LIHUE — Thinking about Easter makes Nikki Smith miss her family, even though she just started one of her own.
Lily, her daughter, was born nine months ago and will be told the story of Easter, the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, by her mother when Lily is old enough to understand it.
“I believe in a higher being and the rising from the dead,” Smith said. “It’s a good story for people to believe in. I don’t know if it really happened, but it is a good story and I will give her a choice.”
Smith thinks Lily is too young for Easter egg coloring, but maybe next year. It is a tradition she used to partake in with her grandmother when she was a child.
When Greg Whitaker’s son was a child, Easter was all about coloring Easter eggs and a specially prepared meal, whatever they could afford. Today, Whitaker is homeless living on the streets of Lihue since he lost his job.
“I had a car and a two-bedroom apartment,” said Whitaker. “I provided for myself up until five weeks ago.”
Although Whitaker has his own cross to bear right now, he believes Easter is all about hope.
“Roll away the stone,” he proclaimed. “I believe in God and I believe he believes in me. I’m going to get through all of this.”
Heidi Pim counts her good fortune regularly. For the past 20 years her family has traveled from their home in Palo Alto, Calif., to vacation at Poipu Beach. She said their twins, now 2 years old, will be old enough to understand the fun of an Easter egg hunt, after attending a sunrise service in Koloa.
“All things God has given to us are wonderful,” Pim said “It all boils back to him.”
Miki Nagahisa’s Easter Sunday plans included attending a vigil mass at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Kapaa. She is the mother to seven children and 16 grandchildren. She has also fostered 24 children over the past 20 years. The Easter season is a time of reflection for her.
“It brings us memories of those who have passed on and have gone to heaven and that is going to be where we are headed too,” Nagahisa said.
In less than a month, Elizabeth Tanicala will be giving birth to her second daughter.
“I will be praying for a smooth delivery and a healthy baby,” Tanicala said.
She attends Central Kauai Christian Church and cherishes her faith in God.
“Easter means the resurrection of Jesus and celebrating him, Tanicala said.
On the other end of the spectrum, Michele Allen of Lawai said Easter has nothing to do with spirituality.
“My parents tried to shove that down my throat, but it’s not for me.”
After years of cooking holiday meals for her children who are now grown, she planned to take a break from the chore and visit her grandchildren.
“There’s four boys. They’ll be excited about the egg hunt,” said Allen.
Colleen Toyama also planned to join with her family for an Easter meal celebration.
“We’re not Christian,” the Wailua Homesteads woman said. “But like the Christmas season, a lot of religions celebrate for different reasons, the Christians, the Buddhists, the Jewish people with Passover. We’re just all in the festive mood.”
• Lisa Ann Capozzi, features and education reporter, can be reached at 245-0452 or lcapozzi@thegardenisland.com.
