KAPAA — When Joe Manibusan was in the early stages of painting a portrait of Christ on Sunday, he didn’t like what he saw. Not at all. He almost tossed it out and started over.
But he didn’t.
“I knew in my heart there was more to my work than what it started off as,” he said. “I kept going because I knew that God has a plan. I just have to follow what he’s got for me.”
As he kept painting, he saw more colors being added — blues, reds, greens, purples — and he smiled.
“I see so many more colors that could go in,” said Manibusan, art and music teacher at Olelo Christian School in Lihue. “It’s going to be like a light coming out.”
Manibusan was one of many volunteers at Ohana Christian Fellowship’s Day of Hope at Kapaa Beach Park.
Following its sunrise service at 6, the church once again offered free meals, clothes, hygiene items and haircuts. It had games for kids, music and places to sit and talk story.
About 200 people attended.
Pastor Greg Poole, as the Day of Hope wound down, paused and looked out at the people milling around, kids laughing and adults chatting on a sunny afternoon.
“It is a real blessing. It truly is,” he said.
It was about 15th year the church has held the Day of Hope on Easter Sunday.
Among the volunteers was Dr. Heather Books, who offered to treat people for minor wounds or injuries. She consulted with a few, but most were a little reluctant to accept help until they got to know her better, she said.
Still, she was glad to be there.
“I see the needs of the people, especially in the indigent population,” said Books, who moved here two years ago. “This is a way for me to reach out through a community and show we do care, we want relationships with them and we want to help meet their needs.”
Anita Ouye and Corban Allard were behind the food table serving up meals of chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetables and dessert with friendly greetings.
This was Ouye’s 14th years helping out.
“We just feel grateful that we can help them when we can. It’s God’s blessing,” she said. “I’m grateful just to be here.”
Allard said it was a gift to feed people spiritually and physically.
“Everyone comes here for a different reason,” she said. “We want to show them God’s love.”
One man, who said his name was Sam, was glad for the kindness shown to him as he sat down at table in the shade.
“It’s nice to be here and nice that they do this,” he said.
Another volunteer Patricia Bader-Townsend handled several jobs like setting up tables, the fish pond for kids and leading prayers. She loves serving her community and said Day of Hope gave her the opportunity to do just that.
“It was an atmosphere of love and hope,” she said.
Betty Duarte has volunteered pretty much every year with Ohana Christian Fellowship’s Easter outreach.
“It’s important to be here today because this is our community and we want to give back to our community,” she said.
She’s seen many of the same people come to Day of Hope each year.
“They’re part of ohana,” Duarte said.
Patty Furtado said the church has no expectations other than trying to bless people and provide what they need. She said the church has a small congregation, but has a big impact through Day of Hope.
Everything is free for a reason: “Jesus gave the free gift of eternal life,” she said.
One women who gave her testimony on Sunday said she lived on the streets before receiving help from the church.
She considered herself a “diamond in the rough” who had come full circle in life. She had fallen often, but with help, kept getting up.
“Now, she’s just really living a free life,” Furtado said.
Manibusan said he, too, found Ohana Christian Fellowship “more than church.”
“This is my family,” he said. “A church is just a symptom of what they really are. They share a lot of aloha, spread a lot of love.”
