Viriditas2: Soul Greening
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
When the Picpus (Sacred Hearts) fathers arrived in Hawaii in the 1830s, the Hawaiian people recognized something familiar. In the stories told of Christ, the one who gave his body as bread and truth, they remembered the god Ku.
During a famine, Ku told his family that where he was going, they could not go. He went into the forest, offered himself to the land, and became breadfruit to save his family.
From resonance with the stories followed belief. As they pushed through the questions of “Who is it that gave us his body, sacrificed himself for us and redeemed us?”, the people said of Christ: “You are back. I know you.” What they had seen and heard before echoed with them and confirmed their faith.
I was baptized Catholic, but like many, I drifted away from the church for about 25 years. Life got busy, especially for my parents, and faith took a back seat. But when my dad passed away in 2013, it was a call back home. In a very real way, my earthly father reunited me with my heavenly Father.
When I returned, Father Alapaki Kim was still at the parish. He saw something in me, especially my olelo Hawaii (Hawaiian language) skills, and said, “You. Here. Now. Do this.” And if you knew Father Alapaki, you know you can’t say “no” to him. He’ll love you so hard, you’ll just end up doing what’s needed.
Since then, staying Catholic has been easy because the parish needs so much, but also loves so much. Aside from serving as the director of religious education and junior janitor, I love being a part of the olelo Hawaii ministry. I especially love lectoring in Hawaiian, bringing the language back to our people.
Looking ahead, we’re all praying for the completion of our new parish hall. I pray that it may happen in my lifetime. We’ve long needed a space to be a true piko for our community, a center where people can gather, grow and re-encounter Christ alive in our aina (land).
The future looks bright and green. Our church is a place of welcome and spiritual nourishment. I believe the Lord has always been here, even in kahiko (ancient) times, and continues to love us and welcome us home.
When times get tough, I turn to prayer, especially to the rosary. I say, “Momma Mary, help.” Another source of healing is the land. Sometimes I run away to the forest above Makakilo, where I plant native plants and pull weeds. As I’m removing weeds from the earth, I talk with the land and with the Lord, saying “Lord, remove the weeds from my heart.”
Seeing the way faith, language, culture and Scripture connect and reinforce each other, it is clearer that I am growing where I am planted — as aina remembers and never forgets.
The aina feeds us not only physically, but spiritually. This reflects the heart of our Lord who always remembers and never forgets us.