The land under the Waimea Hawaiian Church was among two parcels deeded to the 'Ohana Ni'ihau o Waimea Ekalesia to redress past wrongs. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

Making amends

Ni'ihau worshippers receive
apology, gifts of land

By Liza Simon / Ka Wai Ola

More than a century ago, missionaries from the United Church of Christ aided American businessmen in the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, but last month local UCC officials not only asked to be forgiven for their forebears' complicity but also gifted members of 'Ohana Ni'ihau o Waimea Ekalesia the deed to the land on which their church and a fellowship hall stand in Waimea town. Church members also received the deed for a nearby parcel off Kaumuali'i Highway on Kaua'i's west side.

The milestone development was marked with an Oct. 4 ceremony at the Waimea Hawaiian Church, the site officially conveyed to the congregation of 'Ohana Ni'ihau o Waimea Ekalesia.

“As a Native Hawaiian, I encourage all of you to choose to forgive, and, as you allow this ekalesia to grow on these lands, … you will be allowing yourselves to see and understand the lessons learned from that period of time of the overthrow,” Caroline Peters Belsom, chair of the UCC Hawai'i Conference Council, told the emotional crowd.

The conveyance of land is part of a larger UCC redress plan. Following the Clinton administration's 1993 passage of the Apology Bill, UCC officials decided on a list of actions intended to heal the cultural loss perpetuated by westerners at the expense of Native Hawaiians, following the overthrow of Queen Lili'uokalani.

The congregation of the 'Ohana Ni'ihau o Waimea Ekalesia is comprised of Ni'ihau natives who have moved to Kaua'i from the privately owned island across the channel.

For the last 13 years, the Ni'ihau church has become known for the stirring sound of its Sunday services, including the singing of hymns and sermons entirely in 'ōlelo Hawai'i. Ever since the UCC designed its redress plan, an effort had been underway for the Ni'ihau church to incorporate and affiliate with UCC. With the land conveyance, this plan is also being put into action, at last. The Ni'ihau congregation received official recognition last July as the newest Hawai'i Conference UCC church. Its standing will be celebrated at a Nov. 9 'Aha Mokupuni, jointly hosted by the 'Ohana Waimea o Ni'ihau and Waimea UCC. Ilei Bennimina, a member of the Ni'ihau congregation, said not all of its members support the church's new standing with the UCC, preferring instead to remain independent.