This issue's header photo was taken on Monday, September 7, 2026, the day after Hurricane Lowell passed just west of the Hawaiian Islands, causing widespread damage to Ni‘ihau and Kaua'i. This photo was taken on the north shore of Kaua'i where the Kalihiwai Bridge was closed until nightfall. It's closure, along with the Hanalei Bridge further north, caused long lines of cars as folks waited to return home or leave the area. (Photo: Sybil Nishioka)

Editor's note: Deep apologies for the delay in getting the Chronicle out on time. As a resident of Kaua'i's north shore working remotely, there was and is no power or internet in this area. Kīlauea has no running water. After 8 hours and missed flights at Lihue airport on Thursday (yes, I was one of the thousands standing in line), I finally made it to O'ahu at 12:30 AM Friday morning. This is an abbreviated issue, but more will be coming out soon.

September 12, 2026

Season of Pentecost: Proper 19

O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

IN THIS ISSUE:

REGULAR FEATURED SECTIONS:

Bishop's Corner - Disasters Around the Diocese
Bishop Search & Transition
Growing in Grace - Tending to the Soul of Our Diocese: Formation for a Faithful Future in a Liminal Season
Kahuaola: This Sunday! MĀLAMA MĀKUA
Island Happenings - At The Cathedral: Rummage Sale Success, Return to regular schedule, Choral Evensong

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING:

Convention 58 - Convention Updates
ECW Annual Meeting - All are invited!
Camp Mokulē'ia Splash & Dash - Countdown! Register today!
Coming Up: HIGHLIGHT O'AHU - Celebration of New Ministry, The Rev. Brian Rallison; See what's happening around the Diocese

THE BISHOP'S CORNER

Disasters Around the Diocese

God is our refuge and strength,

a help always near in times of great trouble.

That’s why we won’t be afraid when the world falls apart,

when the mountains crumble into the center of the sea,

when its waters roar and rage,

when the mountains shake because of its surging waves.

~ Psalm 46:1-3

My dear Siblings in Christ Jesus,

The Kona Lows, Hurricane Lala, and, now, Hurricane Lowell have impacted so many in the Hawaiian Islands. It was only in April that Super Typhoon Sinlaku devastated Saipan and then Super Typhoon Bavi passed near Guam.

You have made me proud to be your Bishop. The congregations of our Diocese have stepped up to care for our neighbors. Our doors have been open, food bank shelves have been emptied, thrift shops have given essential items away, and many have cared for their neighbors.

Thanks to the efforts of Deacon Kalani Holokai, the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund resources have been brought to bear throughout the Diocese.

How can you help now with need in so many corners of the Diocese?

Monetary donations can be sent to the following address, or scan/click the QR code:

The Episcopal Church in Hawaiʻi

Attn.: Disaster Response Fund

229 Queen Emma Square

Honolulu, HI 96813

I will coordinate with Deacon Kalani to help our congregations respond to help those in need. Please contact Deacon Kalani Holokai, Community Relations Coordinator, HERE if your congregation needs assistance in responding to the needs of your community.

We together can make a difference.

God of wind and water, stillness and storm, your Spirit sweeps over the surface of the sea. Give us faith to seek you in times of trouble. Reach out your hand to us when we are sinking so that we may believe and worship you; through Jesus Christ, Sovereign and Savior. Amen.

“No ia mea, e nā hoahānau, e kūpaʻa ʻoukou, me ka nāueue ʻole, me ka hoʻomau i kā ʻoukou hana nui ʻana i ka hana a ka Haku, no ka mea, ua ʻike nō ʻoukou, ʻaʻole i make hewa kā ʻoukou hana ʻana ma ka Haku.” Korineto I 15.58

“Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

Aloha ma o Iesu Kristo, ko mākou Haku,

+Bob

The Right Reverend Robert L. Fitzpatrick

Bishop Diocesan

The Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i

The Episcopal Church in the Hawaiian Islands, Guam and Saipan

Be sure to stay informed with the Bishop's latest messages by clicking on the button shown. All video messages also appear on the Dioceseʻs YouTube Channel and Facebook page.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DIOCESE

Visit the Diocese's Calendar page HERE for Diocesan events & activities.

Coming Up:

The Consecration & Ordination of the Sixth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i

Saturday, November 14, 2026

The Cathedral of St. Andrew

Convention 58: All are invited to attend!

ALL IN THE DIOCESE are welcome to attend any and all of the Convention 58 events that run from Friday, October 16 through Sunday evening, October 18. Events include our annual Education Day, the Convention Opening Eucharist, the Ka Ha'alele 'Ana farewell reception for Bishop Bob on Friday, and the Annual Meeting of Convention on Saturday, taking place on the 'Iolani School campus. Closing out the weekend is a special Convention Evensong at The Cathedral of St. Andrew on Sunday for the class of 2026 honorary canons.

UPDATES: In case you missed it, read the Special Announcement HERE that went out on September 5, with links to the 2027 Proposed Budget, Resolutions received, and nominees for diocesan governance committees. For details and to stay informed, click on the buttons below for more information, where convention updates are being posted as they become available.

REMINDER: All neighbor island voting clergy and convention delegates should book your flights NOW, especially those planning to arrive on Saturday morning for the Annual Meeting. In most cases, there is only one flight that will get you to O'ahu in time before check-in closes at 8:30 AM. Remember, late arrivals could cause you to lose your ability to vote!

You're Invited! Episcopal Church Women Annual Meeting

COUNTDOWN! REGISTER HERE TODAY!

