Light of the Pacific/Issue 59/Text
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LIGHT of the PACIFIC
HAWAII BAHÁ’Í NEWS
PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
FOR CIRCULATION AMONG BAHÁ’ÍS ONLY
NOV. 1970 BAHÁ’Í YEAR 127 NO. 59
MID-YEAR CONFERENCE[edit]
Group photograph of some of the friends who attended the Mid-Year Conference held at the National Hazíratu’l-Quds, October 24-25, 1970. Hand of the Cause Mr. Enoch Olinga is seated in center, holding the nine-pointed rosette.
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October 27, 1970 BAHÁ’Í FAITH, HONOLULU GRATIFIED ENTHUSIASM HAWAIIAN FRIENDS PRESENCE HANDCAUSE OLINGA MANIFESTED UPSURGE SPIRIT NEW DETERMINATION ACHIEVE ALL GOALS PLAN STOP IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITIES HAWAII HOME ISLANDS FARFLUNG PACIFIC OBJECTIVES WARRANT REDOUBLED EFFORTS PROSPECTS GREAT VICTORIES YOUR DEVOTED COMMUNITY LOVING GREETINGS (S) UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE |
October 15, 1970 Mid-Year Conference, NSA of the Bahá’ís of The Hawaiian Islands - To the friends assembled at the Mid-Year Conference we send our heartfelt and loving greetings and know that you are partaking of a spiritual feast in the presence of beloved Hand of the Cause, Enoch Olinga. (cont. next page)
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The Hawaiian friends can review their achievements with pride and with thankful hearts, for your community is vigorous and dedicated and several pioneers have already arisen and gone to their goals.
As the world rushes into greater and greater darkness and destruction, we find around us more and more people who are seeking God and are opening their souls to His Word. Bearing this in mind, let us meditate, and then act upon these words of the Universal House of Justice addressed to the Bahá’ís of the world:
"What is needed now is the awakening of all believers to the immediacy of the challenge so that each may assume his share of the responsibility for taking the Teachings to all humanity. Universal participation, a salient objective of the Nine Year Plan, must be pressed toward attainment in every continent, country and island of the globe. Every Bahá’í, however humble or inarticulate, must become intent on fulfilling his role as a bearer of the Divine Message. Indeed, how can a true believer remain silent while around us men cry out in anguish for truth, love and unity to descend upon this world?"
With deepest Bahá’í love, CONTINENTAL BOARD OF COUNSELLORS, (s) Suhayl A. Ala’í
HAND OF THE CAUSE VISITS[edit]
Hand of the Cause Mr. Enoch Olinga arrived in Honolulu at 10 PM, on Friday, October 23, and was greeted by about 75 of the friends. Mr. Olinga had been travelling for almost six months and had flown in from Alaska where he attended a 3-day conference. He was understandably tired so after many greetings and presentation of flower leis he was driven to his hotel to rest.
On Saturday morning a press breakfast was held for him in a private dining-room at the Pagoda Restaurant, with representatives of the local papers.
While he was thus engaged, a group of Bahá’ís met for a prayer session at the Temple Site in Kalihi area of Honolulu. Included in the observance was the planting of a cypress tree, grown by Miss Gertrude Garrida from seed brought from Haifa.
After lunch Mr. Olinga paid visits to Hand of the Cause Miss Agnes Alexander and also to the grave of Hand of the Cause Miss Martha Root. The Mid-Year Conference started at 1:00 PM at National Headquarters.
After greetings by the chairman Tracy Hamilton, Dr. Claude Caver, ABM, gave welcoming remarks and a message from the Continental Board of Counsellors was read.
The next two hours were spent in discussion and a general review of Hawaii’s goals and means of filling them -- both on the homefront and overseas in the Trust Territories, Solomon, Gilbert & Ellice Islands.
Mr. Olinga then discussed the importance of the Bahá’í Fund and the institutions of the Faith. At this afternoon session we were blessed by the attendance of Miss Alexander, who was presented with a copy of her published memoirs. It was a rare privilege to have two Hands of the Cause with us at the same time.
The meeting adjourned for dinner at 4:00 PM.
At the evening public meeting, held in the Kamehameha Room of the Surfrider Hotel at 8:00 o’clock, there were over 300 present, nearly half of whom were non-Bahá’ís.
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"Peace, Justice, Progress" was the title of Mr. Olinga's talk, which was held on the 25th Anniversary of UN Day. The audience was very responsive and immediately after the meeting a young woman who had been studying the Faith, signed her card and declared herself in Mr. Olinga's presence.
