friends to dinner unexpectedly or our family’s presence at a sporting event or even our own arrival to our place of hana.
This word is reserved for a special person and a special type of arrival. In fact, the only time I have ever used this particular word is to announce the coming of the wonderful season we know as “Christmas.”
Ahh, Christmas… the lights, the shopping and the presents! But Christmas is a compound word with Christ – referring to Jesus the anointed One and Mas, which is derived from the Latin word missa or the verb mittere, which means sent.
Christmas then becomes “Christ is sent” or “to send Christ.” Thus, the season of Advent points to the coming of Christ. This special arrival of God in human form and in the form of a baby is the basis for blessings from heaven of hope, peace, joy and love during every Christmas season.
So, how do we as at Kamehameha Schools begin to usher in this time of remembering Christ’s arrival to us? It’s simple. We begin to look at our benefactor Ke Aliʻi Pauahi, and we take note of her acceptance of Christ and her desire, her will and her commitment to build Kamehameha Schools upon both pono Hawaiian core values and Christian values. This important choice permits us to focus on what is important here at Kamehameha: Ke Akua, ʻohana and kōkua and all with ke aloha.
Thus, Christmas takes on a deeper meaning beyond the bright glow of decorations, the fancy marketing tactics of shopping entities and the hope of a thoughtful gift underneath a tree. Our devotion to the King of kings begins with us moving forward with a commitment of unwavering faith, the splendor of hope that never diminishes and the presence of an elegant style of love that is divine in nature. This is the beauty and power of the coming of our Baby Jesus and this is the gift that awaits us all.
Today, we begin a series of weekly devotionals that will touch upon these Advent themes:
- Ka Manaʻolana – Hope
- Ka Maluhia – Peace
- Ka Hauʻoli – Joy
- Ke Aloha – Love
All of these themes point towards Jesus as our Redeemer, who began his earthly life as we all do, as a child. May Ke Akua Mana Loa ʻo Iesū bless you as you read and meditate on God’s powerful word of truth and love.
KS Advent Devotionals
WHAT: Hawaiian-focused devotionals and video hymns created for use by KS students, families and others during the Advent season. Download this week's devotional HERE.
WHO: Developed by KS chaplains Brian Boshard, Kordell Kekoa and Kalani Wong along with KS Cultural Specialist Hauʻoli Akaka
WHY: To honor the deep Christian faith of KS founder Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.
WHEN: The remaining Advent devotional will be posted to KSOnline and the KS I Mua Newsroom on Fridays, December 4, 11 and 18. Learn about the origins of the Advent devotionals in last year’s I Mua Newsroom story.
This week’s Advent devotional theme is Ka Manaʻolana – Hope. Each of the four devotionals includes a scripture reading, message, prayer, keiki lesson, and hīmeni (hymn). KS Cultural Specialist and musician Hauʻoli Akaka sings this week’s hīmeni, “I Call Him Lord” in the video below.
KS Hawaiʻi Kahu Kaunaloa Boshard
KS Kapālama Kahu Kordell Kekoa
KS Maui Kahu Kalani Wong