View from the Pew
A look inside Hawaii's houses of worshipBy Mary Adamski
Saturday, April 28, 2001
When the doors beneath the modest Kaimuki storefront sign were opened, the sound of music blasted forth, reminiscent of a sound-sealed nightclub. Where song resounds
like karaokeMore than a half-hour after the Sunday service at Harvest Chapel began, we were still on our feet and into the fifth song.
There was no doubt the song leader, backed up by five musicians -- keyboard, guitar, two drummers and a tambourine -- could take credit for engaging virtually the whole congregation as choir. The body language, the conductor's gestures, the powerful voice with a tinge of Southern accent -- they were the earmarks of a professional singer. They seemed to be an anomaly in a slim, white-haired, local Asian man.
As it happens, the song leader is senior pastor the Rev. Earl Takaoka, who was indeed a professional entertainer. In his earlier life he sang as Earl Tani in Waikiki showrooms and as opening act for concert stars. The accent, he suggests, is a hangover from his "Tom Jones style."
He left Hawaii in 1975, bound for a mainland singing career, "but I was lost." Steered to a Christian conversion experience by a "born-again" backup singer, he returned to Hawaii, became a free-lance evangelist and was ordained at Kaimuki Christian Church.
Takaoka founded the independent, nondenominational Harvest Chapel 21 years ago. It met at the Kahala YMCA until last year, when the congregation made a commitment to grow, with a goal of 100 more members by Dec. 31.
"We are relation-based, between us and God, us and our community," Takaoka described the chapel. Although new in downtown Kaimuki, the congregation has already extended the use of its sizable space, a comfortable first-floor sanctuary and basement meeting rooms, to other churches, community groups and a neighboring computer business.
An endearing reflection of the small congregation, the prayer needs published in the weekly bulletin were personal and specific, for "Lydia's friend ... for healing a pinched nerve," "Kelli's boss ... recovery from surgery."
This is not a place where restraint is the norm. With hands raised and responses of "amen" and "alleluia," there is a constant personal engagement with the music or prayer, and, I suppose, it is a rewarding affirmation for the leader. There is a box of tissues in every padded pew should tears be the expression du jour.
>> Welcome: A newcomer is immediately identifiable in this small congregation, and several people sought me out with a handshake.
>> Participation: Young and old belt out song after song like a karaoke-style choir; these folks put body and soul into raising praise.
>> Message: A guest speaker's personal story of being healed by a priest held the crowd spellbound. Pastor Takaoka gently steered her anecdotes to make points of faith: "God uses her testimony. ... We all are led to learn His word, to find our place in the body of Christ ... to do the will of God and to reflect Christ to a hurting world."
Mary Adamski covers religion for the Star-Bulletin.
Email her at madamski@starbulletin.com.
