After reading Queen Lili'uokalani's "Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen," Priscilla Tolentino Lee, started applying the monarch's philosophies to her own life. She found the queen had much to teach us about faith, forgiveness and grace. ‘Hawaii’s Story’ shares
lessons from a queenLee knew she had absorbed the queen's lessons when during a particularly difficult time in her life, she heard the voice of the queen reassuring her, "Been there."
Lee, a psychotherapist, found the queen's coping strategies relevant to her life and practice, and condensed Lili'uokalani's ideas into 10 lessons to help her patients and others transcend problems.
The lessons deal with loss, betrayal, making difficult decisions and exercising the queen's motto -- onipa'a, meaning "to stand steadfast."
As an example, Lee said the queen always personified dignity in the face of racism and adversity during the overthrow of the monarchy. "She had a calm acceptance and understanding of things, even those that were fundamentally wrong," Lee said.
Now, the lessons have come together in "An Hour with the Queen: Lessons on Forgiveness and Grace," a lifestyle workbook by Lee and Cheryl Ann Williams, published and distributed by the United Church of Christ.
Authorship, however, is credited to Kaleialoha (Lee) and Hiwahiwa (Williams). Lee said she could only publish it after she had been given the Hawaiian name Kaleialoha. In her introduction to the book, she writes, "My new name released me to risk sharing my stories. I know it is the Spirit's work because I have to admit I don't like people reading what I write!"
The authors will sign their book from 2 to 5 p.m. Sept. 13 at Central Union Church. There will also be a service and book signing at 10:15 a.m. Sept. 20 at Nuuanu Congregational Church.
The book, $15, is available through UCC by calling 537-9516, or at Border's Waikele for $21.
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