Martha Haleakala takes a photo with her great-grandson, Ekolu Ishikawa. (Courtesy Catholic Stewardship Consultants)
By Catholic Stewardship Consultants
www.CatholicSteward.com
For Martha Haleakala, it is quite convenient that she lives so close to her parish, St. Anthony of Padua in Wailuku. The short trip to the church means she can spend more time doing what she loves — living out stewardship as a way of life by serving God and her parish community.
She is the first one there in the morning to open the doors each weekday and Sunday morning for Mass. She has been a St. Anthony parishioner for 26 years, and service has always been a labor of love.
And then there is her love of St. Anthony School. It has been a part of her life for a quarter-century. Haleakala’s husband, Valentine, attended the school. Their daughter also went to St. Anthony’s, and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren are past or current students.
“St. Anthony School runs deep in our family,” she said.
Haleakala moved to Hawaii in 1975 at age 20. Her family moved from Cincinnati, Ohio, because they fell in love with the lifestyle and culture here. Haleakala owned Kobe’s Japanese Steak House in Lahaina from 2002 to 2022.
Retirement has allowed Haleakala more time to get involved in her parish. Although she enjoys reading and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Haleakala said she spends much of her free time at the parish. Her faith and St. Anthony of Padua are essential parts of her life.
“God has been very good to me,” she said. “He wants me to share what he has given me.”
The most impactful ministry for Haleakala has been the Bible study she’s been part of since about 2012. The group usually takes a break for the summer, but its members have been learning so much and have grown so close that this year, they wanted to plow right through with their weekly meetings. They’ve gone through many studies in their years together, with new members coming along as well.
“Walking in our faith journey together through Scripture and applying it to our daily life has been the most life-changing for me,” Haleakala said. “My Bible doesn’t sit on a shelf — I’m in it daily.”
Haleakala is also a lay Marianist and has continued with the congregation even after it left the school. She oversees the Marianist laypeople at St. Anthony. This past school year, Haleakala taught third grade religion because the teachers were not Catholic. She worked to pass on her faith to her students.
“I always tell my third graders, ‘God didn’t put us here as individuals, we are all in this together,’” she said. “We are here to help each other. Hang on to your faith. Hang on to like-minded people.”
The faith was passed on to Haleakala from her mother and grandmother. She said she is thankful that they gave her that gift.
Her mom, Frances, and grandmother, Dora, were very faithful. They also sent her to Catholic school, which provided another nurturing atmosphere.
“I appreciate that they gave me the faith,” she said. “It’s been a gift for my life.”
As a lector, extraordinary minister of holy Communion, sacristan and member of the stewardship committee, Haleakala stays very busy at St. Anthony. She’s also involved with the Sacred Heart novena and the Lady of Perpetual Help devotions. She prays daily for vocations.
Haleakala encourages others to step forward to get involved in their parish — you won’t regret giving your time to God. She doesn’t want St. Anthony to be a parish where only retired people give their time. She wants everyone to know they are invited and to experience the joy and fulfillment of sharing their gifts.
“I know everyone is busy,” she said. “But God will help you make time if you put yourself out there for him. Give it a shot.”
St. Anthony is a special place for Haleakala. She’s thankful to be part of the parish ohana.
“You feel like family at the parish,” she said. “There is no mistaking it when you walk in. I love that. It’s so meaningful.”
