Koloa Union Church welcomes Rev. Dr. Alan R. Akana as its new minister. Akana was born in Palo Alto, Calif. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Westmont College and Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry
Koloa Union Church welcomes Rev. Dr. Alan R. Akana as its new minister.
Akana was born in Palo Alto, Calif. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Westmont College and Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary. The focus of his doctoral work was preaching, worship and building community in local congregations.
Akana has many connections to Kauai. He visited many times, including the years 1992-93, when he was the treasurer of the Iniki Disaster Response Task Force for the Hawaii Council of Churches. His grandmother, Alice Gagner, worked as the University of Hawaii Extension Home Agent on Kauai in the 1950s. His uncle, Robert P. Gagner, lived in Kaumakani during that same period while training and working in management for the sugar cane industry.
Akana is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and has served churches in Hawaii, Montana, Utah, Texas and California. He is also a published author.
His book “The Volcano Is Our Home: Nine Generations of a Hawaiian Family on Kilauea Volcano” will be available for purchase in April.
Akana is also an accomplished artist, specializing in watercolors of tropical floral and Asian themes. He also enjoys running, hiking, traveling, studying Hawaiian culture and history, and spending time with his son Palani, a junior at Stanford University.
