A prophecy
fulfilled Three locals say miracles lead to digitizing of Hawaiian language Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants & Pearl of Great Price BY ABBIE PUTNAM
A
fter following their own individual inspiration to make the scriptures in Hawaiian more accessible, three locals said they worked together with more than 30 volunteers to digitize the scriptures in Hawaiian. They said this project required meticulous effort but was also transformative as they witnessed the Lord’s hand throughout the process and in the lives of those who helped. Robert Lono Ikuwa, Keali‘i Haverly and Alohalani Housman each shared their stories of how they got involved in the miraculous effort. A BYU–Hawaii associate professor in the Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts, Housman oversaw the digitizing of the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price in Hawaiian. “It was prophesied this book would go to the remnants of the House of Israel,” she said. “Now, it is becoming a reality.” Housman said the project is fulfilling the prophecy told in the Book of Mormon, that the hearts of the children would turn to their fathers. “BYU–Hawaii faculty, students, alumni and friends were involved” in digitizing the scriptures. Friends from other islands and in the mainland also were involved, she said. “They will even say how this has strengthened their testimony, turned their
1 3 2 KE AL AK A‘I 2021
hearts to their ancestors and brought them closer to Jesus Christ, and that is the whole goal of the scriptures.” Haverly, stake president for the Laie Hawaii YSA 2nd Stake and director of facilities and maintenance for the Polynesian Cultural Center, said, “I think, to an extent, people who are not too familiar with the circumstances of Hawaii may feel the Hawaiian language is a dying language. … I think it is important to note, the Hawaiian language was never a dying language, and it is actually thriving day by day.” Of their efforts to make the scriptures more accessible, he said, “This is not some academic process or activity. It is the process of saving more souls by sharing [the scriptures] with our community whose language is Hawaiian.” Ikuwa, from Laie, works as the Hawaiian culture-based educator at Kamehameha schools. He said it was the Lord who helped in reformatting the scriptures. “[That should be] the message, the Lord inspired several individuals and groups of people.” Housman said she met Ikuwa and Haverly after working at BYUH. “The Lord brought us together,” Housman said. “We worked together to bring this to fruition.” Haverly explained, “Many hands came together. Many people came together.”
