Convention 57 & Education Day Updates

These are important updates! Please be sure to scroll through the entire message!

Convention 57 is right around the corner and we have several important updates and announcements for both the Annual Meeting and Education Day. If you HAVE NOT registered for either the Annual Meeting or Education Day yet, plan to arrive no later than 7:30 a.m. in order to do so.

Your Credentials and Elections Teams and the Diocesan Support Center Staff have been doing research, running tests, and meeting regularly in preparation for next May’s Special Meeting of the Convention to elect the 6th Bishop of the Diocese of Hawai‘i, so this year’s Annual Meeting is a chance for them to do a "dress rehearsal" of the new system and processes. You can help by:

1. Arriving early to ‘Iolani to check-in: Credentials will open no later than 7:30 a.m. and will close promptly at 8:30 a.m. Late check-ins delay the start of the meeting and this year we have a lot of business to take care of that include 8 resolutions, 5 special orders of business, and the election of General Convention deputies which always goes to a third ballot.
   
2. Watching the Check-in video: A video was created to explain the new check-in procedures and can be viewed HERE or on our Convention 57 webpage. It has a lot of helpful information packed into a 4-minute video!
   
3. Submitting any Delegate Changes ASAP: Although online reservations have closed and will only be allowed at the door, if we have delegate changes in advance, it will speed up the at-the-door registration and credentials process. Click HERE to complete and submit the form online. The form needs to be completed by the clergy-in-charge, or if no clergy-in-charge, then the Senior/Bishop’s warden.
   
4. Watching the Election Runner Training Video: Since voting will be done electrionically, it is important to familiarize yourself with the process. The video can be found on the Convention 57 webpage near the bottom.
   
5. Closing pule: It is our tradition to sing a song to close the Annual Meeting. In the past, we have sung "Ke Aloha ‘O ka Haku" and "Aloha ‘Oe," both written and composed by Queen Lili‘uokalani. This year we would like to introduce you to another hymn by the Queen that you may not know, "He Pule" (A Prayer). Visit the Convention 57 webpage (under the Schedule) to listen to a track by the Cathedral Choir and/or to download the music sheets. This song will also be sung during the Convention Eucharist.
   
6. Visiting the Diocesan Convention webpage: Read the resolutions, nominee bios, and budget. You can even watch a recording of the Budget Presentation from October 7. The Workbook has also been posted on the website. Keep in mind that the Workbooks are no longer being printed. Please bring a tablet or laptop so you can follow along.

HEADS UP! INTERISLAND TRAVEL: For those flying in from the neighbor islands, DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR INTERISLAND FLIGHTS! The changeover from Hawaiian Airlines to Atmos/Alaska has caused quite a bit of confusion. We are hearing reports that the Hawaiian Airlines app doesn’t work the way it used to and the Atmos app is finicky. The Hawaiian Airlines website is now on the Atmos website and navigating is not easy. You may need both your Hawaiian Airlines login information and your Atmos login information to access your reservation. We were told that some bookings may have both a Hawaiian Airlines reservation code and an Alaska/Atmos reservation code. Don't wait until you are at the airport!

Added Note: If you booked your travel through the Diocese, you should have already received a confirmation of your flights. If not, contact Cammy Liu at (808) 536-7776, ext. 306.

This is the culmination of a year-long focus on mālama ‘āina and your Huli team has partnered with 5 worksites so we can huli ka lima i lalo.

OFF-SITE ACTIVITIES: If you registered for Education Day's off-site activities, you should have received an email letting you know what to bring/how to prepare and possibly a consent form to sign. If you did not, please email Rae Costa HERE. All participants in the off-site activities shall meet at 'Iolani School where transportation will be provided. Be aware that some of the shuttles will be departing 'Iolani School at 8:15 a.m.!

ON-SITE ACTIVITIES: For those with limited mobility, we will have some hands-on activities at ‘Iolani, including making ti leaf lei and creating the necrology display, turning old t-shirts into rugs or pillow covers, and some light gardening.

UPCYCLE YOUR T-SHIRTS & PILLOWS: Do you have old t-shirts or pillows that are sitting around your house taking up space, but you can’t bring yourself to throw them out? Bring them to ‘Iolani School Friday morning, October 24. We will have two activities to recycle them into braided rugs and "no-sew" pillows.

RECYCLING OF BOOKS: We will have a religious, theological book exchange table on Friday and Saturday. This is a great chance for you to purge those bookcases by bringing them to ‘Iolani on Friday or Saturday. Leftover books will be sent to the Philippines and Friends of the Library.

ORDINATION OF KALANI HOLOKAI: At this year’s Opening Eucharist, Bishop Fitzpatrick will be ordaining our newest vocational deacon, Kalani Holokai, who is also our Maui Community Relations Coordinator. Clergy: Please vest with red or palaka stoles. The classroom in St. Alban's (R-101) will be the vesting room. Be in the vesting room by 3:40 p.m. for instructions on the procession and seating.

SPECIAL PULE: This year we are introducing a hymn by Queen Lili‘uokalani called "He Pule" (A Prayer) that will also be the closing song for the Annual Meeting. To listen to the track and/or download the music sheet, visit the Education Day webpage HERE and go to Convention Eucharist.

SAVE A TREE! To honor our theme of Huli ka lima i lalo, we are printing a very limited amount of bulletins. You can download the bulletin HERE or from the Convention 57 Education Day webpage, and follow along on your tablet or laptop (phones may be too small).

Following the Opening Eucharist will be a Hawaiian food buffet. If you did not register for the Aloha Reception, you can do so at the door for $40.

For more information, visit our Convention 57 & Education Day webpages by clicking on the buttons below: