KAPAA — The mynah birds sitting atop the Norfolk trees ringing the Memorial Hall at the All Saints’ Episcopal Church and Preschool chirped their displeasure as the first sounds of the bell wafted in the morning air.
The time was 8:30 a.m. Saturday and the All Saints Episcopal Church was one of many churches statewide who hosted a remembrance service on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Queen Lili‘uokalani’s passing.
David Murray of the All Saints church said the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the death of Queen Lili‘uokalani with the tolling of bells and prayer and commemorative observances are encouraged as an important memorial and rememberance of the Queen.
Sierra Gore of the All Saints church said the First Hawaiian Church in Kapaa was planning on tolling its bell, along with the church in Anahola where Nathan Kalama attends.
Sandi Sterker of the Hanapepe Hawaiian Congregational Church said it planned for a special service, which included the ringing of the bell 100 times as well as singing and responses.
Queen Lili‘uokalani died on Nov. 11, 1917 and the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii is honoring her life by tolling their bells 100 times and hold service in celebration of the life of the last monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
“This was the Queen’s church,” said Rev. Ryan Newman. “She passed at 8:30 a.m., the same time we’re tolling the bell 100 times.”
Julie Souza, president of Ahahui Ka‘ahumanu, a benevolent Hawaiian society, was joined by members Liberta Albao and Elaine Panui in presenting ho‘okupu to a portrait of the Queen as Hawaiian music filtered through the morning air, greeting the nearly two dozen people who joined the Ahahui Ka‘ahumanu ladies in remembering the Queen’s life of faith, devotion and service to Ke Akua Mana Loa.
“I like this church,” Souza said. “There is a lot of Hawaiian things — the music, the sayings — taking place.”
Strains of the familiar “Aloha o‘e” accompanied the tolling of the bells and the congregation offered more mele composed by the Queen, including “Ke Aloha O Ke Akua (Queen’s Prayer).”
