Hawaii — Church in Paradise

On Sunday morning, after our breakfast on the golf course, we went to church in Kahului. Driving into town we considered a change of religion. We thought that it might be an experience to go to church where there was a waterfall and fountain!
We knew what street the chapel was on, but not where on the street. It was funny, because we recognized the building as an LDS chapel long before we could see the sign or street number.

I had to stop and take a picture on the way into the church. I want this decal for my van so bad!I had checked the website to find out what time church started, but it was off and we were a half hour early for sacrament meeting. (I know none of you can believe it!) It was interesting to watch the members of the ward as they started coming into the chapel. They greeted each other with hugs and kisses--it was sweet to watch the love between the people in the ward.

One thing we learned during church was that we weren't very good at predicting the gender of Hawaiian names. I think we would have guessed that "Kamalani" was a female, but we were both surprised when "Maluhia" was a man, and "Kuuipo" was a woman.

It was a very tender meeting. The topic was missionary work, and it was quickly apparent why Maluhia had been chosen to speak. It sounded like he had not attended church since he was a teenager. Then, after he was married with three (beautiful) daughters, their family was befriended by the missionaries and some of the people in the ward. As he spoke of his family's conversion and their joy at the prospect of being sealed in the temple his wife sat wiping her tears away with a tissue near us. Russ said that he noticed that the bishop was also wiping away tears during the talk. It was touching to see this great big burly Polynesian man speak with so much emotion about the happiness they have experienced with this change.

Sunday #2 in Maui found us on the other side of the island, in the tiny town of Hana. We had been joined earlier in the week by our friends Gary and Susan, who were neighbors many years ago when we lived in Idaho. Unlike Kahului, where we had several different meeting times to choose from, Hana (population 700, surrounding area population 700 more) had only one meeting time. The Hana chapel (built 10 years ago, we learned) has to be one of the most charming LDS churches I've ever seen. Here is a picture of Gary & Susan, in front of the chapel.


Church in Hana was also interesting. I counted, and there were probably only about 30 adults, and 10-15 children. After sacrament meeting was over we were informed that because this is such a small branch, they only have a 2 hour meeting instead of a 3 hour block. On the first Sunday of every month they have Sunday School, and on the other Sundays they have Priesthood/Relief Society. (The men's & women's classes.) It sounded like a great idea, until someone explained to us that it's because they all have to do so many jobs because there are so few adults. So maybe not!