The Episcopal Church Of West Oahu - St.Nicholas

theECWO ECHOThe Episcopal Church of West OahuVOLUME 2, ISSUE 8AUGUST 2015Spotlight Interview: Keane AkaoDirector of Operations and Congregational DevelopmentThe Episcopal Church of West O‘ahuWhat’s your hometown?Maili, right here in West O‘ahu.Before working with ECWO, what was the most unusual or interesting jobyou’ve ever had?I find people’s first jobs interesting. My entry into the workforce was as aFragrance Representative – a.k.a. "perfume pest" – at Liberty House launchingMichael Kor's inaugural fragrance in 1999 while attending the University ofHawai‘i Manoa as a full-time student.Keane with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.Tell me how you first got involved with ECWO.It’s been a gradual process. I was first involved with ECWO as a member of the Diocesan Council Taskforce organized to identify the viability of the regional ministry model. That was in the summer of 2014. By the end ofthat year, I was brought in by the West O‘ahu Regional Leadership Council as a Contractor to make the regionalministry model a reality. And this year, I was hired on as the full-time Director of Operations and CongregationalDevelopment.What has surprised you most about working with ECWO?The biggest surprise was learning that the St. Stephen’s Food Pantry serves an average of 200 people a month andthey’re open just 2 days a week, for 2 hours at a time (as a plug for the Food Pantry, I’ll just mention they’re openTuesdays from 9:00am to 11:00am and Fridays from 9:00am to 11:00am; donations can be dropped off at the Regional Office in Aiea or directly with St. Stephen’s at 1679 California Ave, Wahiawa, HI 96786).What would people never guess you do in your role?I spend a lot of time listening. I’ve started inviting people to join me for coffee so I can hear their stories and learnabout their passions and interests. If you haven't yet been invited to coffee, you will be soon! Within 18 months,my goal is to have a cup of coffee or meal with each person or family participating in the life of ECWO. Starbucks,by the way, is a favorite watering hole.Tell me about someone who has influenced your decision to work with ECWO.I have to say it’s not one person, but my entire family that influenced my decision to work for ECWO. I am a bornand raised Episcopalian with deep roots in the ministry sites I now serve. My grandparents, May and ClarenceHolokai (Clarence died in 2003), raised my brother and me for many years using the church as an incubator forfaith development and service to our community. For those of you who know May, she is not a wallflower, but atrue matriarch of the Episcopal presence on West O‘ahu. And if anyone remembers my grandfather Clarence, hewas a diligent, particular and selfless man who served St. Philip’s (now St. John the Baptist) as their sexton fornearly 20 years after retiring from Hawaiian Airlines as a mechanic. The revitalization of St. John the Baptist is in(Continued on page 3.)

VOLUME2,ISSUE8PAGE2NEW PRESIDING BISHOP OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCHEPISCOPAL CHURCHWEST OAHUThe Rt. Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina waswww.ecwo.orgelected the 27th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church on the first ballot on June 27.Bishop Curry, 62, is the first African-American to be elected PreMinisters:siding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. The election took placeVicar:during the 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church. OfVACANTthe 174 votes tallied, Bishop Curry received 121 (89 needed toSt. Nicholas - St. Timothy elect). Following the election by the House of Bishops, Bishopvicar@stnickschurch.orgCurry’s election was overwhelmingly confirmed by the House ofDeputies, 800 for, 12 against.Priest:Kaleo PattersonSt. John the BaptistSt. Stephen’skaleo.patterson@ecwo.orgDeacon:Steve CostaSt. Stephen'ssteve.costa@ecwo.orgEpiscopal Church ofWest Oahu:Keane J. K. Akao98-939 Moanalua RoadAiea, HI 96701Direct: 808.561.1244keane.akao@ecwo.orgTreasurer:Doug BrownEDGEShana ob Windischgigatt99@hawaiiantel.netPhotography:Deacon Steve CostaShana IkedaDave JonesKahu Kaleo PattersonKevin ShinBob WindischMeet Presiding Bishop-Elect CurryCurry was ordained Bishop of North Carolina on June 17, 2000, His experience includes:1988-2000: Rector , St. James Episcopal Church, Baltimore, MD.1982-1988: Rector, St. Simon of Cyrene Episcopal Church, Lincoln Heights, Ohio.1982-1988: Chaplain, Bethany School.1978-1982: Rector, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Winston Salem, North Carolina.He has served on a number of Episcopal Church Committees, Commissions, Agencies andBoards including, but not limited to: Chair, Board of Directors, Episcopal Relief and Development (current) Board of Trustees, Saint Augustine's University (current) North Carolina Council of Churches (current) Moral Monday movement (current) Chair, Advisory Committee, Office of Black Ministries (current) TREC/Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church Union of Black Episcopalians Institute of Christian and Black Studies of Baltimore Ecumenical Clergy on the Square, Revival and Citizens on Patrol (Baltimore) Board, Episcopal Social Ministries, Diocese of Maryland Chair and Co-Chair, convention Planning Team, Diocese of Maryland Commission on Ministry, Dioceses of Maryland, Southern Ohio and North Carolina General Board of Examining Chaplains Board and Faculty, College of Preachers Coordinator, The Racism Steering Committee, Diocese of Southern Ohio Board, Winston-Salem Urban LeagueBishop Curry holds a Bachelor of Arts, with high honors from Hobart and William SmithCollege; a Masters of Divinity from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale; Continuing studies atthe College of Preachers, Princeton Theological Seminary, Wake Forest University; the Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary’s Seminary and Institute of Jewish Christian Studies; and D.D.honors causa, from Sewanee The University of the South, Berkeley Divinity School at Yale,Virginia Theological Seminary and the Episcopal Divinity School.Bishop Curry is also an author to numerous books and articles. He is married to Sharonand they are the parents of two adult children.(Editor’s Note: The above article was lightly edited for space.)