Tending to the Soul of Our Diocese: Formation for a Faithful Future in a Liminal Season

By the Rev. Canon Andrew J. Arakawa, Canon for Ministry Formation

I recently picked up my copy of Susan Beaumont’s book, How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You Are Going, to look at what she has to say about this liminal, in-between time we are in as a diocese. When we think about the future of the Church, it is easy to move quickly toward plans. What program should we begin? How can we strengthen stewardship, participation, leadership, or communication? These are worthwhile questions. Yet Beaumont invites an even deeper question: What does it mean to tend to the soul of an institution?

Our diocese is more than our congregations, buildings, budgets, committees, and calendars. We are the Body of Christ: a people with a history, a calling, joys and wounds, relationships, hopes, and a shared life in God. Soul tending is the patient, prayerful work of helping our communities remain connected to our deepest identity and vocation. This is formation work. READ MORE

This Sunday! MĀLAMA MĀKUA

OPPORTUNITIES

ORDAINED POSITION OPENINGS:

(Visit the Diocesan website HERE for more information.)

Part-time Vicar - Grace Episcopal Church, Ho'olehua, Moloka'i

LAY POSITION OPENINGS:

(Visit the Diocesan website HERE for more information.)

ECW ANNUAL MEETING: September 19, 2026 - St. Timothy's, Honolulu
CONVENTION 58: October 16 -18, 2026 - 'Iolani School, Honolulu, O'ahu (Education Day, Convention Eucharist, Ka Ha'alele 'Ana farewell reception for Bishop Bob, Annual Meeting, and special Convention Evensong at The Cathedral on Sunday)
VETERAN'S DAY EVENSONG: November 11 - The Cathedral of St. Andrew, Honolulu, O'ahu
CONSECRATION & ORDINATION OF THE SIXTH BISHOP OF HAWAI'I: November 14, 2026, The Cathedral of St. Andrew, Honolulu, O'ahu, with Ke Kipa ‘Ana Welcome Reception to follow

ISLAND HAPPENINGS

Visit the Diocese's Community Calendar page HERE for ongoing activities in your neighborhood.

AT THE CATHEDRAL...

RUMMAGE SALE SUCCESS! The Cathedral's Annual Rummage Sale on Saturday, September 5, was a great success! The Cathedral made $2,764 for the day! Mahalo to all our wonderful volunteers for making this event not only possible, but a joyful morning for our community to enjoy! (Cathedral's online news)

REGULAR SERVICE SCHEDULE & KEIKI CHURCH!

We have returned to the regular service schedule (7am, 8am, 10am). Keiki Church has also started, taking place first Sundays during the 10:00 am service

CATHEDRAL RUN CLUB

Meeting Monday's, 6:00 pm at Magic Island, Ala Moana Beach Park, next to the parking lot. For a good walk and talk and connect time! All are welcome!

CHORAL EVENSONG

Celebrating Women Mystics

A Choral Recital by community-based women's choir La Sorellanza begins at 5:00 pm followed by the Cathedral's Choral Evensong at 5:30 pm.

The Cathedral of St. Andrew: 229 Queen Emma Square, Honolulu, HI 96813

www.cathedralhawaii.org

COMING UP!

Reminder: The Hawaiian Church Chronicle goes out on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month. For inclusion in this "COMING UP!" section, churches should submit event graphics to Diocesan Communications HERE by the Monday before release date.

O'ahu Highlight:

Celebration of New Ministry: The Rev. Brian G. Rallison

Friday, September 18, 2026

6:30 p.m

THIS SATURDAY! SEPTEMBER 12

Emmanuel, 780 Keolu Drive, Kailua, O'ahu

THIS SUNDAY! SEPTEMBER 13

St. Augustine's, 54-3801 Akoni Pule Hwy, Kapaau, Hawai'i Island

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

Christ Memorial, 2509 Kolo Rd., Kilauea, Kaua'i

ONGOING THROUGH OCTOBER 16

St. Augustine's, 54-3801 Akoni Pule Hwy, Kapaau, Hawai'i Island

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

St. John's Kula, 8992 Kula Highway, Kula, Maui

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Trinity By-the-Sea, 100 Kulanihakoi St., Kihei, Maui

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3

St. Augustine's, 54-3801 Akoni Pule Hwy, Kapaau, Hawai'i Island

OCTOBER 9 & 10

St. Clement's, 1515 Wilder Ave., Honolulu, O'ahu

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10

Emmanuel, 780 Keolu Drive, Kailua, O'ahu

The Episcopal Church & Beyond...

Episcopal services of remembrance planned as US marks 25 years since 9/11 attacks

(9/9/26) It has been 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and Episcopal congregations in New York, Washington, D.C., and beyond are hosting commemorations this week as part of the nationwide tributes to the attacks’ 2,977 victims. READ MORE

(Photo: Mark Lennihan/AP)

Reminders (Previously Announced)

Plan to attend Province VIII's Creation Care Network Conference, taking place September 25-27, 2026, at the Episcopal Retreat and Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Rev. Jazzy Bostock from St. John the Baptist in Waianae is a guest speaker! Register before July 15 for early bird discount! For more information and details, visit the event webpage HERE.

Ho'imi Pono Training for your Congregation! Ready to schedule Anti-Racism training for your church leadership, clergy, vestry, and Bishop's Committee? Contact Mary Carpenter HERE or call 808-221-4367

Required Safe Church Training - This is a reminder that Safe Church training is mandatory for all clergy, employees, vestry members, and most volunteers. Please read The Episcopal Diocese of Hawai‘i Safeguarding Policy and the Diocesan Safe Church Training Webpage. This training needs to be renewed every three years. Contact your church's Safe Church Administator or priest for more information, or if you have questions, email Nani Carroll.