(This page was last updated: 04/08/2026.)
CURRENT STATUS:  Candidate essay responses have been posted on each of their individual pages. All members of the Diocese will have a chance to meet the candidates in person and/or online during the Ke Aloha Kākou Meet & Greets taking place April 23-26. Go to the Upcoming Events section HERE to learn more and register by April 16.

MEET THE FINAL SLATE OF CANDIDATES!

The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i is pleased to announce the final slate of candidates presented for election of our Sixth Bishop. We recognize and express our sincere gratitude for the skillful discernment of the Search Committee and their reliance on the Holy Spirit in selecting two of the candates from a pool of phenomenal applicants. We encourage everyone to express their thanks to each of the Search Committee members. 

Following the Search Committee's task, the Standing Committee added a third candidate during the seven-day "Nomination by Petition" period which closed on March 19. As a result, the Standing Committee joyfully presents the final slate of three candidates to the Diocese and gives thanks for the opportunity to continue walking this journey of discernment alongside them. They are:
(Candidate by Search Committee)
The Rev. Canon Andrew J. Arakawa
Lower School Chaplain, ʻIolani School
Honolulu, HI
(Candidate by Petition)
​The Rev. Elizabeth "Libby" Berman
Rector, Church of the Holy Nativity 
Honolulu, HI
(Candidate by Search Committee)
The Rev. Timothy J. Yanni
Rector, The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, ​ Phoenix, AZ
NEW! Essay responses have been posted to each candidate page on April 8, 2026.
ABOUT THE NOMINATION BY PETITION PROCESS:
THE NOMINATION BY PETITION PERIOD HAS CLOSED - The "Nomination by Petition" period closed on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. 

​Explanation: The petition process is an opportunity to continue discerning the person God is calling to be our next bishop.  Results will be announced after the nomination by petition period ends.​ ​Going forward, the Transitions Committee continues its work with the planning of events and activities related to the Bishop search and transition. The Standing Committee will continue oversight over the process.

​Individuals wishing to submit a petition nomination should consult Appendix B of Resolution #7, adopted by a majority vote of lay delegates and clergy at the 57th Annual Meeting of Convention on October 25, 2025. Appendix B outlines the required process, signatures, and documentation for petition nominees. You may access Appendix B of Resolution #7 at this link: 07-Rules and Procedures for Election of Bishop 2025 (Rev. 3-12-2025) (Scroll down to Appendix B.)

Said submissions will be emailed to the Standing Committee, in accordance with Resolution #7.  

A petition nominee must submit all required documentation  to the Standing Committee during this period. ​The Standing Committee will decide if a petition nominee will be added to the slate and the decision is not appealable. 

After the nomination by petition period ends, any additional candidates will be announced.
REGISTER FOR KE ALOHA KĀKOU MEET & GREETS
Click HERE to register.  From April 23 - 26, 2026, members of the Diocese will have a chance to meet and engage directly with the candidates for the Sixth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i, through Ke Aloha Kākou Meet & Greets. These gatherings are holy conversations where clergy and laity can come together to hear, reflect, participate, and pray. For those who are unable to attend in person, the gatherings will be livestreamed and/or available via Zoom, with the ability for participation via Zoom chat or phone. Folks may attend any session (in-person or virtually) on any island. Visit the Upcoming Events section further below for more information. Voting Clergy and Lay Delegates are strongly urged to attend at least one Ke Aloha Kākou session, either in person or virtually.
Click on the Quick Link buttons below to go to that section on this page:

Profile of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i

View the profile in magazine format below, or click HERE to download & view the file in a lower resolution version.  (Updated 02/05/2026). )
PRAYER FOR THE SEARCH FOR OUR NEXT BISHOP:  Gracious and loving God, we seek your provision as we search for the next bishop for the Diocese of Hawai'i. Help us recognize your divine plan and call a leader who will shepherd us along that path, a bishop who will embody and foster in us the wonders and excitement of discipleship. Grant us the wisdom to elect a bishop who will journey with us through challenging times and bring us ever closer to your eternal dream for humanity. Keep the Standing Committee, Search Committee and Transitions Committee focused on their mission, providing them with strength and determination to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit and to hear the voices of all the people of the Diocese. Finally, send your gracious Spirit to the members of the Convention of our Diocese who in faithful discernment will elect the next bishop. We ask all of this in the name of your Son, our loving Savior and ever-present Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Amen.
 