The Sunday session began at 10 a.m. and concerned itself with various reports from all Hawaiian areas, until 12 noon.
Mr. Olinga spoke at the 3:00 PM session and earnestly called upon the believers to pioneer in the needed areas or deputize someone else. A message to the Universal House of Justice was drafted, reporting the meeting and the number of volunteers for pioneer posts or extension teaching. The session adjourned at 5:30, after which Mr. Olinga and the NSA members had a dinner meeting at the Pagoda.
At 8:00 PM Mr. Olinga had an armchair chat with the Bahá’ís. At this time he viewed for the first time the film of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to America and "The New Wind." Also shown were colored slides of the Bahá’í float in the Aloha Week parade.
There were three new declarations on Sunday and three additional ones after Mr. Olinga's departure for his hotel.
On Monday, a group of friends had lunch with their honored guest at the airport. He left at 3:30 for his next stop in Samoa.
Approximately 144 people registered for this Conference, including 45 from the outer islands. There were two believers from the mainland and one from Canada.
The Honolulu papers, Star-Bulletin and Advertiser, gave Mr. Olinga's visit 2 and 3 column articles, and he was also reported in the New China Daily Press.
Warm letters of greeting to Mr. Olinga and appreciation for his speaking appearance in Honolulu were received from both Gov. John A. Burns and Mayor Frank F. Fasi.
Gov. Burns spoke of the appropriateness of Mr. Olinga's visit during the 25th observance of United Nations Day and the topic of his talk, "Peace, Justice and Progress."
Mr. Le Loc, chairman of the NSA of Vietnam, visited Hawaii on his return trip from representing Vietnam at the Inter-Oceanic Conference in La Paz, Bolivia. Before coming to Hawaii he travelled in the United States for almost two months.
While in Hawaii Mr. Le Loc extended his stay and spent over a week visiting Kauai, Maui and Hawaii where he addressed the Bahá’ís.
On the Big Island a meeting and reception for Mr. Le Loc was held at the Hawaii Preparatory Academy. The affair was arranged by the wife of the Headmaster, Mrs. Lynn Taylor. A group of about 40 attended the meeting, which was well reported in the Hilo Tribune-Herald and the Kona papers.
On Oahu he maintained a very busy schedule and made several exciting proclamation presentations, and spoke at many firesides. At the chapel at Tripler General Hospital he spoke to a group of 12. A group of 25 gathered at the home of Dr. and Mrs. L.M. Beers to hear him. He also gave a fireside in the courtyard of Kuhio Park Terrace. On the night of his departure he spoke at a fireside for some 10 or 15 patients at the Hansen's Disease Hospital, Hale Mohalu, in Pearl City.
On October 6 Mr. Le Loc spoke at the University of Hawaii on "Education." There were about 15 contacts who later were interested in knowing more about the Faith. Mr. Le Loc was also interviewed by reporters from Ka Leo, the campus newspaper, and Pacific Asian Affairs Council's newspaper. Before the meeting, the University Bahá’í Club members had lunch at the East-West Center with Mr. Le Loc.
Mr. Le Loc also did proclamation through the various media. He was special guest on the "Old Ironsides" program on KTRG where he was interviewed for an hour and 15 minutes. Listeners were able to call in questions to Mr. Le Loc.
He was a guest on 'Personality of the Day' on KIKU-TV, as well as on the Bonnie Phillips show, 'Life is an Adventure,' on KNDI.
(Cont'd on p 4)
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A major first for our proclamation effort was an interview in the Hawaii Hochi, Hawaii’s Japanese Community newspaper.
In all his talks and interviews Mr. Le Loc stressed the universality of the Bahá’í Faith, and how it is the only Faith which can provide the answers for today’s problems. He used his country of Vietnam as an example of how people react to a Faith that does not concern itself with politics. He said in Vietnam the Bahá’ís teach everywhere, even in the villages controlled by the Viet Cong because the V.C. know that the Bahá’í Faith is not concerned with politics.
Those who met Mr. Le Loc were tremendously impressed with his knowledge and devotion to the Faith, his sincere, humble approach and the masterful manner in which he handled questions.
We all hope that he can visit Hawaii again because of the tremendous spirit he has infused into our proclamation effort.
BELOVED VISITORS[edit]
Universal House of Justice member Mr. Hugh Chance and Mrs. Chance visited the Big Island Bahá’ís on November 2 and 3. They arrived at 2:00 PM on Monday, and Mr. Chance was taken directly to Hilo College where he spoke to the Integrated Freshman Class.
At 6:00 PM twenty-seven Bahá’ís and guests gathered at Sun Sun Lau Restaurant for a Chinese dinner.
