Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 9, 1 Kepakemapa 1985 — Celebration Marks Bible's Reprinting [ARTICLE]

Celebration Marks Bible's Reprinting

Nearly 200 people, mostly Hawaiians and part Hawaiians, joined in a special celebration Aug. 1 1 to mark the reprinting of Ka Baibala Hemolele (The Holy Bible) at Kawaiahao Church.

Last printed in 1966, the Bible had been unavailable in loeal bookstores for years and subsequently had become a collector's item. The celebration honored three members of Ahahui Ekalesia Hawaii initially responsib!e for the new edition — Annie Brewster, Annie Kanahele and Rick Wirtz. The Hawaiian service praised the new edition and those responsible for the reprintingeffort whieh began in 1979 when Brewster, who worked at Lunalilo Home, started to type portions of the Hawaiian Bible on a large-type typewriter at the Hawaii school for the Deaf and Blind. Her reason was to aid the elderly in their Bible reading. Office of Hawaiian Affairs Cultural Specialist Maleolm Chun, a member of Ahahui Ekalesia Hawaii and master of ceremonies, got together with Brewster and along with several others formed Ahahui Ka Palapala Ho'omau (Com

mittee for continuing the Scriptures) whieh was later shortened to its current name. The group sought the interest and assistance of Hawaiiana scholars at the University of Hawaii, ministers, priests and others who saw the value of the Bible as a teaching tool. they raised $10,000 from the Atherton Family Foundation, the Charles M. and Anna C. Cooke Trust, United Church of Christ and the Catholic, Episcopal, Disciples and Presbyterian churches as well as from many individuals. A large share of this money was used to photographically enlarge the 1966 version to a size whieh the elderly could easily read. lt measures 5'/2-by-8 inches and contains the 01d and New Testaments. The Bibles are available through the society, loeal churches and the United Chruch of Christ Hawaii Conference bookstore. A display about the Bib!e's printing is located at the Mission Houses Museum's Printing House across from the church. The American Bible Society did the printing work.