Across Pacific Magazine

'Io

Is Alive and Well in Hawaii

By David Hall

Hard Disk Volcano- It was 3:30 a.m. I couldn't get back to sleep. Being more of a night person than a morning person, at 3:30 a.m. I'm more likely to be going to bed than getting up. A few nights earlier Daniel Kikawa stayed with us and shared some of the plans for a celebration at Volcano. It sounded exciting and I wanted to go. Yet I also knew "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."

I quickly got ready and left from Kailua Kona to Volcano. It was still dark when I arrived. I expected to find a handful of faithful believers. To my joy over eighty, mostly Hawaiians, from many churches, gathered for the celebration.

You could say it was a miracle that we were able to get into the Volcano Park at all, since it was closed completely due to the federal government shut down at that time. (Special permission had been granted for us to enter.) Kahus Henry Kahalehili of Hilo and Paul Kaumanu of Honolulu took the lead as previously arranged by event coordinator Daniel Kikawa.

As we stood at the edge of Hale-ma'uma'u Crater, singing praises to 'Io (Jehovah/Savior), thoughts of what took place 171 years earlier on that very ground, were on the minds of all who came.

In 1824 Chiefess Kapiolani (not to be confused with Queen Kapiolani) made that same trek from Kona to the volcano - by foot. It took her two months. Many had tried to convince her not to go. But she felt compelled by God, as if on a divine mission.

This true Hawaiian story is not unlike Elijah and his confrontation with Baal, described in 1 Kings 18. After this event at Kilauea, many Hawaiians - including Kahunas (ancient Hawaiian priests) of Pele, believed in Jesus, as the Christ - 'Io. {See article on the Hula, this issue}.

Included in our present celebration were prayers of thanksgiving and intercession for Hawaii. There was also special music by Leon Siu and friends, and hulas by young Hawaiian Christians, telling of the historical event.

As the crowd disbursed joyfully about three hours later, there was a strong sense of having participated in a very significant event in Hawaii's spiritual history. I'm soooo glad I went!! Later in the day the celebration continued at "The Gathering Place" (Hilo New Hope).

'Io - Jehovah God- is indeed alive and well in Hawaii nei.

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