A good sized group at Wentworth Hall, Hilo College, enjoyed the talk given by Mr. Chance. Shown also were slides, “Bahá’ís and the Holy Land,” with commentary by Mr. William Sears. A question and answer session followed the program.
On Tuesday Mr. Chance attended the Rotary Club Luncheon, after which he and Mrs. Chance were taken on a short sight-seeing tour around Hilo area.
At 5:10 PM we regretfully said our Alohas to our very charming and loving Bahá’í friends.
After leaving Hilo Mr. and Mrs. Chance went to Maui for an overnight stay. While there they met with the Bahá’ís and guests for a public meeting and the slide presentation.
On November 4 they arrived in Honolulu, and were taken to visit Hand of the Cause Miss Agnes Alexander, and the grave of foremost Hand of the Cause Miss Martha Root. They later enjoyed dinner at the Pagoda Restaurant with members of the NSA and their spouses, and Auxiliary Board member Dr. Caver.
At 8:00 PM at the National Haziratu’l-Quds about 100 Bahá’ís and friends met to see the slides of the Holy Land, and this was followed by an informal social.
The following morning Mr. Chance left for the south Pacific. Mrs. Chance remained in Honolulu to do some sight-seeing, then had lunch with several Bahá’ís at the Garden Court in Ala Moana Center. Late that night Mrs. Chance left for New Zealand where she was to rejoin her husband.
MR. G. MITCHELL HERE[edit]
Mr. Glenford Mitchell, secretary of the NSA of the United States, stopped briefly in Honolulu on his way to Japan to attend a conference on religion and peace.
While here Mr. Mitchell spoke at the Bahá’í Center on Sunday evening, October 11, on the topic “Unity from Diversity.” He addressed an audience of about 75 persons concerning the situation
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LET’S IMPROVE THIS PICTURE![edit]
NATIONAL TREASURER’S REPORT FOR THE MID-YEAR CONFERENCE OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
STATUS OF FUND BEGINNING 21 MARCH ENDING 20 OCTOBER 1970
| FUND | BUDGET | RECEIPTS |
|---|---|---|
| INTERNATIONAL Bahá’í FUND | $ 1500.00 | $ 493.80 |
| INTERNATIONAL DEPUTIZATION | 1000.00 | 134.00 |
| CONTINENTAL FUND | 500.00 | 212.20 |
| Bahá’í GARDEN OF LIGHT | 400.00 | 90.00 |
| TEMPLE SITE | 2400.00 | 1338.47 |
| PANAMA TEMPLE | 1000.00 | 389.50 |
| PIONEERS | 2700.00 | 580.00 |
| LITERATURE | 1400.00 | 28.50 |
| HAZÍRATU’L-QUDS | 10000.00 | 700.00 |
| TRINIDAD/TOBAGO | 1080.00 | 00 |
| U.S. Bahá’í PUBLIC INFORMATION | 800.00 | 00 |
| NATIONAL Bahá’í FUND | 12016.43 | |
| GENERAL EXPENSES | 9300.00 | 00 |
| NATIONAL COMMITTEES | ||
| NATIONAL GOALS | 13000.00 | 1075.00 |
| NATIONAL PROCLAMATION | 3200.00 | 169.50 |
| ISLAND GOALS & TEACHING | 1280.00 | 40.86 |
| NATIONAL YOUTH | 1000.00 | 81.70 |
| Bahá’í SCHOOLS COUNCIL | 500.00 | 28.00 |
| OTHERS | 1275.00 | 00 |
| SECRETARY/MISCELLANEOUS | 5500.00 | 00 |
| TOTALS: | 57,935.00 | 17,377.96 |
| Regular contributions: | $17,377.96 | Budget: | $57,935.00 |
| Other income: | 1,621.85 | Receipts: | 18,999.81 |
| Grand total: | 18,999.81 | Balance to be Achieved -- | 38,935.19 |
MONTHLY GOAL [Graph showing bar chart with monthly contributions for APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT]
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SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL FUND Contributions received during period of October 21 to November 20: Local Assemblies - 11 Groups - 0 Individuals - 22 |
TREASURER’S ADDRESS Mr. Ben Ayala, Treasurer, 92-568 Palailai Street, Makakilo, Oahu, Hawaii. 96706 |
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in the south of the United States, and how the Bahá’ís are really creating unity. All other religious groups are just protesting but have no real plan to eliminate the problems and, most important, no plan for implementation.
Mr. Mitchell also spoke at University of Hawaii. The topic discussed was "Student Unrest" from a black man's point of view. More than twenty contacts were present and many simulating questions were asked.
