Mark & Dayna's Blog: August 2023

August 15, 2023

Fires in Hawaii

Dear Friends and Family,

By God’s grace we are fine here in Kapa’au, Hawaii. Many thanks for your notes of concern and prayers for us. We understand that news of “fire in Hawaii” is hard to interpret, especially with so many grim pictures! We did have fires on our island, some about half an hour away from our home, on Tuesday and Wednesday. Acres of grassland and a few structures burned. Winds from hurricane Dora reached 80 mph here. Thank God for our Hawaii County Firemen, including a young man in our congregation who is a Captain.

Tomorrow our “Prayer for the Nations” in Kalahikiola Church will be for the closest land. Twenty-six miles across the Alenuihaha Channel from us lies the island of Maui. You can see Haleakalā ‘house of the rising sun’ towering at 10,000 feet over the island of Maui. Global newscasts have bulletined the horrible fire in Lahaina. I am sure you have been praying for them too. Some of us know that our possessions are just stuff, but to have them burned away in a moment is shocking. Even more devastating is the loss of loved ones! May the Lord grant them comfort and hope.

Yesterday we pastor’s in Kohala prayed especially for our colleagues on Maui. May the Lord help them convey His hope – in Word and deed – and give them the strength to extend comfort even when they desperately need it too!

Several churches burned in Lahaina. Waiola Church played a big role in Hawaiian history. As their website says, “Waiola is where Christianity began on the island of Maui. On Oahu, Queen Keōpūolani was impressed with the Missionaries and the message they brought to the kingdom. Keōpūolani was considered to be the highest ranking Ali’i (Royalty) in Hawaii, even higher than her husband, Kamehameha the Great. Keopuolani left Oahu in May of 1823 to reside in Lahaina. She asked that missionaries Reverend William Richards and Reverend Charles Stewart travel with her to speak “The Good Word” and pray to God with her. They arrived in Lahaina on May 31, 1823 and the first Christian worship service was held on the beach the following day. Unfortunately, Queen Keōpūolani fell ill and died on September 16, 1823. Her request to be baptized in the Christian faith was fulfilled just one hour before her death. She and other Hawaiian Ali’i are buried in the Royal Tomb, located in the Waiola Church graveyard.” Keōpūolani knew her public baptism would make strategic impact to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of Hawaii. So, she wisely traveled to the Capital (at that time) of Lahaina. She was right! Thousands of Hawaiians throughout the islands followed her in repentance and faith in Christ. The stone church Waiola opened in 1832 seated 3000 worshippers!

This church kindly supported our mission work over the years, especially when Dayna’s cousin, Kekapa Lee, was their pastor. Today only the charred tombs remain. Let us pray that their members – who are The Church! – will rebuild and continue to make Christ known.

May His Name be praised all around the world tomorrow, from Lahaina to the ends of the earth!

Mark and Dayna Blair