LIHU‘E — With its largest turnout ever, Kaua‘i’s fifth annual Mayor’s Prayer Luncheon was bristling with song and spirit on Saturday at the Kaua‘i Marriott Beach Resort Ballroom.
In memory of the late Mayor Bryan Baptiste, and in honor of current Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., friends and family gathered to sing prayers and share their faith.
“The spirit is alive,” said Carvalho as he led the crowd in prayer, dedicating his words to Baptiste. “Today, I feel him close to me, I feel the spirit in this room as I’m sure many of you do.”
Carvalho said he was touched to be following in the footsteps of Baptiste, who he believes was the true inspiration for the annual gathering.
“He was a man not afraid to show his faith; he was not afraid to be vulnerable without answers,” said Carvalho.
The luncheon’s theme was “Mentoring the Next Generation,” in hopes of reaching out to more of Kaua‘i’s youth, said Dely Sasaki, who was part of the planning committee that coordinated the event.
Her husband, Roy Sasaki, president of Kaua‘i Island Ministries, said he was thankful for the large turnout which brought the government, businesses and churches together to “come together in one spirit.”
“One of the motivations of putting this together was connecting with Hawai‘i Island Ministries in Honolulu to order to bring more people to Kaua‘i to give the island the same opportunities that the cities have,” he said, in regards to guest speakers such as Lt. Gov. James ‘Duke’ Aiona and Jeff Kemp, president of Families Northwest.
Sasaki also attributes the success of the luncheon to the late mayor.
“Baptiste always supported this and before he passed away he said to me, ‘I want you to continue this no matter what,’ not knowing he wasn’t going to be here,” he said.
Upon introducing Carvalho to the stage, Pastor Larry Matsuwaki said “without a shadow of a doubt, he carries the same loving and caring spirit” as Baptiste.
“I truly believe that we can do anything together if we are united by faith, common goals and common values,” said Carvalho. “We’re experiencing challenging times at this point in our lives and it is important for us to understand how important the spirit of aloha and hope is for people.”
Aiona, who was there to say a prayer for the government and “our leaders,” also shares the same faith as Carvalho and said he feels strongly about speaking words of truth.
“Let’s pray and hope that we will have leaders that will step up in our government and that they will be principled in their ways and that they will be bold in their ways and that they will lead the people accordingly,” he said. “That’s what the aloha spirit is all about, that we speak in truth and we speak in love.”
• Coco Zickos, business writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or czickos@kauaipubco.com