MARIE FOGARTY TRAVEL TEACHES[edit]
If you knew Marie Fogarty you already knew one of the brightest, happiest, fastest-talking Bahá’ís around. If you met her for the first time during her recent visit you now know what we mean.
Marie became a Bahá’í here in Honolulu about two years ago while she was stationed as a nurse at Tripler General Hospital. As a new baby of four months she returned to her home town of Amarillo, Tex.
Amarillo used to be a quiet town with a few Bahá’ís. Now there are a lot of busy Bahá’ís, over 50 of them, bringing small mass conversion to West Texas.
Marie stopped in Hawaii long enough to visit old friends and do some teaching before heading to her new pioneer post in Majuro in the Marshall Islands.
While here she spoke at a fireside of 20 people on Kauai at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Herbert. She attended the Feast of ‘Ilm on Maui and spoke informally with the 15 Bahá’ís present. She also visited Hawaii in the Kamuela area. In Honolulu, following the celebration of the Birth of the Báb, she spoke to about thirty people.
Marie says mass conversion is the thing... that the souls are waiting... that we must shelve the old ideas of bringing new believers in one by one and adapt to the new methods for bringing them in in masses.
We send our prayers with Marie on her new venture on behalf of the Cause.
MARIE ON MAUI[edit]
Miss Marie Fogarty spoke to friends from all communities on the Island of Maui after the Feast of ‘Ilm, on the night of October 15, at the home of Mrs. Daisy Sabin, in Kahului.
The inspiration, the amazing accounts of mass teaching successes, points on proclamation, and the role of the individual Bahá’í in our most sacred and important duty of teaching in this day, were well outlined by Marie.
The Bahá’ís on Maui are most grateful to Miss Fogarty for sharing her experience and knowledge.
PROCLAMATION[edit]
The Honolulu Proclamation Committee held its first University proclamation effort for the year in the Asia Room of the East-West Center, on October 20. The event was to celebrate the Birth of the Báb.
Music at this informal gathering was provided by the youth, and refreshments were served. Mike Woodward gave a brief talk welcoming the guests, and telling them about the Báb and the Faith. He also gave a commentary on slides of the Holy Land and the Bahá’í Shrines.
The party was attended by over 50 people, many of whom came just from hearing the music and seeing the group in the Asia Room. There was a great deal of individual firesiding with little groups of people around the room discussing the Faith. It was a most successful proclamation effort.
UNIVERSITY TALK[edit]
The Bahá’ís had the distinction of being invited to participate in the Comparative Religion class of Prof. A. Blum at the University of Hawaii on October 22.
Duane Troxel made a brief presentation, relating the Faith to current movements and events, and then questions were invited. Drugs, (Cont'd on p 8)
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CALABASH[edit]
(Hawaiian Bowl of Friendship)
MISS ALEXANDER BOOK[edit]
"Personal Recollections of a Bahá’í Life in the Hawaiian Islands" by Hand of the Cause Miss Agnes Alexander, is now ready for sale. The book gives an interesting account of Bahá’í activities in Hawaii from 1901 through 1941. Copies may be purchased for $1.50 postage paid, from National Proclamation Committee, 3264 Allan Place, Honolulu, 96817.
CALENDAR[edit]
The five year Bahá’í calendars which run from 1969 through 1973 have been reduced in price and are now being offered for only $1.00 postpaid. They carry Bahá’í quotations for each day of the year, and include fascinating old pictures of life in the "Sandwich Isles." Order from the National Proclamation Committee, 3264 Allan Place, Honolulu, 96817.
SPECIAL[edit]
"May the Blessed Perfection guide, protect and nurture our dear and sweet Nabíl Vogele and enable him to be a cause of the promotion of universal peace and brotherhood. Prayerfully - " (S) Enoch Olinga
This was the special message from Hand of the Cause Mr. Olinga to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Vogele on the birth of their son. Mr. Olinga suggested the name of Nabíl and the parents gave the name Olinga in honor of the Hand of the Cause.
UNIVERSITY CLUB[edit]
On Sunday, November 1, 1970, four members of the Bahá’í University Club were invited to speak to a Lutheran church discussion group. About ten members of the church were present. They were all very interested, had many questions and asked the Bahá’ís to meet with them again.
Blood Bank Reserve: 29 pints!
EWA[edit]
The Ewa Community sponsored a beach party at the home of Dr. and Mrs. L.M. Beers in Lanikai on October 10, 1970. There was a crowd of nearly 80 people who attended an afternoon of swimming, volleyball and music. A late evening fireside was held on the beach, with Ross Klutke as the speaker.
