Jesus rocks Spring Break!

Seems like we say this every year about our retreats, but this year’s 9th annual Spring Break project truly was “the best one yet!” With over 60 students, staff, and volunteers in attendance from Hi-Light, Hui Poly, International Student Ministries, and IV Hilo , God poured out his Spirit, wisdom, and aloha during our time together. Students and staff grasped the theme of mālama, or stewardship, as we took time to learn about the history and challenges of Hilo, and to serve the land and the people.

Check out some pictures below:

Students working in the loʻi (wetland taro fields) – weeding and harvesting kalo (taro) in Waipiʻo Valley. As we spend time in God’s creation we experience his aloha and power, and we learn about how to take care of what he’s blessed us with.

Enter a caption We always look forward to hearing Aunty Mary Boyd share her wisdom with us. This year she shared about deepening our connection with `ohana. Everyone was so blessed to hear her share stories form her childhood, parents, and life as a kupuna (elder).

 

As we learned about stewarding God’s resources, students were challenged to invest financially in God’s kingdom. One group of students blessed kupuna at Hale Anuenue with worship and crafts.

Jason and Makaiwa led a Bible study on Matthew 25:14-30 – what’s often know as the Parable of the Talents. The group read the passage in English, Hawaiian, and Pidgin. The Holy Spirit also inspired a retelling of the parable entitled “Da Moʻolelo of the 3 Lawaiʻa.” Makaiwa shares, “I felt so encouraged to see other Pacific Islander and Native students connect to the story, deepen their connection to the Word, and see how it applies to them in their cultural identity. God is good!” Check out the story and an artistic depiction here.

By Makaiwa Kanui

Reaching Native Hawaiian students in Hilo

In 2011 we planted a new ministry at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community College. By God’s grace we were able to reach communities of local, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students that hadn’t previously been reached by Christian ministries on campus. Campus staff Makaiwa Kanui shares an update on reaching Native Hawaiian students in Hilo.