By Lisa Dahm
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Two homegrown deacons will be ordained to the priesthood this month, adding to the growing tally of isle natives who have answered God’s call.
On May 22 at 6 p.m., Bishop Larry Silva will ordain Deacon Taylor K. Mitchell and Deacon John Jacob Akau at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Honolulu before family, friends and parishioners.
After ordination, Father Akau will serve as parochial vicar of the co-cathedral, and Father Mitchell will serve as parochial vicar of St. Anthony Church in Wailuku.
As a former nurse, Deacon Akau said he hopes to foster a sense of belonging and healing through his priesthood.
“I want to be a priest for all people,” Deacon Akau said. “I want to touch their hearts, those who may be struggling and suffering, and I want to make sure that they’re heard.”
He said that society does not usually acknowledge people on the periphery or make them feel welcome. He said he is ready to go wherever Bishop Silva sends him.
Deacon Akau, a native of Pahala on Hawaii island, will celebrate his first Mass after ordination on May 23 at Sacred Heart Church in Honolulu at 5 p.m. The Mass will be on Oahu to accommodate folks who flew in from the mainland.
Deacon Mitchell said he is looking forward to “celebrating the sacraments for God’s people.”
“God’s people are fantastic, and it is an honor to serve them in so many different ways,” he said. “This is the way God has called me to serve him. In growing closer to the Lord, I get to be that bridge for his people in this particular ministry.”
Deacon Mitchell will celebrate his first Mass May 23 at his home parish, St. John Apostle and Evangelist Church in Mililani.
Deacon Akau
Deacon Akau made time for prayer and a rosary walk with his friends and church family at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology in Franklin, Wisconsin, as he wrapped up his last semester in formation.
At 39 years old, Deacon Akau said he is considered an older vocation, having earned a degree in nursing from the University of Hawaii at Hilo and working in his field for several years before beginning at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.
Deacon Akau said he was grateful for his time at home during summer and Christmas breaks, which gave him an opportunity to grow closer to his family.
“Working as a nurse, it would be difficult to go home because you’re working Christmas,” he said.
Akau comes from a family of seven children who attended Holy Rosary Church in Pahala. After drifting away from the church in high school, he returned to his Catholic roots in college, participating in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, now called OCIA, at St. Joseph Church in Hilo.
Deacon Akau said that Father Apolinario “Poli” Ty, pastor of St. Joseph, helped him discern the priesthood.
“I had good role models,” he said. “Father Poli has a gentle approach, almost like Jesus, like a shepherd’s heart.”
Bishop Silva ordained Deacon Akau to the transitional diaconate at St. Joseph on July 12, 2025.
Deacon Mitchell
Deacon Mitchell’s final year of studies at St. Patrick’s Seminary and University in Menlo Park, California, came after earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and literature at Mount Angel Seminary in Saint Benedict, Oregon.
“Mount Angel is a very holy place,” he said.
Deacon Mitchell, who has one younger brother, spent his high school years at Kamehameha Schools. Like Deacon Akau, he also completed his sacraments in college, attending Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Merrimack, New Hampshire.
Bishop Larry Silva ordained Deacon Mitchell to the transitional diaconate on May 17, 2025, at St. John Apostle and Evangelist Church.
“I wasn’t raised at St. John’s, but I grew up there,” he said. “I got to do so many different ministries there. I was so blessed to have such a great team of people, all of whom were on fire for the Lord.”
He said he is eager to begin his priestly ministry.
“I think I had convinced myself before I entered (the seminary) and said yes, that the decision was going to be the big yes. But I found that it is a continual series of yeses, every day forever,” Deacon Mitchell said. “It is the same with marriage. Getting to understand that and living it out has been good.
“Of course, I can’t imagine doing anything else. Luckily, there are more good days than bad days.”
Above: Deacon John Jacob Akau, top, and Deacon Taylor K. Mitchell, below, are pictured at their ordinations to the transitional diaconate last year. (Celia K. Downes / HCH file photos)