PAL AND HATTY : Our Temple President and Matron, Malama Pono, Hawaii Rain and Dinner out

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Our Temple President and Matron, Malama Pono, Hawaii Rain and Dinner out

Our Temple President and Matron

Sandford and Nancy Okura

The Okuras come from the Hilo side of the island and began their service November 1, 2017. They are wonderful people and so dedicated to the Savior and temple work. Their standard for all temple workers is to be "Filled with Light and Love". They are great examples to us and we feel privileged to work with them!

Malama Pono

Every first Monday of the month, widows, divorcees and any sisters who want to join in gather for a dinner and Family Home Evening. Sister Faith Bean (pictured below) heads up the group. She told me that Malama Pono is Hawaiian for Care and Righteousness. She invited all the Temple Missionaries to come in November and asked the two new couples to introduce themselves and speak. So off we went to "Auntie Ginger's" home (they call all older sisters "Auntie" and older brothers "Uncle"). We gathered on her covered porch. First we ate dinner, which was an early Thanksgiving Feast with turkey, roast pork, potatoes and gravy, rice, salad, Hawaiian rolls and yummy cake for dessert.

After dinner, Faith gave a lesson on "Gratitude" and then had each of us (there were about 20 in the group) tell something we were grateful for.

Elder Walker and Elder Cox

The Walkers came with us as new missionaries in October. Elder and Sister Cox will return home in January ,and a new couple will come to replace them.

Sister Walker and some of the other sisters

After the lesson, we introduced ourselves and told a little about our previous missions and some experiences we had. Then the Walkers spoke. After this, Sister Bean gave each of us a Hawaiian instrument and a quick demonstration of how to play them.

Brother Cox said he could play the nose flute and made a brave attempt, when that didn't go as well as he had hoped, Elder Walker gave it a try.

Finally Sister Bean had to show us how it was done!

Hal was given a feathered gourd and he had fun that!

My instrument was a pu'ili (bamboo rod that is splint on one end)

Sister Walker was also given a feathered gourd.

Sister Bean played the ukulele and we sang and played our instruments to "Hawaiian War Chant". I should say that Sister Bean sang the words (in Hawaiian) and we hummed along. She speaks fluent Hawaiian and is very knowledgeable about Hawaiian culture and traditions. She is also very enthusiastic about everything and a bit of a character! There was a pounding rain storm that evening and we were glad that we were on a covered porch! It was a fun gathering with delicious food and an opportunity to get to know some of the sisters of our area.