Three Carmelite sisters arrive at their new home, setting the groundwork for the re-founding of the Hawaii monastery
By Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
“Sister Dominica, could you please pick up the nuns on November 26th?” asked the sweet voice on the other side of the line.
It was Sister Agnella Iu, the last of the seven Carmelite nuns from Hong Kong who established Hawaii’s Carmelite monastery in 1973. She was speaking of three of the five new nuns who would be arriving from the Philippines to re-found Hawaii’s Carmel.
“Yes, Sister,” I replied.
The night before their arrival I could hardly sleep. “DL 612 from NGO, ETA 10:12 a.m.” was imprinted in my brain. At around 5:30 a.m., I checked the Delta Airlines flight schedule to discover a new estimated time of arrival: 9:35 a.m. Around 7:30 a.m. I texted Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet Patty Chang and notified Bishop Larry Silva about the change in time. I was happy that the earlier arrival would add a half-hour cushion to get a photo of their arrival to the Hawaii Catholic Herald office before their noon deadline. Thank goodness for cellphone cameras.
Driving into the airport parking lot, I saw Bishop Silva crossing the street carrying a clear polyethylene bag perfectly puffed with enough air so he wouldn’t crush his beautiful lei. Other lei greeters included representatives of the Leadership Association of Religious Communities of Hawaii — Sister Patty and her fellow Carondelets Sister Brenda Lau and Sister Jean Larm, and Sacred Hearts Sister Helene Wood. Later, Deacon Fernando Ona joined the group.
Sister Patty, noting that 10 international planes had arrived around the same time, said, “They may be awhile in customs.”
As we waited, we took turns guessing which groups were ahead in the customs lines based on the different uniforms worn by the exiting flight attendants.
Suddenly, a familiar brown and white habit appeared. I jumped up and ran to greet the petite figure peering over the crowd of passengers in front of her. Everyone else sprang to their heels as another Carmelite followed, and another, until four nuns and one Carmelite priest were gently encircled as the bishop and the island sisters became a living lei of aloha welcoming the nuns to their new home. Their gentle radiant smiles beamed above their fragrant and colorful lei. How the heavens too must have been elated!
“Sister Dominica. After you pick them up, bring them here [to the monastery],” Sister Agnella had instructed.
“I do not need to take them to the chancery?” I asked, referring to the building where the bishop and diocesan departments have their offices.
“No, here, straight to our parlor,” she replied.
Driving on the H-1 toward the Pali Highway, the nuns got excited as we passed through the School Street underpass thinking it was a tunnel. Mother Mary Bernard, who had recruited the sisters and had visited Oahu before, slipped comfortably into the role of tour guide as the three newcomers oohed and ahhed at the mountains to the left and the ocean to the right.
They repeated the Hawaiian words “mauka” for mountain, and “makai” for sea as I listened for similarities of vocabulary to their native tongues. It was refreshing to listen to them and see my native home through their fresh eyes.
On the Pali Highway headed toward the Windward side, one nun said, “This looks like Davao, it is so green. We have the same trees.”
Excitement was amplified when I pointed out a waterfall to the right and said, “The Koolaus are your backyard.” Emerging from the second Pali tunnel to more oohs and aahs, the multiple blue shades of the ocean captivated them.
Making the right turn into St. Stephen Diocesan Center, Sister Mary Bernard proudly pointed out the lettering on the wall to their left, “Carmelite Monastery.” I paused the van near the Blessed Mother grotto where retired maintenance man Gene Pollock was working. He’d been around long enough to see the original number of sisters dwindle from seven to one. His tender expression, being among the first to greet the new nuns, evoked the Old Testament’s Simeon who proclaimed upon seeing the baby Jesus, “Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people.”
Gene said, “I have waited for this day.”
I veered from my “straight to the parlor” route to give the sisters a spin around their new grounds and diocesan center ohana. As we returned back up the hill, Sister Agnella and novice Sister Elizabeth were waiting outside to greet them. A new chapter of love and prayerful mission has begun.
As fellow Carmelite St. Therese of Lisieux said, “Jesus for ever! How good it is to vow oneself to Him, sacrifice oneself for His love.”
Welcome, Sisters, to Carmel of the Holy Trinity!