CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Barefoot and ready to go, a group of legislators, above, including Rep. Dennis Arakaki, in background, began a barefoot walk yesterday at the Hawaii Foodbank and proceeded along several stops to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children.
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In their footsteps
Politicians lead a barefoot Good Friday march for the homeless
STATE Rep. Dennis Arakaki and other members of the Fellowship Group of Legislators reached out to Honolulu's needy by walking in their footsteps without shoes on Good Friday.
They went barefoot during a symbolic "Walk of Compassion" over a 5-mile route. Arakaki said going without shoes was "a small way of acknowledging the suffering" of the poor on a day memorializing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
The barefoot band made 14 stops to pray for and talk with people at the Hawaii Foodbank, the Institute for Human Services for Families, Mayor Wright Homes and the Oahu Community Correctional Center.
The group also presented monetary donations at the food bank, gave 304 Easter baskets to three homeless shelters and distributed stuffed animals at Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, their last stop after noon.
They dodged bits of broken glass and small stones littering the sidewalks and streets. Passers-by gave them strange looks. But at least the overcast sky prevented the pavement from baking their feet.
They allowed themselves patches of duct tape on the soles of their feet, but when reminded that Jesus Christ and his apostles did not have such protection, Rep. Michael Kahikina replied, "But Jesus gave us wisdom!"
He and Arakaki started the fellowship group 12 years ago.
By the time they reached the midpoint of their journey at the Safe Haven for the mentally ill on Beretania Street, Rep. Marcus Oshiro (D, Wahiawa-Poamoho), House majority leader, had counted 8,888 steps on his pedometer. Somewhere along the route, he got a cut on his heel.
The legislators were "off the clock" on the city and state holiday, which allowed them to exercise their spiritual beliefs. This was the fifth walk held, generally following the same route, said Arakaki, chairman of the House Health Committee.
Also joining him were Sens. Norman Sakamoto (D, Salt Lake-Foster Village), Clarence Nishihara (D, Waipahu) and city staff auditor Maria Kitamura in her first walk. "It's a good way to remind people of what Good Friday is about," she said. "The legislators are very compassionate and take the meaning of Good Friday seriously. I wasn't expecting that -- that they were really connected" to the community's needs.
At every stop, the group joined hands in a circle for prayer, sometimes including the staff and clients/patients. Kahikina, chairman of the House Housing Committee, prayed that God would "put everyone under a good roof that is not leaking."
"There should be no one in America without a home," said Kahikina (D, Kalaeloa-Nanakuli).
Arakaki (D, Alewa Heights-Kalihi) added, "As legislators we try to do all we can to help people in need. We think we have all the answers, but we don't. Sometimes we just have to pray and ask for guidance."