CONVENTION 57
​57th Annual Meeting of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi
Friday & Saturday, October 24-25, 2025
'Iolani School, Honolulu, HI

CONVENTION 57 THEME:
Huli ka lima i lalo ~ Turning our hands to the ʻāina

​This year's convention theme comes from a collaborative effort involving three Diocesan ministries: Kahuaola (formerly the Creation Care and Environmental Justice Task Force), the Ho'imi Pono Racial Reconciliation Task Force, and the Native Hawaiian Ministry Committee. The team was awarded a Creation Care Grant from The Episcopal Church and named their year-long project Huli, which means to turn, to change. 

​Huli ka lima i lalo means to turn the hand down. When our hands are turned down, they are working, they are productive, and they are stewarding that which is in front of them. This ‘ōlelo noʻeau invokes the image of hands planted in the lepo (dirt, earth) as they care for ʻāina. From a Hawaiian perspective, the health and wellbeing of both ʻāina and kanaka are tied and kanaka has a kuleana to mālama (care for) this relationship. This relationship, in and of itself, is lifegiving to both people and ʻāina, and, when cultivated well, the result is good, healthy, healing ʻai (food, taro) that nourishes us in mind, body, and spirit.

Bishop's Letter to the Convention

Picture
Bishop's letter to all members (elected lay delegates of congregations, clergy of denomination in full common with the Episcopal Church in Hawai‘i and installed as Rector, Vicar, etc as per diocesan Canon 1.1) of the Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai‘i.  
​CLICK HERE

Bishop's Report to the Convention

(Coming October)

Contact Information

For questions about the Annual Meeting and all related events, contact:  Rae Costa in the Diocesan Support Center at (808) 536-7776, ext. 326, or contact her by clicking here.

Legal Documents

To see a copy of the legal documents for The Episcopal Church in Hawai‘i, including the Constitution and Canons, please visit the "Legal" section on the "Forms and Documents" page.

e-Workbook Documents

Voting will be done electronically using Election Runner and delegates must have access to an electronic device (laptop, tablet, smartphone) in order to vote. Scroll down to the yellow section to view a recorded Zoom training session using this voting platform. 
Workbook (coming October): 
  • Download full e-Workbook: (Allow time for downloading-document is over 200 pages.) 
  • Abbreviated e-Workbook (agenda, resolutions, sample ballots, budget numbers, and closing song)
​​Budget (coming September): 
  • Diocesan Council 2026 proposed Budget Numbers 
  • 2026 Budget Narrative​​
^ Back to top of page 

Nominations

Diocesan Council:  Exercises the power of the Convention and performs planning and policy-making between meetings of Convention. Oversees the policies, programs, mission, and budget of the Diocese and may initiate new work. Also is the legal corporate body of the Episcopal Church in Hawai‘i and, as such, is responsible for the business and property of the Church. This is the Board of Directors of the Diocese.  Candidate's applications will be posted after online nominations close. Meetings are held on the third Saturday of the month from 11:00 AM-1:00 PM, usually held on-line. The Diocese pays for interisland airfare for neighbor island members for in-person meetings, that includes the first meeting following Convention in November.

Standing Committee:  Serves as the Bishop’s Council of Advice. Performs duties as specified by the General and Diocesan Convention, and the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Hawai‘i. Serves as the Ecclesiastical authority when there is no Bishop.  Candidate's applications will be posted after online nominations close. Meetings are held on the third Saturday of the month, usually held on-line. The Diocese pays for interisland airfare for neighbor island members for in-person meetings.

Cathedral Chapter:  Serves as the oversight body for The Cathedral of St. Andrew (both as a congregation and as the seat of the Bishop). Candidate's applications will be posted after online nominations close. The Chapter meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 5:30 PM. The Diocese pays for interisland airfare for neighbor island members for in-person meetings.

Secretary of the Convention:  Records minutes, enters them in the Journal, and, under the supervision of the Bishop, attends to the publication and distribution of the Journal, and performs other duties as prescribed in the Diocesan Constitution and Canons. Chairs the Committee on Convention Plans for planning the agenda and making physical arrangements for the Convention. Maintains various directories of Diocesan officers, commissions, departments, etc.  Candidate's applications will be posted after online nominations close.

