Committee on Native Hawaiian Ministry (CONHM)
This page is currently under construction. More information will be posted soon. In the meantime, please enjoy the following article written by Kalani Holokai, Chair of the CONHM, about their trip to New Zealand in November 2013.
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CONHM in Christchurch, Aoteroa
November 23-30, 2013 Kia ora! (Maori greeting, also be well, healthy) The Committee on Native Hawaiian Ministry (CONHM) traveled to Aotearoa for the 13th Gathering of the Anglican Indigenous Network (AIN), November 23-30, 2013, themed ‘Rising from the Ashes’. CONHM has been a member of AIN since the early 1990's and a leader in the effort to raise up the mutual concerns of indigenous peoples of the Anglican Communion. We were hosted by Bishop John Gray and his 'ohana at the Waiponamu Church Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand. Other members of AIN include our native brothers and sisters of Canada, Australia, Torres Strait and the Continent.
The powhiri, official welcome of the manuhiri (malihini) to the 'aina as well as their centre started in the bone-chilling rain; with a haka, announcing there were manuhiri at the entrance, a call to enter and then be welcomed with much aroha. Our Maori elders welcomed us in their native language, their families sang and danced for us, in the rain, under the eaves of their church. Although there was no translation of what was being said, the spirit, 'uhane and 'ua was surely a sign our time together was already ordained and God was with us. We started everyday with a morning eucharist led by a delegation and some of the service in their native language. Our meals were very English and very Maori, beautiful service and authentic delicacies. Tea was served twice daily, a time away from the discussions and a time to get to know others more closely. We also went into the city to see the site of the Anglican Cathedral that was heavily damaged in the earthquake. We were told this earthquake didn't just move from side to side, but also up and down which is what they think caused the spire and tower to be totally destroyed. The famous rose window of this cathedral was later destroyed in another earthquake in December of 2011. Until an agreement could be made about restoring or rebuilding, a transitional cathedral was built mostly out of cardboard! It is an amazing feat and very beautiful. The ceiling and pillars are all cardboard tubing, each seat is made out of cardboard, the pulpit, the choir lofts and even most of the organ. Truly amazing! http://www.cardboardcathedral.org.nz/ , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardboard_Cathedral We enjoyed some retail therapy as well as sightseeing the coastal towns of Lyttleton and Akaroa where the adventure is getting there through the very green hillsides. Lots of sheep! On the last day at the closing eucharist, Edward Hanohano (Epiphany) was commissioned along with four others to sit on the steering committee of AIN, known as the Executive Committee. We all laid our hands on him and prayed with grateful hearts for his commitment and dedication to this ministry. Bishop Gray also baptized 4 children, ordained 2 deacons (both wahine) and 1 priest! The priest was the grandfather of the baptized, and one of the deacons was the 82 year old great granddaughter of one of Aotearoa's first ordained Maori bishops. |
(Continuation from E-Chronicle article here:)
Here's some mana’o shared by our committee: "great leadership in Bishop Gray and our Maori ‘ohana; we were served and cared for by bishops, priests and deacons; we have a wonderful shared ministry here in our diocese; respecting our past and keeping faith in God...go hand in hand..honor our past for what it represents in our culture and where it has brought us today...never to forget or take it for granted; more 'ike in our services, not just on special occasions but regularly, our diocese has a lot of resources and experiences to assist our brothers and sisters in their transformation; I felt loved; I think God used the cold to keep us together; God is really in all people, God is using our church to reach out, how great is our God; grateful". We were also cared for and loved on by Bishop Kitohi Pikaahu and his wife, Lynnore from St. Johns Theological College in Auckland. They drove us each day to and from the meetings, made sure we were warm, dry, nourished and laughing. This 'rising from the ashes' led to AIN's renewed commitment to continue the work we set out to do years ago and to also move forward. It was also a time of acknowledging the work that has been done in AIN, and those who have since passed on. Soon after the closing of this AIN gathering, these articles were submitted to their local media: http://www.anglicantaonga.org.nz/News/Tikanga-Maori/Gamechangerhttp://www.anglicantaonga.org.nz/News/Tikanga-Maori/Indi Our plan is to meet again in 2015 in New York to coincide with the meeting of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. We were engaged in the business of AIN, we contributed and shared ideas, we listened to each other, we asked each other for help, and we prayed for and with each other. We shared our himeni and hula, our mele, oli and pule, and ourselves to the nurturing of AIN with our brothers and sisters and also CONHM. We were blessed! On the last day, I was so moved by the singing of the Lord's Prayer in Maori, I sat sobbing. This was sung almost daily and led by their youth from Auckland. For about 3 weeks after returning from our trip, I listened to this every day before I left for work. I keep it on my favorites so I can listen to it whenever I am at my computer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIyK7c_Az8g There was so much more we all experienced and learned from this trip. Please ask us when you see us, we’d love to share our mo'olelo. Aloha Ke Akua, Kalani Holokai, Chair Committee on Native Hawaiian Ministry (Travelers: Keane Akao, May Holokai Kala Holden, Louise Aloy, Edward and Piilani Hanohano, Kalani Holokai and, & Naomi Holokai) Eucharist in Hawaiian |
