‘ELE‘ELE — Rev. Kerry Holder Joffrion of the Episcopal Church of West Kaua‘i, St. John’s church in ‘Ele‘ele, could not contain herself as she animately became involved in directing the Kumu Ola Choir, the church’s children choir, from the back of the tiny church that was filled to overflowing on Saturday evening at the church’s Christmas Eve service.
‘ELE‘ELE — Rev. Kerry Holder Joffrion of the Episcopal Church of West Kaua‘i, St. John’s church in ‘Ele‘ele, could not contain herself as she animately became involved in directing the Kumu Ola Choir, the church’s children choir, from the back of the tiny church that was filled to overflowing on Saturday evening at the church’s Christmas Eve service.
As part of the traditional service celebrating Christmas, Kumu Ola Choir presented the Olelo Christmas Pageant, or the nativity story, in Olelo Hawai‘i performed to a script penned by Rev. Holder Joffrion, and accompanied on piano by Kumu Ola Choir director Joe Moore.
Moore, who also recently took over the directorship of the Kaua‘i Chorale, will be performing a piano concert on Dec. 30, and 31 to benefit Kumu Ola Choir at the St. John’s Episcopal Church whose historic architecture adds unimitable flavor to the music being presented. Moore’s concert starts at 7 p.m. on each of the nights being presented.
“No, I’m not the guy who is on television,” Moore said. “I was doing the piano during the Kaua‘i Chorale practices.”
Speaking parts in Olelo Hawai‘i, the cast of characters walked through their respective parts in “Following Hokule‘a,” a script that was written by Rev. Holder Joffrion for the cast that included a wide range of ethnicities.
“Our story is set under Hokule‘a, and features Hawai‘i’s best,” said Rev. Holder Joffrion.
Margaret Gabler and Mary Wolman orchestrated the dressing of the cast in handmade costumes of tropical design for the cast of children performers who utilized an actual infant for the Holy Child.
“The costumes were made charitably by the women of Kings Colony Hutterite Church in Moore, Montana,” said Greg Williams. “They want to support our mission and sacred children of West Kaua‘i.”
An abundant helping of familiar Christmas carols punctuated The Holy Story performed by the church’s Olelo Children’s Ensemble that performed under Operations management by Peter Joffrion and Mary Rustick before the overflow audience that included a familiar Christmas visitor, Santa Claus mingling with the outdoor audience that found seats under the poinciana tree that basked in the nearly full moon.
Adding a taste of today, the entire program was video taped by a videographer who was set up next to Rev. Holder Joffrion.