Upcoming Events:

TIMELINE CHART 2025 & 2026
Click on image for larger view:
Vertical Divider
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
View below or click HERE to download a pdf file.
KE ALOHA KĀ​KOU CANDIDATE MEET & GREETS:  From April 23 - 26, 2026, all members of the Diocese will have a chance to meet and engage directly with the candidates for the Sixth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i, through Ke Aloha Kākou Meet & Greets. These gatherings are holy conversations where clergy and laity can come together to hear, reflect, participate, and pray. For those who are unable to attend in person, the gatherings will be livestreamed and/or available via Zoom, with the ability for participation via Zoom chat or phone. Folks may attend any session on any island. 

All voting clergy and lay delegates are strongly urged to participate in the upcoming Ke Aloha Kākou Meet and Greet sessions:
IMPORTANT NOTE: The schedule has undergone changes since its release. Be sure you have registered for the right date and time. If you are unsure or would like to change, use the contact form HERE.
REGISTER BY THURSDAY, APRIL 16!
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​Whether you are planning to attend the Ke Aloha Kākou Meet & Greets in person or online, all attendees must register by Thursday, April 16 to help us plan and prepare, and to provide the Zoom and online links for those watching virtually. To register, click HERE or scan the QR code.
​While we will not be collecting questions for the candidates in advance, attendees are encouraged to ask candidates questions from the floor (or virtually) at each event. 

Please keep an eye out for future communications with more information. Instructions for joining and asking questions virtually will be sent in a separate email the week prior to the meet and greet. (Only those who registered and/or selected virtual attendance will receive this information).
AGENDA (FOR ALL SITES)
All Ke Aloha Kākou Meet & Greet events will follow the same agenda outlined below:
CODE OF CONDUCT/RULES FOR MEET & GREETS
Or download and view the document here:
rules_coc.pdf
File Size: 116 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
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The Special Meeting of the Convention to elect the Sixth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i, will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2026, in the brand new Arrillaga Student Center dining hall at 'Iolani School. The meeting will be livestreamed. Only voting members of Convention and authorized staff and volunteers will be allowed into the hall. All others, including, but not limited to, alternates and visitors, will be directed to the second floor where they can watch the livestream.

All voting delegates and clergy should have received the official postcard notice about the Special Convention that was recently mailed. Voting delegates and clergy should have also received a special email from Rae Costa that went out on Wednesday, March 11, with important information about the meeting, including delegate changes, credentials, voting, travel, lodging, and more. If you did not receive it, please email Rae HERE or call (808) 536-7776, ext. 326, to be sure that we have your proper contact information. In the meantime, click on the links below for more information:
VENUE: 'IOLANI SCHOOL, ARRILLAGA STUDENT CENTER
We are thrilled to be utilizing 'Iolani School's newest building, the Arrillaga Student Center, for this Special Meeting of Convention. For those who have attended prior Conventions at 'Iolani, the Student Center is located between Seto Hall and St. Alban's Chapel. Click HERE to learn more about this beautiful facility!

A detailed map will be posted here soon, along with video instructions to get you checked in and ready for the day's agenda!
AIR TRAVEL
Voting members of Convention traveling from Kaua‘i, Moloka‘i, Maui, Hawai‘i island, Guam, and Saipan will have their airfare covered by the Diocese. For voting members on Moloka‘i, Guam, or Saipan, please make and pay for your economy airfare, and submit your itinerary AND receipt to our office for reimbursement. For the other islands, you can request your reservation, by completing the Air Travel Request form HERE.

