Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
March 29, 2015 - W1513

What you are about to hear is the true history about God’s presence in Hawaii. For many years, the Hawaiians were followers of ‘lo, or one God…until the 1300’s or 1400’s when a priest from Tahiti, named Pa’ao, introduced human sacrifice, the walled heiau, and the taboo or Kapu system. This new religion continued until the 1700s, and brought raging fear over the people. This eventually ended, and God restored the people’s hearts back to Him – the one true God. As Romans 1:19 said, “God put the knowledge of God in everyone’s heart.”

So let the story begin with the lives of two men. Although their lives were worlds apart, their lives ran parallel to each other, and changed Hawaii forever. One would become King Kamehameha the Great, and the other became a reformer – his name was Henry Opukaha’ia.

Henry Opukaha’ia was born on the Big Island of Hawaii, near Kealakekua Bay. He was born into a land filled with wars and conflict. At an early age, as he witnessed his parents being killed, he picked up his younger brother and tried to run away; however, a spear aimed at him took the life of his younger brother, instead. Opukaha’ia was then captured, and raised to be a priest of the heiau.

In 1809, at age 16, Opukaha’ia and his friends saw a ship off Kealakekua Bay, and got themselves hired on as deck hands. Within a year, they traveled to Connecticut, via China.

Being in the 21^st century, let us now hop on a supersonic jet, and go back to the 17^th and 18^th century of Hawaii, because something great was happening that we do not want to miss.

During the 1700’s an increasing number of Europeans arrived in Hawaii, and traded weapons for food and water. This trade increased, because the Hawaiian people, including King Kamehameha the Great, loved European goods and weapons.

In 1810, King Kamehameha became the undisputed ruler of all the Hawaiian Islands, due in large part to the weapons and training he received from the Europeans. In 1819, as the religious Kapu systems was weakening, King Kamehameha I died, and his son, Liholiho, became King Kamehameha II in May, 1819. He and his guardian Queen Kaahumanu decided to break the Kapu system. They did this by having the high priest burn down the temples and break all of the heiaus. They also allowed women to eat with men, which had been kapu - or against the law. Now, the kings no longer honored the Kapu religious system brought in by Pa’ao. This happened in 1819, and the missionaries had not arrived. This is a common misconception that the missionaries overthrew the Hawaiian religious system.

During that time, and back in Connecticut, the Reverend Edwin Dwight of Yale, had decided to mentor and teach the orphaned and Hawaiian speaking Opukaha’ia, Therefore, Opukaha’ia traveled with him and learned English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, science, and geometry. He also became a fervent follower of Jesus Christ.

In 1814, Opukaha’ia began to translate the Bible into the Hawaiian language. He also composed a dictionary and grammar book to teach the Hawaiian people how to read, in preparation for his return to Hawaii. During that time, discussions were held on the East Coast about sending missionaries to Hawaii to help out the people of Hawaii.

On February 17, 1818, typhus fever claimed 26 year old Opukaha’ia’s life; however, his prayers did not go unheeded.

October 3, 1819, seven missionary couples embarked on a five month journey to Hawaii. Hiram Bingham, who was stirred by Opukaha’ia’s [LL1] zeal, was on that voyage, and started the Kawaiahao Church. Four other men of Hawaiian ancestry accompanied them. They were William Kanue, Thomas Hoku, John Honolii, and George Kamualii – who was the son of the King of Kauai.

Today, Henry Opukaha’ia’s [LL2] remains are reinterred at Kahikolu Cemetery in Napo’opo’o, near Kealakekua Bay where everything began.

1820 – The first missionaries landed in Kailua Kona, and found that the Kapu system had been overthrown, and that the idols and temples had been destroyed. God had prepared the land for Christianity, six months before their arrival.

The Alii and people had eagerly embraced the Christian faith; however, a vestige of idols remained – the superstitious fear of the volcano goddess, Pele, and the spirits of the dead. Kapiolani believed that her conversion to Christianity was not sufficient to persuade her people to wholeheartedly embrace the faith. She knew that she had to defy Pele by going to Hale Mau Mau volcano crater.

In December of 1824 she traveled from Kona to Hale Mau Mau. Her family and friends begged her not to do this to which she replied, “The Lord my God. It is he who kindled the fires here, not Pele. If I am destroyed by Pele, you may worship her. But if I am not, you must turn to the one true God. Great is the goodness of God for sending missionaries to turn us from these vanities to the living God, and to the way of righteousness.”

After traveling nearly 100 miles by foot she arrived, and the priestess of Pele confronted her, and demanded that she leave, or else she would die. The priestess then chanted a curse against Kapiolani. Kapiolani defended herself with scriptures that she read. Kapiolani then prayed over Hale Mau Mau before descending into the crater. Safe from harm, Kapiolani returned to the cheers of people, and became an ardent follower of Christ, influencing many people.

The missionaries placed a high priority on education, and on people’s faith. During this time, few books existed; therefore, people would gather in a big circle to read and discuss one text book. This empowered them, and they learned to read very well. By the late 19^th century, it was estimated that 90% of all Hawaiians could read, and Hawaii became the most literate nation.

The people were hungry for God and education; however, by 1830, the Hawaiian population dwindled from 300,000 down to 57,000. This was due to diseases that were transmitted to the Hawaiians, from people on board the foreign whaling ships.

Small pox devastated the lives of 7000 people living on the island of Oahu, but only a few hundred died on Maui. This was due to the efforts of missionary Alexander Baldwin who feverishly inoculated as many Hawaiian children as he could find.

Baldwin gave his life to the people of Hawaii so that they could know God. God came to Hawaii to repair a broken relationship with Him, and to draw His people back to Him.

In 1839 King Kamehameha III converted the Hawaii government from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy by establishing the declaration of rights that everyone, including the Kings had to submit to. The Hawaii Constitution of 1840 stated, “God has made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on the earth in unity and blessedness. God has also bestowed certain rights alike on all men and all chiefs, and all people of all lands ... It is therefore our fixed decree that no law shall be enacted which is at variance with the Word of the Lord, or at variance with the general spirit of His Word. All laws of the islands shall be in consistency with the general spirit of God’s Word.”

The Preamble of today’s constitution states, “We the people of Hawaii, grateful for Divine Guidance, and mindful of our Hawaiian heritage and uniqueness as an island state, dedicate our efforts to fulfill the philosophy decreed by the Hawaii State Motto ‘Ua mau, ke ea o ka aina I ka pono.’”   The light of the land will be retained or perpetuated in righteousness. This comes from the heart of God.

The lives of people such as Henry Opukaha’ia to the high chieftess Kapiolani, are examples of men and women whose lives were committed to Christianity. God has raised up great churches in Hawaii, like this church, where we can continue to do His work, and where we can continue to tell the story of God in Hawaii.

God has built a foundation for us to hold on to. The Bible says, “If my people who are called by My name shall humble themselves and pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked way, I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land.”2 Chronicles 7:14

The miracles of God and Hawaii was based on commitment, and prayers that was answered by one young man – Henry Opukaha’ia. However, the miracles of the future of our families and of our state lies in our hands. It is based on the choices that every single one of us makes. This is why we take the time to encourage and to inspire people, and to share how God is in the history of Hawaii.

Questions:

• What are some of the events that paved the way for the present day preamble?

• What choice will you choose to be a miracle for your family, and a miracle for our state?

• Why is the Preamble so important to uphold?

 [LL1]

 [LL2]