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  • Home
  • THE DIOCESE
    • WHO WE ARE >
      • Welcome from the Bishop
      • Where We've Been
      • Where We're Going
      • What is the Episcopal Church?
    • THE BISHOP >
      • Meet the Bishop
      • Bishop's Calendar
      • Bishop's Messages >
        • Bishop's Message Archive
      • Bishop's Bible Study
    • Diocesan Support Center
    • Our Churches
    • Our Schools
    • Our Camp
    • Supply Clergy
    • Governance >
      • Convention >
        • General Convention
        • Past Meetings of Convention
      • Commission on Ministry >
        • COM Overview
        • Discernment for Ministry
        • Ordination Process
      • Diocesan Council
      • Standing Committee
  • Ministries
    • A Cup of Cold Water
    • Committee on Native Hawaiian Ministry (CONHM)
    • Daughters of the King
    • Deacons
    • Episcopal Church Women (ECW)
    • Iolani Guild >
      • Overview
      • Special Programs & Projects
      • Kamehameha IV Prayer Book
      • Scholarships
    • Missions Beyond the Church
    • Outreach
    • Prison Ministry
    • SPICE: Clergy Spouses
    • Worship Ministries >
      • Acolytes
      • Altar Guild
      • Eucharistic Ministers/Visitors
      • Worship Leaders
    • Youth & Campus Ministry >
      • Youth
      • College Campus Ministry
      • EYE20
      • Youth Design Team
  • EDUCATION
    • Christian Formation
    • Continuing Education
    • EfM: Education for Ministry
    • Godly Play
    • Red Cross Training
    • Safe Church Trainings
    • Teachings by Clergy
    • Waiolaihui'ia: Local Formation Program
  • RESOURCES
    • Forms & Documents
    • Bible Links Online
    • Church Pension Fund
    • COMMUNICATIONS >
      • Overview
      • Tech Stuff
      • Social Media
      • Online Tips
      • Media
      • Communications Blog
    • Grants >
      • Grant Opportunities
      • Chang Clergy Children's Fund
    • Lay Leadership >
      • Lay Leadership Resources
      • Coffee Hour
    • Lectionary Page
    • Licensed Ministries
    • Links to the Wider Church
    • Marriages in Hawaii
    • Music
    • Ordination Process
    • Parochial Report Stats
    • Planned Giving
    • Prayer Calendar
    • Safe Church
    • Stewardship
    • Supply Clergy
    • WORSHIP >
      • Worship
      • Online Worship
  • OPEN POSITIONS
    • Ordained
    • Come Serve in Hawaii Short Term
    • Lay
  • Contact
  • NEWS
    • Coronavirus
    • Holy Week 2020
    • NEWS WEBSITE
    • Diocesan Calendar
    • Community Calendars
    • Photo/Video Gallery

pacific islander ministry: our history

The history of Hawai῾i is the history of successive immigrant groups arriving on our shores for economic or political reasons. Each immigrant group encountered challenges struggling for acceptance but over a period of years became part of the fabric of Hawaiian society. Each immigrant group retained some of its food, language and customs while taking on many of the customs of the majority culture. In turn, the general society of Hawai῾i adopted some of the characteristics of each ethnicity. During the last two hundred plus years since the arrival of the Europeans on these shores, there has been a repeated pattern of ethnic groups’ struggles and eventual assimilation.

Saint Elizabeth’s Church prides itself on being a “gateway church”. Founded a century ago, it originally served Hawaiian and Chinese ethnicities. Later on Korean peoples looked to Saint Elizabeth’s as their church home followed by the Filipinos. Now that those are established ethnic groups, the Micronesian immigrants are the latest wave of newcomers.

At the beginning of the COFA (Compact of Free Association) migration, Micronesian immigrants settled into Honolulu’s most affordable housing. Many moved into federal projects such as Mayor Wright Housing, adjacent to Saint Elizabeth’s. Reaching out to the Micronesians (primarily of Chuukese ancestry) began in 2003 and has been increasing in numbers served and programs provided. Although Saint Elizabeth’s is the research and development center for the Pacific Islander Ministry Committee for the Diocese of Hawai῾i, it is not the only parish serving Micronesian immigrants.

As the migration matures, the Micronesian population is spreading out from the urban core towards the Leeward Coast and central plateau of O῾ahu plus the neighboring islands. Honolulu based churches: Saint Elizabeth’s (in Palama), Saint Mary’s (in Mō῾ili῾ili) and Saint Peter’s (downtown Honolulu) have all had programs for their Micronesian participants for several years. Saint Nicholas has been reaching out to the Micronesian (both Marshallese and Chuukese) residents at Onemalu Shelter in Kalaeloa. On the Big Island, Saint James’, Saint Jude’s and Christ Church have "partner" congregations with Marshallese congregations using their facilities. Holy Apostles hosts a Chuukese "partner" congregation. Pacific Islander Ministry has been in contact with those parishes but has not yet assisted in developing programs on the Big Island.

If your parish has a Micronesian community nearby and would like guidance in drawing them into your congregation or developing programs for them, please contact the Office of the Bishop which will contact Ann Hansen, Chair of the Pacific Islander Ministry Committee.

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