2025 Clergy Pilgrimage

Our Clergy Pilgrims

[February 27, 2025] While the word "pilgrimage" may invoke images of faraway foreign lands like Bethlehem and Nazareth, clergy in the Diocese found spiritual and holy places nearer to home for their pilgrimage. Several years ago, there were plans for a possible pilgrimage to the Holy Land, but with the escalation of war, unrest around the world, and rising costs, that idea was dropped. Instead, the Diocese's Clergy Pilgrimage took place on O'ahu, February 11-13, 2025, with a journey to several historical sites around the island.

Over the course of three days, the clergy of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi were blessed with an opportunity to do a local pilgrimage to explore the stories and history of this place. I was particularly reminded of the impact of the illegal coup that removed Queen Liliʻuokalani from the throne and toppled the Kingdomʻs government with the support of U.S. Marines. The equally illegal and immoral annexation of the Hawaiian islands by the United States completed the process. While only time will tell what the future will hold and the possiblilty for some type of self determination for the Kānaka Maoli, I was reminded on a walk today through the Cathedral of our Aliʻi founders as a Church here and who were our parishioners. The Episcopal Church has a particular responsibility to these Islands and for all the people entrusted to us by them and by God. ~ The Right Rev. Robert Fitzpatrick

The pilgrimage began on Tuesday afternoon at The Cathedral of St. Andrew, with a tour and liturgy, led by Dean Heather Patton-Graham and Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick. (Photos by Peter Wallace)

Our pilgrims were able to stay at the St. Anthony Retreat Center in Kalihi... a tranquil and lush getaway in the heart of Honolulu.

On Wednesday, our pilgrims took a step back in time to the sugar plantation era from the 1850s-1950s. They visited Hawai'i's Plantation Village in historic Waipahu town, where more than 25 plantation homes and structures were restored and decorated with personal artifacts, clothing, furniture and art, placed in their original settings.

The Rev. Kate Cullinane (far right) drove the Rev. Suzanne Kobayashi and Deacon Alberta Buller to their destination, making sure to stop and enjoy the view along the way.

On their final day, our pilgrims were treated to Hawai'i's newest treasure, Umeke Lāʻau, a large-scale sculptural calabash spanning 22 feet in diameter. Its artist, Meleanna Aluli Meyer, was commissioned by curators of Hawai‘i Triennial 2025 (HT25), a multi-site exhibition of contemporary art from Hawaiʻi, the Pacific, and beyond. Not yet open to the public, Meleanna gave the group a private presentation on its creation and use. ʻUmeke Lāʻau serves as a gathering space for meaningful conversations, cultural exchange, and healing through art. It is currently on display at Honolulu Hale until May 4, 2025.

Coverage of ʻUmeke Lāʻau's opening can be viewed on Hawai'i News Now HERE. Art installation celebrating community gathering, cultural expression installed at Honolulu Hale

Closing out the pilgrimage was a tour of nearby 'Iolani Palace, built in 1882 by King Kalākaua.

This is the room at 'Iolani Palace where the queen was kept imprisoned. We presented her prayer book and sang the Queen’s Prayer (a song that she wrote while imprisoned). The tour guide was moved to tears. ~ The Rev. Kate Cullinane

ʻIolani Palace is a living restoration of a proud Hawaiian national identity and is recognized as the spiritual and physical multicultural epicenter of Hawaiʻi. ~ Iolanipalace.org

Pictured at the top of the page are clergy at the Hawai'i Plantation Village. From left are: The Revs. Peter Wallace, David Gierlach, Karen Swanson, Bishop Bob, Paul Nahoa Lucas, Jazzy Bostock, Brian Rallison and Heather Mueller. (Photo: Annalise Pasalo)

Mahalo to Peter Wallace, Kate Cullinane, and Sandy Graham for all of the other photos shown.

Reporting: Sybil Nishioka, Editor & Communications Specialist