WAIALUA[edit]
Waialua has established a community "tradition" of having 100% contributions at every Feast. They are also saying the Tablet of Ahmad daily to increase their numbers. The Community has recently grown from 3 to 13.
SO. HILO[edit]
On October 30, 1970, Miss Evelyn Musacchia was invited to speak on the Bahá’í Faith to a comparative religion class at Hilo Community College.
The teacher of the class was Rev. Peter McKnight, United Protestant Church minister. He expressed interest in taking the class as a whole to some Bahá’í function. Miss Musacchia invited them all to hear Mr. Hugh Chance, Universal House of Justice member, when he spoke at the University of Hawaii, Hilo College, on November 2.
KAUAI[edit]
Steve and Bunny Gaines report from Kauai that they were asked to speak on the Faith at one of the local churches. They were well received and the church members were surprised that so many of the Bahá’ís are young as most of the church members are elderly.
DIRECTORY CHANGE -[edit]
Majuro, M.I. - New secretary, Miss Marie Fogarty, Gen. Delivery, Majuro, M.I. 96960
NUGGETS[edit]
"Teaching and learning, according to the decisive texts of the Blessed Beauty, is a duty."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, TAB, pp. 579-80)
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MICRONESIA REPORT[edit]
(continued)
On Tuesday morning, Virginia and I caught the early flight to Saipan, hoping we could stop on Rota on the way, but the air strip was under repair. When we arrived on Saipan we met Oscar Johnny from Ponape, who is with Air Micronesia training on Saipan. We made plans for lunch and then off to get a car. We went up the hill to the office of Norman Smith, who took a coffee break with us, then returned to work. Oscar Johnny joined us for lunch. We then returned to the hill to the seat of the Trust Territory Government and stopped to speak to Mr. Lilly, head of radio and TV for the Trust Territory (Saipan has TV.) We discussed ways of placing Bahá’í radio material in all five districts and languages. Before we left his office, Mr. Lilly said he had heard of the Faith in the 1930s from a small group in Arizona, and later he went to school in Wilmette, near the Temple. He was aware of our growth in the islands, and asked for some books. We passed this information on to the friends in Guam. We also stopped to see Sabina Siren but I was not able to meet her as she was ill. Then back down the road through the jungle to get our plane back to Guam. The Bensons had some contacts, and the Olsons, who were across the street with more contacts, joined us for a showing of the film, "The New Wind."
(cont. in next issue)
REMEMBER THE TEMPLE SITE FUND[edit]
COMING EVENTS[edit]
Nov. 26, 27, 28 - Mass Teaching - Big Island
Nov. 28 - Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Dec. 4, 5, 6 - Orientation Follow-up on Big Island
Dec. 6, 7, 8 - NSA Convenes
Dec. 12 - FEAST of Masá’il (Questions)
(Cont’d from p 6)
personal conscience versus civil obedience, religious conformity, health practices, and Bahá’í laws were among the topics of discussion. One of the most impressive remarks made concerned a student’s contact with dedicated Bahá’ís on Maui. Action and personal sacrifice impress young people more than lip-service and pious mouthings.
After going 15 minutes beyond the class time, the speaker was warmly thanked. It was felt that the Bahá’ís would enjoy future invitations to this comparative religion class.
ATTENTION!![edit]
For the information of friends, and contacts for the neighbor islands:
| Hawaii: | - Mrs. Ruth Musacchia Phone 935-0310 (Hilo) |
| Hawaii: | - Mrs. Nedra Murray Phone 775-0131 (Honokaa-Hamakua) |
| Kauai: | - Mrs. Serrita Herbert Phone 245-6516 (Lihue) |
| Maui: | - Mrs. Daisy Sabin Phone 877-6001 (Kahului-Wailuku) |
| Maui: | - Mrs. Eve Geary Phone 878-1957 |
| Molokai: | - Mrs. Betty Schuster Phone 553-5283 (Kaunakakai) |
| HAWAII BAHÁ’Í NEWS (The Light of the Pacific) is published for circulation among Bahá’ís only by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Hawaiian Islands, as a news organ reporting current activities of the Hawaiian, Marshall, Caroline and Mariana Islands Bahá’í communities.
HAWAII BAHÁ’Í NEWS is edited by an annually-appointed Editorial Committee: Shirley Lombard, Director; Lil Hollinger; Gertrude Garrida, Reviewer and Proofreader. SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR "The Light of the Pacific" are $2.00 each per year to anyone outside the jurisdiction of the Hawaiian Islands. Send your money and your mailing address to: The Light of the Pacific, c/o 3264 Allan Place, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A. 96817 |