Mar. 22, 2020

Contributed by Nadine Lagaso

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!

Heluhelu Baibala / Scripture Reading 

Makehewa kā lākou hoʻomana ʻana mai iaʻu, i kā lākou aʻo ʻana aʻe i nā kauoha a kānaka i kumu e mālama ʻia ai. No ka mea, ke waiho wale nei nō ʻoukou i ke kānāwai o ke Akua, a hoʻopaʻa hoʻi i nā kauoha a kānaka, i ka holoi ʻana i nā ipu, a me nā kīʻaha, a he nui loa nō hoʻi nā mea e like me ia, a ʻoukou e hana nei. ʻĪ maila hoʻi ia, He ʻoiaʻiʻo nō i kā ʻoukou pale ʻana i ke kānāwai o ke Akua, i mālama ai ʻoukou i kā ʻoukou mau kauoha. – Mokuna 7:7-9

“They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules. You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!” – Mark 7:7-9

Hope Kahu Barrett Awai - KSK
As our haumāna recognize our shortfalls, this Lent season could be a time for all of us to noʻonoʻo (reflect), mihi (repent), and hoʻōla hou (resurrect) in the newness of our Savior Iesū Kristo! How can we best honor ke Akua as we prepare for Easter, Ka Lā I Ala Hou Ai Ka Haku? How can we best know what we need to hoʻomaʻemaʻe (cleanse) from and hoʻomaka hou (renew) in Iesū Kristo? The mistake we do not want to fall to is be like the poʻe Parisaio (Pharisees ) who Iesū adresses in Mark 7. What traditions are we holding onto personally and as a lāhui that our aliʻi abolished in 1819 through their noʻonoʻo, mihi a hoʻōla hou in Iesū? I personally will study deeper into the history of our people and those who have gone before us with an open mind and heart that will best honor Iēhova, the God we acknowledge as ka Haku (Lord) and ka Hoʻōla (Savior)! May we be fully known and fully loved by ke Akua, and mostly fully forgiven as we let go of our traditions not of His glory this Lent season and beyond! I mua e Nā Koa a Ke Akua!!!

Senior Jacey-Li Lam-Fonokalafi - KSK
The world can be very deceitful, but hoʻonani iā Iesū, praise Jesus, our Lord is stronger than everything. Mark 7:7-9 explains the story of Jesus’ account on ka poʻe Parisaio, the Pharisees, who we at times can act like, believe it or not. The poʻe Parisaio thought they were doing the right things, pleasing the right people/person, teaching on the law righteously, but they weren’t. Their good works and their teachings were all useless because their hearts weren’t right with ke Akua. Even though we may be believers in Iesū Kristo, we still sin. The beauty of this is ke Akua and His Word is everywhere! Online, apps, physical copies! His sheep, His body of Christ, His people can be hard to find at times. Though once you find them, encourage and lift up one another! Ke Akua will use you to do amazing things for Him and His glory!