PAGE3VOLUME2,ISSUE8(Spotlight Interview continued from page 1.)part to honor the years of service and historic connection my family has with that ministry site. God bless my family forbeing Episcopalian.What are 3 words to describe ECWO?Adaptive. Organized. Visionary.That sounds Interesting. Can you expand on that – what’s on your wish list for the next 5 years with ECWO? 10years?I see us building in Kapolei, I would like to get the diocesan loan for St. John the Baptist’s revitalization paid off, I’d likea strategic plan developed to address the lack of an Episcopal presence in Waipio/Mililani, and I'd like St. Timothy's toreinvent itself into a cardinal parish of the Diocese.Sounds like you’re busy. What’s a day in the life of Keane Akao like?14 zip codes in 12 hours! I rarely sit still and I enjoy it. On any given day, you’ll find me somewhere in the region or atthe Office of the Bishop. I might be meeting contractors, clergy, or parishioners; working on the budget or a contract;overseeing payroll; helping our ministries as they serve our communities; making copies; planning an event; or handlingtax details. Of course, it wouldn’t be possible without the amazing team with whom I’m privileged to work: Belinda, theRegional Administrator; Suzanne, the Regional Bookkeeper; our clergy: Fr. Kaleo and Deacon Steve; our amazingBishop’s Committees, and our committed volunteers. I’m constantly humbled by the aloha, the joy, and the passion ofour team.Switching topics, what might someone be surprised to know about you?I love the egg salad sandwich from 7-Eleven. It’s my “go-to” meal when I’m on the run.What is one thing you wouldn’t choose to live without?Honey, my 6-year old black Labrador/Shar Pei – she’s often with me on my errands around the region and in the office.What else?My electronic connections to people and documents. my iPhones (I have two), laptop, desktop computer, etc. Wherever I am, I’m available and ready to meet or work. Or both.What do you do when you aren't working?I'm thinking about work. I’ll admit that it does sometimes drive my family and friends nuts that I’ll constantly check myphones during meals. I also take tennis lessons on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at Kapaolono Park in Kaimuki.Other interests include cooking (I find it very therapeutic), dining out (I’m quite the foodie), fashion, event design andespecially TRAVEL!What future travel plans do you have?Most of my travel tends to be for work. For work-related travel, I’ll be going to Kauai in August to learn about and observe All Saint’s Laundry Love Program. After that, I go to Denver, Colorado in September for Project Resource, aninaugural church fundraising conference that I’m attending as one of five diocesan delegates. For personal travel, I havea trip to Japan in the works.What’s the name of a book you recently read?“Fearless Church Fundraising” by Charles LaFond – who, by the way, will be the keynote speaker at the Project Resource conference I’ll be attending in September.Any last words?Thanks for your time. And, I’d also like people to know I’m available to meet and talk. I can be reached atkeane.akao@ecwo.org, 808.488.5747 (office), 808.380.6190 (direct dial), and 808.561.1244 (mobile).

VOLUME2,ISSUE8PAGE4ST. NICHOLAS OPEN HOUSE: JULY 26 EVENING SERVICEOn July 29, St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, desiring tomaintain and expand our presence in Kapolei, had anopen house to showcase the Sunday evening service.About 50 people from St. Nicholas, the ECWOchurches and from the Kapolei community attendedthe service. Father Matthew Lukens did an “instructedservice”, stopping occasionally to explain what he wasdoing and how it related to being Episcopal. A specialbooklet for the worship service was prepared and designed by Luella Windisch, Dot Shigemura and FatherLukens. If you missed this informative and enjoyableservice you can find it on our website or on U-Tube asKevin Shin streamed the service live. The worshipbooklet with all the explanations is also on-line.The service was streamed live.Father Matthew with Laundry Alohaleader David Morales.This special service was plannedand designed over the course ofseveral weeks involving numerous members of the St. Nick’sohana. The original idea camefrom Luella Windisch who spentmany hours and sleepless nightsagonizing over the details andworrying about the success andcoordinating the different eventsand times including recruiting the Taco Chino foodtruck to provide some ono grinds following the service.A dozen of the 4 dozen cupcakesbaked by Bishop’s Warden ShanaIkeda.Father Matt and Shana enjoyinga light moment after service.The band was extra good!Isiah Chong readsthe ScripturesFather Matt explaining a part of theEpiscopal Service.

PAGE5VOLUME2,ISSUEThis is the Waiola - Living Water Project being offered in the ECWO region but currentlybased at St. Stephen's and St. John's the Baptist. It is designed to be a formation, faithdevelopment and confirmation program. Eight sessions, with flexibility for make-up sessionsor one-one sessions. Small group sessions are currently being held on Saturday mornings andafternoon, and as a scheduled. The sessions will repeat itself three times over the nexttwelve months. The facilitator is Fr. Kaleo Patterson. For more info T. 808 330-37698