We cannot estimate when the meeting will end so voting members will need to make themselves available until 4:00 p.m. We will only book interisland flights that arrive no later than 8:00 a.m. the day of the meeting and depart no sooner than 6:00 p.m. the day of the meeting.
LODGING (ALA MOANA HOTEL)
The Diocese will reimburse all voting neighbor island clergy for one night stay up to the group rate at the Ala Moana Hotel. Also, to help neighbor island lay delegates who live more than one hour away from the airport, the Diocese will reimburse them for one night stay up to the group rate at the Ala Moana Hotel. For anyone who would like to book a room at the group rate at the Ala Moana Hotel, please make your reservation through this link:​https://book.passkey.com/e/51197564

Since all rooms have two beds, we kindly ask that you pair up with a fellow delegate when booking your room.
​
For those traveling from Guam or Saipan, the Diocese will pay for a second night due to the flight schedules.
Registration is now open! Click on the button below to register.
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Bishop Fitzpatrick's Announcement:

The Right Reverend Robert L. Fitzpatrick, fifth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i, formally announced his resignation on Friday, April 25, 2025, calling for the election of the Sixth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i.

​In addition to his video message, a copy of the Bishop's official letter of resignation is available to view and download HERE. ​The letter contains important information including a timeline for the next 18 months as it pertains to the search process and transition to a newly elected Bishop. (Please note that the timeline in his letter has since been updated.)​

News & Update Links:

This section lists all Diocesan communication pertaining to the search and transition with links to recorded meetings and documents; the most recent listed first. Click on the linked article titles to read. If you would like to receive the Diocesan news directly to your inbox, sign up HERE.
READ MORE
 
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Recorded Meetings & Documents:

SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2025: VIRTUAL TOWN HALL
The Diocese's first virtual Town Hall Meeting for the Search & Transition took place on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The recorded session and accompanying slideshow presentation are shown below:
JULY 14, 2025, LETTER TO CHURCHES WITH QUESTIONNAIRE
A letter was sent to clergy, wardens, and church administrators about communication pathways available during this information-gathering stage of the Bishop Search and Transition Process. This included a questionnaire each church has been asked to complete. The letter and the accompanying questionnaire can be viewed HERE.
 
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Your Standing, Search & Transitions Committees:

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June 2025 retreat with the Rev. Anne Kitch (with lei) and the committees, at The Cathedral of St. Andrew.
STANDING COMMITTEE:
Chuck Spence, President (Maui)
Joan Sokei-Vila, Secretary (Maui)
The Rev. Jazzy Bostock (O‘ahu) 
Mary Carpenter (O‘ahu) 
The Rev. Mark Haworth (O'ahu)
The Rev. Keleawe Hee (O‘ahu) 
Hans L'Orange (Hawai'i Island)
The Rev. Andrew McMullen (Kaua‘i) 

Mahalo to the previous members who were a part of the search process: Doug Adams, Bill Bonnet, and the Rev. Hau'oli Tomoso.​
SEARCH COMMITTEE:
​Sheryl Seaman, Chair (O‘ahu)
The Rev. John Lunn, Chaplain
The Rev. Dcn. Alberta Buller (Hawai‘i Island)
Joseph Cascio (Maui)
The Rev. Amy Crowe (Maui)
Pam Fern (O‘ahu)
The Rev. David Gierlach (O‘ahu)
The Rev. Hannah Sung (O'ahu)
Jadine Lujan  (Guam)
Sara Nyoma (Kaua‘i)​
The Rev. Dcn. Mary Margaret Smith (Kaua‘i)
Evette Tampos (Hawai‘i Island)
Mahalo to the the Search Committee who completed their task on March 12, 2026.
TRANSITIONS COMMITTEE:
​Roth Puahala, Chair (O‘ahu)
The Rev. Keleawe Hee,
Vice Chair & Co-Chaplain (O‘ahu)​
The Rev. Paul Nahoa Lucas,
Co-Chaplain (O‘ahu)
The Rev. Dcn. Lani Bowman (Hawai‘i Island) 
Aggy Kusunoki (O'ahu)
Velma Lee (O‘ahu)
The Rev. Canon Irene Egmalis Maliaman (Guam)
Deann Megonnell (Kaua‘i)
Brian Shuster (Maui)
​The Rev. Karen Swanson (O'ahu)

Mahalo to the Rev. Libby Berman who served as Vice Chair and Co-Chaplain for the past year.
If you have questions for any of the different committees, send it using the contact button shown. Once received by the Search & Transition Administrative Assistant, your question will be directed to the proper committee/person for a response. 
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