On the 13th we celebrated the Feast of Saint Anthony – featuring the blessing of loaves of bread for the poor. Towards the end of the month, we celebrated the great solemnities of John the Baptist (June 24) and Peter and Paul (June 29). June 11 is King Kamehameha Day – celebrated in Hawaii much as Washington’s Birthday is celebrated throughout the nation – for it was King Kamehameha who brought the Hawaiian Islands together as one Kingdom. We also celebrated Flag Day, the beginning of summer and, of course, Father’s Day.

There were moments of nostalgia, too. The family owned famed Ooka Super Market, founded in 1958, closed its doors forever and Wailuku lamented the loss as that of an old friend. aint Anthony’s Class of 1955 showed up in blue and gold at the 9:00 Mass on the last Sunday of the month to celebrate their fiftieth anniversary of graduation – and receive golden diplomas. That was a colorful scene – but first prize went a week earlier to a young boy who made his first holy communion at the Saturday evening mass. When it was announced that this would take place he promptly jumped up and waved to all the congregation that he was the one!

One of the most dramatic moments of the month came when Father Ray gently announced that the church organ had to be replaced – to the tune of $35,000. He told us that as the organist sat down to begin playing for a funeral, the organ died – so there was a double funeral that day! When I told Father James Orsini about this he responded with this comment: “If you notice, the "bays" on either side of the risen Christ are covered with curtains. They were designed to hold the pipes for the pipe organ which would have been showing in a beautiful (visual and aural) display. But we went with an electric organ rather than a real pipe organ because they warned me about the salt air corrosion…The electric organ took longer to show the effects of the salt air and humidity. That organ was state of the art over 20 years ago. The life span of electronic units are calculated like dog years, so it lived to a ripe old age!”

From afar Brother John Samaha continues to help us promote devotion to Mary; this time his memo about the Marian Page was reprinted in our Sunday bulletin.

Those familiar with Maui will note with alarm that Fleming Beach, among others, was closed for a while after shark sightings. One man claimed he came “nose to nose” with one of those fearsome creatures. He actually struck a shark and lived to tell about it.

After many trips to Hana, I finally discovered the grave of Charles Lindbergh. It is beyond Hana and hidden away but worth looking for – and finding. And once you get that far, it is just as well to keep going on the bumpy road that goes around the mountain to Kula. The views are spectacular. Recently Aloha Airlines featured an article about the Road to Hana – with a cover picture of the wavy highway lines – and I learned that the road was opened on the memorable date of December 18, 1926.

Our secretary carefully prepares maps for me when I am assigned house blessings – but the last two blessings were in subdivisions that are not yet on the maps. There is a great amount of building in this area. I have no idea of the costs of these homes, but $780,000 is given as the median cost for Maui. That’s a rise of $200,000 since I came here nearly two years ago.

On weekends I often walk through the neighborhood, beginning with a climb uphill before plunging down towards the sea. Most of the walk is through an attractive suburban neighborhood where I admire the manicured lawns and cultivated gardens as I stride past. Back on the main road, the beauty of the West Maui Mountains often covered with thick rain clouds and carpeted in fresh green holds my attention while I make the gentle climb back to Saint Anthony’s. The park where I usually walk is named Keopuolani in memory of a great Hawaiian lady who was considered the highest-ranking woman of her time.

Sundays after the 9:00 mass are quite peaceful. But one day the peace was shattered when a random shot tore through the rear window of the car I use. It may have been someone with a slingshot and a handful of marbles, for the police did find marbles around. 48 hours later all was hunky-dory again.

May your summer be peaceful, relaxing and enriching. I am grateful for your prayerful support and encouragement. Be assured I am with you in thought and prayer and especially in the eucharist which transcends time and space.

ST