​General Convention Deputies: Represents the Diocese of Hawai‘i in the House of Deputies at the meeting of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church. Both Deputies and Alternates will meet in caucus several times prior to the Convention. During the Convention, the Deputies and any Alternates in attendance will meet daily. Deputies and First Alternates attend General Convention at the expense of the Diocese. Other Alternates may attend at their own expense.  Candidate's applications will be posted after online nominations close.
^ Back to top of page ​

Resolutions

Online submission deadline is 4:00 pm on September 10, 2025. All other resolutions must be presented from the floor during the Annual Meeting. Resolutions will be posted after online deadline.
  • Resolution #1: 2026 Minimum Clergy Compensation and Benefits Policy of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi ​​
^ Back to top of page ​

CONVENTION 57 SCHEDULE
(Subject to change)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24

​EDUCATION DAY

​7:30 AM - 8:15 AM, Registration

8:15 AM Buses leave for offsite work locations

Activities at ‘Iolani for those who will not be going offsite

1:00 PM Buses leave offsite work locations
​
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Beat! That! Heat! game show

CONVENTION 57 OPENING EUCHARIST
4:00 PM
​
ALOHA RECEPTION
Immediately following Eucharist
Vertical Divider
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25

​​57TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF HAWAI'I
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM, Credentials Check-in

8:30AM - Check-in CLOSED

8:45 AM - 57th ANNUAL MEETING OF CONVENTION CALLED TO ORDER

Lunch
(11:30 AM or later to be determined by the Bishop)

​4:00 PM Meeting Concludes
Registration includes all four events on one form: Education Day, Opening Eucharist, Aloha Reception, and/or Annual Meeting. You will also select your lunch choice and arrange for child care if needed.
^ Back to top of page ​

Registration, Forms & Reports

Registration fees - Register on time to avoid higher fees!

Education Day:
  • On or before Oct. 8: $40 per person
  • At the door: $60 per person
Aloha Reception:
  • On or before Oct. 8: $20 per person
  • At the door: $40 per person
Annual Meeting: 
  • On or before Oct. 8: $70 per person
  • ​At the door: $100 per person
Registration and Credentials
  • ​Individual Registration Form​ - Please register as soon as possible.  Registrations are transferrable (contact Rae Costa).  Online registration will close at 11:59 pm on 10/10/2025.  After that registrations will be at the door and the registration fees will be significantly higher.
  • Delegate Change Form -  If a Delegate that you elected in January is no longer able to attend.  Per Diocesan Canons, Sec. 2.4. In the case of failure of one or more delegates or alternates from any Parish or Mission to attend the Convention, the Rector, Vicar, or Priest-in-Charge of such congregation shall have the power to appoint alternates to replace them. In the absence of such Rector, Vicar, or Priest-in-Charge, or such person’s failure to act, the power of appointment shall fall to the Wardens in order of precedence. In the event there be no Wardens, or upon their failure to act, the power of appointment shall fall to the Bishop. Any such appointments shall be promptly
    reported to the Committee on Credentials. complete the Delegate Change Form to change an elected Alternate to an elected Delegate OR if a Delegate that you elected in January is no longer able to attend AND none of the alternates you elected are able to attend or you did not elect any alternates.
  • Changes to Alternates do not need to be reported.
Travel Costs 
The congregations of the Diocese share the costs of travel for the lay and clergy delegates (not alternates). The below documents explain this practice and detail the cost to each congregation. 
  • Shared Travel Memo - Explains the practice of sharing travel and shows how the calculation was done. Includes a description of the procedures for arranging travel and a link to the interisland air reservation form. 
  • Shared Travel Assessment - Details the cost to each congregation and is included in the above Shared Travel Memo.  
Hotel and Ground Transportation
The Diocese does not provide funds for hotel or ground transportation.
Resolutions Nominations
  • Nominations Cover Letter -  What leadership vacancies are coming up? What type of person should the leader be? How is someone nominated? A letter to get those questions, and more, answered.
  • Nominations Office Descriptions - This document describes the functions, commitments, meetings, qualifications, etc. for vacant offices on the Diocesan Council, Standing Committee, Cathedral Chapter, and for Secretary of the Convention.  This year we will also be electing Deputies to the General Convention in 2027.
  • Nomination Form Online - Online deadline is September 10. Any nominations after the deadline must be made from the floor during the Annual Meeting.  One need not be present to be nominated from the floor.  However, the person must consent to be nominated.
Necrology Reporting
  • Necrology Letter (coming late summer) -  Instructions on how to report the names of those in your congregation who died from September 1, 2024 through Aug. 31, 2025 (inclusive). 
  • Necrology Reporting Form (will be available Sept. 1) Submission Deadline will be 11:59 pm Friday, Oct. 1 for the names to be presented. 
^ Back to top of page ​

IMPORTANT: Voting by Election Runner

Voting will be done through Election Runner and delegates must have access to an electronic device (laptop, tablet, smartphone) in order to vote.  If you are unfamiliar with electronic voting, the recorded Zoom session from previous year's meeting and accompanying slideshow are available for viewing below: ​
Click HERE for a copy of the slideshow.
^ Back to top of page ​

Misc. Info... (more coming soon)

LODGING: 

Many hotels with Kama'aina rates and special discounts are located in Waikiki.  The Ala Moana Hotel is a local favorite, next to the Ala Moana Shopping Center. 
​
^ Back to top of page ​
The Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i | 229 Queen Emma Square | Honolulu, HI  96813
(808) 536-7776 | Fax: (808) 538-7194 | www.episcopalhawaii.org 
Contact Webmaster | © 2024 The Episcopal Church in Hawai'i. All Rights Reserved.