Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 24, Number 7, 1 July 2007 — "Talking Story" with Kahu Billy Mitchell [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

"Talking Story" with Kahu Billy Mitchell

It's Friday, lune 8, 9 in the a.m. Iust another beautiful, sunny day on the "wet side" of Waimea-Kohala. Mauna Kea stands tall in my foreground. No clouds shroud Tutu Lady's purple slopes this morning. A light trade is blowing across Pu'ukapu. Our side of town is usually vibrant green. Today, it's the color of straw about to turn from yellow to dull gray. We have not had rain for some time and ean use a good drenching. I'm on my way to a 9: 10 morning appointment with Kahu Billy Mitchell of Mana Christian Church. I have not visited with Kahu in a time. The last time I saw him was at a ground blessing at the Four Seasons-Hualālai-Ka'ūpiilehu several years ago. He is the first of several whom I have asked to "talk story" with. One of our many unsung heroes who labor quietly every day "to better conditions for our people." In Kahu's case, through a ministry based on aloha, compassion and hope. Kahu Billy serves many roles, wears many hats, and does many things. Husband, father, now grandfather, friend, community leader, teacher, surfer, advisor, counselor,

and Kahu. Married to Ienny Hind, he and Ienny are the proud parents of three, a daughter and two sons, and were blessed three months ago with a grandson. Born on O'ahu, raised in Niumalu (Dogpatch) before the highrises took over, Kahu and his family reside where Mānā Road tees on to Māmalahoa Highway. Kahu graduated from Kamehameha School for Boys in 1963. Four years later he received his B.A. from the University of Northern Colorado. He also spent three semesters at UH Richardson School of Law. His formal education is balanced by the practical lessons of life, living, sea and surf. As a Kahu, he speaks passionately about 'ohana and community, the need for people to have an anchor in life, a force, being, spirit greater than oneself. It does not matter to him who one believes in. What matters is that one believes in a force greater than one's self and in the time we are here on this earth that we make good use of our God- and life-given talents for the good of others. He is clear and sincere when he says one needs a God. He is also clear and sincere when he asks, "Why should one care if it's Buddha, Lono, or Allah? We all need someone who ean be a 'shelter in a time of storm."' Billy is not your spitfire New England Calvinist, the "sinners in the hands of an angry God," "fire and brimstone" evangelist. He subscribes to a God who is kind and gentle and a Jesus whose dogma is based on

aloha, 'ohana, lōkahi and kuleana. Jeremiah 29:1 1 is just one of many favorite scriptures and a verse whieh sums up his ministry: '"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."' He is pleased with where we as Kānaka Maoli are today: "Agencies like OHA, Alu Like, Kanu 0 Ka 'Āina, Kamehameha and Bishop Estate all seem to be coming together, working together to help our Hawaiian people move forward. We ean remain bitter or we ean go forward. We are choosing to go forward .... Thirty years ago, we needed to be victims. We needed to be bitter. Today is different. We don't feel like victims anymore. Our genetics is to 'imua." We have picked ourselves up and we are moving ahead .... We have Hōkūle'a and Makali'i, language immersion, Pūnana Leo, Kamehameha preschools. We have lōkahi, ho'omau, kuleana. We are more united as a people. We are still here. The land is still here .... Yes, we must look back - nānā i ke kumu. But we need to go forward - ka lā hiki ola. There is a new day dawning; we are in a new plaee as Hawaiians. Even OHA is in a new plaee. It has credibility. It's doing good things." And his church is playing a role in this new time: "We are doing our part as are other churches and other community groups and other races to make our community a better plaee. My focus is our Hawaiian people - reconciling people with their families,

the land, themselves ... I eall it 'saving the eanoe.' We need as a church to set the stroke. More and more of our folks are educating their children. Giving them values. Helping them go forward. Leaving something good for the coming generations." When asked what enjoys most about being a Kahu, he immediately replies, "I LOVE TO HELP PEOPLE." His ministry of aloha, compassion and hope covers a gamut of issues, challenges, questions and opportunities. Drug and aleohol abuse and dependency, family violence, death and dying, community conflicts. The entire ninety yards. And he does it all with love and grace. For Kahu Billy's attitude of service and love, a scripture in the New Testament comes to mind. Paul, the apostle, shares with the saints that they have freedom. However, they should not waste their freedom on the flesh. They should instead love and serve others. "E na hoahanau, ua heaia oukou ma ka luhi ole; mai hoolilo nae oukou i ua luhi ole la i mea no ke kino, aka, ma ke aloha e malama aku kekahi i kekahi." Galatia 5:13 "For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." Galatians 5:13 Mahalo to you Kahu Billy, Jenny, your 'ohana and your congregation for the help you give unconditionally to better conditions for our people. Ho'oulu Lāhui Aloha. S

LEO 'ELELE ■ TRUSTEE MESSAGES

Rūbert K. Lindsey. Jr. TrustEE, Hawai'i