Twenty five churches on six Hawaiian Islands have teamed up to give a gift to the community, which they are calling The Hawaii Blessing.
Members of churches from several denominations –including Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal, Baptist, Nazarene, United Church of Christ and the Salvation Army– recorded the song individually, and then a team worked to edit and compile it into a finished piece. Singers were on the Big Island, Kaua’i, O’ahu, Maui, Molokai and Lana’i. The Hawaiian Island Ministries, the group that came up with the idea, says on its web site “During this time of sheltering, isolation and uncertainty about the future, we could all use a blessing, feel a sense of togetherness, remember that we belong. ”
From Hawaii Island, singers from Mokuaikaua Church (Chauncey Wong Yuen) and Living Stones Church on Ali’i Drive (Daniel Lehmann) took part.
Honolulu Star Advertiser columnist Lee Cataluna wrote a column that details the work that went into the singing, compiling, and editing, to create the finished work. Read Ms. Cataluna’s column here:
To see the video/listen to the music, go to this web site, which has The Hawaii Blessing plus information on how to download the music. The site suggests a donation to the Hawaii Food Bank, which serves O’ahu and Kaua’i directly. The Hawaii Food Bank says it partners with Hawaii Island Food Basket, which is the Big Island’s only food bank. Pastor Bill Barley of Living Stones Church said he’s asking those who download the video to consider donating to Hawaii Island Food Basket at hawaiifoodbasket.org
Chauncey Wong Yuen, Mokuaikaua Church:
Daniel Lehmann, Living Stones Church:
