Stories

  • Story: The Shallow Cormorant - August 30, 2026 Exodus 3:1-15Matthew 16:21-28 Unusually, today’s story isn’t about a Hawaiian bird. It’s about a bird you’ll find along the coasts, lakes, and rivers of North America. You’ll find them way up north in Canada or Alaska in summer, and as far south as the shores of Mexico in winter. It’s called the … Continue reading Story: The Shallow Cormorant
  • Story: Body of Nene - August 23, 2026 Romans 12:1-8Matthew 16:13-20 He’d done it at last. He’d graduated from nene school. He’d learned to forage, and he’d learned to fly even better, and he’d learned to fly in formation. He knew everything there was to know about living well as a nene. I have to say that that’s a pretty … Continue reading Story: Body of Nene
  • Story: Settle Down, ‘Amakihi - August 16, 2026 Isaiah 56:1, 6-8Matthew 15:21-28 ‘Amakihi aren’t the most social birds in the world. We’re used to seeing the flocks of myna around Hilo, and we’re used to seeing saffron finches in pairs. I’ve never seen more than one ‘amakihi at a time, which I grant you isn’t all that useful as information, … Continue reading Story: Settle Down, ‘Amakihi
  • Story: Wide World - July 26, 2026 Romans 8:26-39Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 Over the next few weeks we’re likely to start seeing one of our famous Hawaiian birds again. We’re approaching the time of year when the kolea make their 3000 mile non-stop flight from Alaska to Hawai’i where, like sensible birds, they’ll spend the winter. A myna and a … Continue reading Story: Wide World
  • Story: One Loves - July 19, 2026 Psalm 86:11-17Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 The koa’e kea (white-tailed tropicbird) loved to fly. She loved to fly over the sea, and to hover over the water before diving to capture a fish or squid. She loved to fly over the land as well, to feel the thermals lift her wings as she crossed … Continue reading Story: One Loves
  • Story: Unexpected Blossoms - July 12, 2026 Isaiah 55:10-13Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 In all her lifetime, there was a grove of ohi’a that had never, ever blossomed. Admittedly, she was young. There hadn’t been a great deal of her lifetime for the ohi’a to blossom. But they never had, she knew. Because that stand of trees was really handy, she … Continue reading Story: Unexpected Blossoms
  • Story: Unsatisfied - July 5, 2026 Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 It was her first time to be leader of the flock. She greatly appreciated the responsibility. Look at all those birds – twenty or more – who would rely on her to help them find food and shelter and safety. There were ‘apapane like herself, there … Continue reading Story: Unsatisfied
  • Story: Fish Stories - June 28, 2026 Jeremiah 28:5-9Matthew 10:40-42 I’m not a fisherman. You’re not likely to find me along the shore with a long fishing rod or standing in the shallows somewhere with a net. What I do know about fishing, however, is a piece of advice I’ve only picked up in recent years. “It’s called fishing, … Continue reading Story: Fish Stories
  • Story: Worthy Birds - June 21, 2026 Genesis 21:8-21Romans 6:1b-11 During the summer, some of the birds in the Hawaiian mountain forests like to gather into flocks. You’ve probably seen flocks of mynas around Hilo, and one evening I saw a big flock of cattle egrets, which was impressive, and I’ve also seen flocks of seven or eight nene … Continue reading Story: Worthy Birds
  • Story: The Merciful Myna - June 14, 2026 Exodus 19:2-8aMatthew 9:35-10:8 This may sound a little bit odd to you – it sounds a little bit odd to me – but one of the mynas that lives near our church decided to listen to the sermon. Without falling asleep, which is a nice trick. And as you know, I’ve been … Continue reading Story: The Merciful Myna