Jun. 3, 2022
Ka Ipu o Lono shares weekly devotionals to provide spiritual enrichment to members of the Kamehameha Schools ‘ohana. For more inspiration, visit the KS “Our faith” website.
Heluhelu Baibala
He naʻau hou nō hoʻi kaʻu e hāʻawi aku ai iā ʻoukou, a he ʻuhane hou nō hoʻi kaʻu e uhao ai i loko o ʻoukou; a e lawe aʻe au i ka naʻau pōhaku mai loko aʻe o ko ʻoukou ʻiʻo, a e hāʻawi aku au i ka naʻau ʻiʻo iā ʻoukou. A e hoʻokomo hoʻi au i kuʻu ʻUhane i loko o ʻoukou, a e hana aku au iā ʻoukou e hele ma koʻu mau kānāwai, a e mālama ʻoukou i kaʻu mau kauoha, a e hana ma laila. – ‘Ezekiʻela 36:26-27
Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and bring it about that you walk in My statutes and are careful and follow My ordinances. – Ezekiel 36:26-27
He manaʻo o ke kahu
The past weekend, we celebrated the aha puka for the Class of 2022 – another company of koa ready to enter the world. As the Maui and Hawaiʻi campuses gathered at Mauna ‘Ala to pay tribute to our founder Ke Aliʻi Bernice Pauahi Bishop, I looked expectantly at the haumāna to watch for the change in their countenance. Whenever I’ve brought students there, whether at an end-of-year gathering or as part of a club or sport team visit, the playfulness is left at the gate. With our seniors, a sudden realization of what they have been blessed with through the generosity of our princess, overcomes them and they are truly thankful. After the program, the students had the opportunity to pay their personal tribute to Pauahi and it was at this time that I saw that transformation I was looking for.
A strong Hawaiian woman and a devout Christian, she is a great model of what we hope for our haumāna to become as they head out into the world to make their mark. What is needed to make that happen? As Ezekiel puts it, they need a new heart and a new spirit, to walk in ke Akua’s statutes and follow his ordinances. Their heart is to be one that is submissive to ke Akua. It is with this heart that they will become the alakaʻi lawelawe, the servant leader, that takes on the mind of Christ, like our founder who chose not to rule but to serve.
How about you? Is your heart open to ke Akua’s leading? Or is it still set in stone? Be sure your life is set on a firm foundation in Christ and seek to serve the world as an alakaʻi lawelawe.
Leaning on the words of Ezekiel 36:26-27, KS Maui Kahu Kalani Wong KSK’74 reflects on a visit to Mauna ‘Ala by recent graduates of KS Maui and KS Hawaiʻi, recalling all the emotions felt as he witnessed haumāna become overwhelmed with gratitude for Ke Aliʻi Pauahi and finally understand their role as alakaʻi lawelawe or servant leaders.