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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JANUARY 9, 2005 NATIVE HAWAIIAN CUSTOMS WASHINGTON, DC – Native Hawaiian chants and prayers echoed through the majestic nave of Washington National Cathedral during a special worship service honoring the people of Hawaii on Jan. 9. Four worshipers adorned with leis and wearing colorful kekepa performed the ritual blowing of conch shells, signaling the commencement of Hawaii State Day at the landmark cathedral. A native chant called all to prayer. Pilgrims from the state joined Hawaii natives now living in the Washington area among 750 worshipers at the cathedral’s 11 a.m. service that was devoted to the islands. The Scripture lessons and the gospel were read in the Native Hawaiian language, and then in English. Visitors wore floral garlands and offered new friends fragrant orchids and plumeria that were brought from the islands. “We welcomed the Hawaii visitors, who were really welcoming us,” said the Rev. Canon Howard Anderson, warden of Cathedral College at Washington National Cathedral. “The aloha spirit is indeed real and not something imagined.” Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye read scripture at the service. He said it was noteworthy that the cathedral, which hosts high profile national prayer events, chose to spotlight Native Hawaiians. “I think it is not only appropriate, but very significant,” Inouye said. “In our history, the first written language in Hawaii was brought about because of the missionaries, and with it the first Hawaiian hymnal and the first Hawaiian dictionary. So it’s a very important part of the culture of Native Hawaiians.” The Episcopal Church in Hawaii began in 1862 when King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma invited the Church of England to Hawaii, and supported its missions through gifts of land to establish communities. Poet and author Kathleen Norris, who grew up in Honolulu, delivered the sermon as guest preacher. Norris said Hawaii has pride in the many cultures of its people, but struggles with its multiple identities as well. Norris addressed the congregation from the historic Canterbury Pulpit, where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his last Sunday sermon on March 31, 1968, and from where the homily at Ronald Reagan’s state funeral was given on June 11, 2004. “Prejudice and discrimination exist in Hawaii, but the ease we have with race is epitomized for me in our Christmas pageants,” Norris said. “Imagine a Mary of Japanese and Portuguese descent, a Joseph who is Samoan, African-American and Chinese, and a baby Jesus of East-Indian and Caucasian ancestry. Today in Hawaii we glimpse the future of the human race.” “While some in this country still use the term ‘American’ as a synonym for ‘white,’ Hawaii has long demonstrated that it isn’t so,” Norris said. For seven years, Washington National Cathedral has set aside one major state day each month in seeking to fulfill its national mission of outreach to all faiths. The National Cathedral Association, the membership organization that supports the cathedral’s mission and ministries, organized Hawaii State Day. Religious and elected leaders and congregants from many different churches and denominations were invited to take part. The Rt. Rev. S.O. Chang, the Episcopal Bishop of Hawaii, was guest celebrant. The Very Rev. Dr. Ann E. P. McElligott, dean of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral in Honolulu, translated the day’s readings into Native Hawaiian for the service. Richard Kua’ana of Honolulu sang the service-opening chant in Native Hawaiian. Washington-area residents Tom Penland, a native of Oahu, Amy Rider, a Hilo native, Carol Takafuji, originally from Pearl City and Lynn Mariano, a transplant from Honolulu, were conch-blowers. Euphemia Nagashima, a noted flower arranger and lei maker from Honolulu, oversaw the shipment and delivery of donated flowers and plants from the state and with Richard Kua’ana created the tropical floral displays that decorated the cathedral. Ms. Nagashima also oversaw the making of leis used in Hawaii State Day. Beverly Davis-Amjadi of Honolulu, a reader of Scripture, lead a pilgrimage group from the state to participate in a contemplative evening program at the Cathedral’s Center for Prayer and Pilgrimage on the Saturday evening prior to the Sunday morning service. Brian Maves of Oahu, Arthur Kusumoto of Maui, Elizabeth Ho of Honolulu, Shanna Pereira of Mililani , Carter Eads of Kailua, and Alexandra and Layla Butts of Wahiawe carried gifts to the altar during the offertory. Penland, president of the Hawaii State Society, carried the state flag in the grand processional that opened the service. Afterwards, the National Cathedral Association sponsored a reception recognizing Hawaii participants. Bishop Chang read a proclamation signed by Gov. Linda Lingle declaring the day in honor of the state’s relationship with Washington National Cathedral. ATTN PRINT MEDIA: If you desire e-mail transmission of this account and/or photos sent as JPEG attachments please contact Greg Rixon at the number above. Also, print-quality photos of Washington National Cathedral are available on our Website, www.cathedral.org/cathedral. Click on “Cathedral News.” |