Feb. 4, 2016

Contributed by Nadine Lagaso

Kamehameha Schools has once again created a series of Hawaiian-focused devotionals for the season of Lent to honor the deep Christian faith of KS founder Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.

Although the devotionals were designed with students in mind, they can also be used by families or individuals to celebrate the coming of Easter.

KS Kapālama Kahu (chaplain) Kordell Kekoa, KS Maui Kahu Kalani Wong, KS Hawaiʻi Kahu Kaunaloa Boshard and KS Cultural Specialist Hauʻoli Akaka teamed up to develop the devotionals, and faculty and staff members share their manaʻo on the question: “How do you draw near to God in your everyday lifestyle?”

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 10 and ends on Easter Sunday March 27. The first devotional will be posted on Ash Wednesday, and the others will be posted every Friday until Easter.

Each Lent devotional includes:

• A scripture in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) and English
• Manaʻo (KS employee message)
• Teen Take (KS student sentiment)
• Questions to ponder
• A pule (prayer)
• A lesson, pule and activity especially for keiki
• Some also include a hīmeni (hymn)

A Message from nā Kahu

At least once in your life, I’m sure you said or had someone say to you, “If there’s anything I can do for you, please let me know.”  Often times, this is during a difficult time, maybe the passing of a loved one or another type of loss.

When that comment is made, the “anything” might be preparing a dinner, watching their children, or maybe borrowing a car.  And this is done in a loving, caring manner because of the pilina (relationship) that the two of you have. Your relationship with one another is built upon aloha which would cause you to put aside your own plans for our friend. 

Jesus tells us that too, “If there’s anything I can do for you, please let me know.”  He says that in John 14:13-14: “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

He’ll do anything we ask for…in his name.  That’s a key phrase – in his name.  That means we need to have a close pilina with him so that when we ask, it would be asking for what he would ask for. 

How do we build up our pilina with Ke Akua so that we will be asking in his name?  Much like how we draw close to our friends: staying in touch by speaking to them regularly, enjoying the same activities, and sharing the good AND the bad with one another.  That’s how we build our pilina with Ke Akua. 

We connect with the Almighty in real ways. We pray, we read God’s word – the Bible, we share the good and the bad knowing that God will always be there for us.  And once we are synced with the mind of God, whatever we ask for will be what Ke Akua would want for us.

In the upcoming Lent devotionals, members of our KS ‘ohana answer the question: “How do you draw near to God in your everyday lifestyle?” As you read their stories, the lessons they have learned from having God present with them at all times, may you see ways that you too can build up your relationship with Ke Akua.  We hope your lives will be blessed with their sharing.

Ke Akua pū,
Nā Kahu Kordell, Kalani, a me Kaunaloa

Video by KS Multimedia Production Coordinator Michael Racoma and Multimedia Production Assistant Saul Nakayama.