Youth and young adults march in front of Iolani Palace.
A mostly Catholic and mostly youthful group of about 500 assembled at the Hawaii State Capitol on the afternoon of Jan. 26 for the annual March for Life to commemorate the millions of unborn Americans who lost their lives to abortion since the procedure was legalized four decades ago.
Hawaii’s event joined other similar rallies held in Mainland cities last week marking the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.
Participants came from numerous Oahu parishes including Our Lady of Good Counsel in Pearl City, Resurrection of the Lord in Waipio, Star of the Sea in Waialae-Kahala, St. John Vianney in Kailua, St. Elizabeth in Aiea, Sacred Heart in Waianae, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ewa Beach, Holy Family in Honolulu, Holy Trinity in Honolulu, St. Jude in Kapolei and others.
Many wore parish T-shirts.
HCH photos | Darlene Dela Cruz
Benedictine Sister Celeste “CC” Cabral holds a crucifix at the rally.
Bishop Larry Silva and vicar general Father Gary Secor were also present and offered short remarks.
The rally was upbeat and positive. Eight tents displayed materials and giveaways from local pro-life organizations and initiatives. Young and old alike came away from a face-decorating booth with a newborn’s footprint painted in bright colors on their cheeks.
Signs and posters were everywhere. Black placards declared that both women and men “regret abortions.” Others simply said, “Defend Life.” Others marked the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Gone were the shocking photos of aborted children that populated rallies of years past.
Also seemingly missing were significant numbers of evangelical Protestants who traditionally attend these rallies side by side with Catholics. One evangelical Protestant who was there said all she saw were Catholics.
There were also large groups of youth and young adults from Catholic parishes. A small number of religious sisters were present, but few priests, probably because the Saturday afternoon scheduling conflicted with Saturday vigil Masses.
Deacon Kin Borja, the president of Aloha Life Advocates which sponsored the event, was the master of ceremonies and main speaker at the rally. While remembering the victims of abortion, he stressed love, forgiveness and conversion as the solutions to an abortion-fouled society.
Other speakers included Waianae Intermediate School choral teacher and Catholic recording artist Shanita Akana, singer Cynthia Milles, and the Rev. Lester Muramoto of the Charismatic Episcopal Church, which is not affiliated with the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii.
The rally, which started around 1 p.m., ended around 3:30 p.m. with a call and prayer by Father Secor to be “on our way.”
“We are still on our way,” he said. “The work is not finished. We need to be on our way to a deeper relationship with God and with others.”
The event ended with its signature march around the large city block that contains State Capitol and Iolani Palace.
