hauʻoli lā makuahine

With love to all the beautiful mothers + mothers-at-heart I know...especially my own mommy, kuʻu makuahine makamae. I love you!

This poem was given to me by my Auntie Susan upon graduation. I've always used it to sort of check my "inner compass" and to see if I was fulfilling each of these criteria to the best of my ability.

That Woman is a Success...

Who loves life and lives it to the fullest;
who has discovered and shared the strengths and talents that are uniquely her own;
who puts her best into each task and leaves each situation better than she found it;
who seeks and finds that which is beautiful in all people...and all things;
whose heart is full of love and warm with compassion;
who has found joy in living and peace within herself.

~ Barbara J. Burrow

Kahu's Manaʻo

Keawalaʻi Congregational Church

United Church of Christ (USA)
Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009

The Rev. Kealahou C. Alika

“The Promise of New Life” Matthew 27:57-66 & Matthew 28:1-10

The first time I saw the turtles at the black sand beach at Punaluʻu on the island of Hawaiʻi, they surprised me. There were so many of them, heads bobbing above the surface of the water.

I remember that day well. The volcanic sand shimmered in the noon day sun. Onshore winds swept across the open ocean, pushing waves over the shallow reef along the shoreline.

I've always had a deep affection for nā honu, or the green sea turtles of our islands. Whenever I find myself troubled and unable to make clear decisions, I go for a walk on the beach. It can be at Hāʻena on the island of Kauaʻi, Moʻomomi on Molokaʻi, or here in Mākena.

And on those walks, I would inevitably see a honu and things would begin to make sense. Long, long ago the story is told about a green sea turtle named Kauila. It is said that Kauila could change herself into a girl to watch over the children playing at Punaluʻu.

When Kauila's mother dug her nest, a fresh water spring surged upward, quenching the children's thirst. It is said that Kauila is the “mythical mother” of all turtles, and perhaps of our children as well.

Some of us may want to dismiss the story of Kauila altogether, convinced that such a story could not possibly be true. Of course the spring exists but not because a turtle dug a nest down too deep. We want to explain the presence of the spring at Punaluʻu in geological terms. And as for a turtle becoming a human being, how can that be?

But the story of Kauila is much more than the fanciful imagination of a storyteller. Within the story itself we learn of a mother's love for her children. We learn of a mother watching over her children at play and providing them with water to quench their thirst.

Long ago the story is told that after Jesus died, a man named Joseph asked for his body. Joseph took Jesus' body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in a tomb.

It is said that the priests became concerned that someone might steal the body and then say that Jesus was alive. They remembered that Jesus said, “After three days I will rise again.”

The tomb is eventually secured. But on the first day of the week a great earthquake struck and an angel came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The angel spoke to the women who were at the tomb that day: “Do not be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified but he is not here; for he has been raised the dead, as he said.” The angel then instructed the women to go and tell the disciples that they will see Jesus in Galilee. So they left the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples.

And it came to pass that Jesus met them.

We have heard the story often enough that we accept the details of an earthquake, a flash of lighting, and a dead person coming back to life without hesitation. Why is that?

The story of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is, in some ways, no different than the story of Kauila. Both stories teach us a truth. If the value of the story of Kauila is about a mother's love for her children than the story of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is about a mother's love for her son and more. It is a story about family. It is a story that teaches us that death does not have the final say.

For all the pain and suffering and despair death may bring, the good news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is God’s promise of new life. On a day such as this, we have cause to give thanks to God. Amen.

--

In a moment, a dear friend of our church, Jamie Lawrence, will come to share his beautiful music, and Keʻala Pasco, a member of our church and our choir, will offer us the gift of her hula. They will share with you "Mele ʻOhana," a song that celebrates love for our families...for today, though we may not be related by koko, or blood, we are all part of ke Akua's ʻohana.

hauʻoli lā makuahine!

We just enjoyed a wonderful Mother's Day + I was reminded of how blessed we are, so I'm dusting off one of my favorite posts to share a message that is still close to my heart...

Having grown up with just a younger sister, I was not prepared for having two boys. They constantly surprise me with the things they do + the way they think - never a dull moment! There truly is something to that men=mars/women=venus theory.

It's been just the three of us (+ my parents) since my boys were 1 + 3 years old, so we are especially close...they're 13 + 15 now, but I still feel so blessed that we have in incredibly special bond. We're an affectionate ʻohana that frequently says "I love you" + fills each other's "lovetanks."

When my sister had her first child, my niece filled a space in my heart I didn't even know existed. She's my sweetiegirl + I'm her auntiemommy...she's come to church with me since she was three months old, and my choir director loves that she's the "keiki alto." She's my little shadow, a true child of my heart. She now has a little brother who's really great at filling lovetanks...I feel so blessed to have these four keiki to bring so much joy, laughter + love into my life.

ʻAe, mahalo ke Akua no nā keiki. I am so grateful for such precious blessings!

he makana
A valuable and lasting lesson from my mommy: "catch your child doing something right." Focus on the positive, not the negative.

Mahalo ke Akua no kuʻu makuahine, no nā makuahine i keia ao...thank you Lord for my mommy, and for all the mothers of this world.