'As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people."' Mark 1:16-17
A hukilau is a way of fishing. During a hukilau, a community works together to pull the fishing net.
A hui is an association or a club. When used as a verb, hui means to meet. A hui hou roughly translates “until we meet again.”
The Hukilau Hui (the nine ELCA Lutheran churches in the State of Hawai’i) gathers biannually to be ‘ohana and community for one another as we follow Jesus. An important part of our meetings is learning to be effective disciples--better fisherfolk.
Pastor J.P. Sabbithi and the good people of Joy of Christ Lutheran Church in Pearl City hosted a Hukilau Hui on November 7. Their hospitality was outstanding. In addition to worship and two brief business meetings for the Hui and OYEA (ʻOahu Youth Education and Activities), we held two workshops to help us become better fisherfolk. Terri Robertson, the Pacifica Synod Executive Assistant for Finance and Administration, led us through best practices for congregational finance. Desta Ronning Goehner, the Pacifica Synod Assistant to the Bishop for Anti-Racism Coordination, partnered with Naiʻaliʻi Valera, a teacher of ʻolelo Hawaiʻi, to help us think through what land acknowledgments mean in our local context.
The most valuable part of our hui, however, was being together. Eight of our nine congregations were present. We strengthened our ties to the synod, reconnected with old acquaintances, and wove connections with new friends. We will continue to pull together for the sake of the gospel.
Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much) to the Pacifica Synod for sending and supporting their staff to be part of our gathering. We are grateful to be part of something bigger than ourselves, a network of believers pulling together to gather a harvest for the dominion of God.
A hui hou!
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