$20,000 for Our Community:
Mission Giving Applications Are Open!
This fall, Community Church of Honolulu will award $20,000 to community organizations doing good work in our islands! Through the 2026 Fall/Winter Mission Giving Initiative, the Committee will make recommendations for the distribution of the $20,000.00 that has been budgeted for this purpose. It is anticipated that we will award four (4) grants of $5,000.00 each on this cycle. Community organizations whose mission and purpose align with those of CCH are the pool of applicants that will receive the most thoughtful consideration. This cycle, we especially encourage applications for relatively new and smaller nonprofits for whom $5,000 would make a significant difference. Applications are evaluated using a rubric that takes a range of factors into consideration.
Please note that applications must be submitted by an active member of CCH on behalf of the organization they are recommending. Applications are available now and are due no later than 6:00 p.m. on November 30th. Apply HERE. Know an organization that should apply? Please share the word!
Community Connections Committee Update
Our 2026 activity to date has otherwise remained subdued, owing to unusual circumstances. The chair was away for much of the summer. The committee has also lost two additional members, Kacie Kato now in Boston to further her education, and Carol Gunn stepping back to take emeritus status, leaving the committee with three (3) active members: Arnold Hirotsu, Kami Kato, and the chair.
Although membership of the committee needs to be replenished, responsibilities of the committee have been conducted through the herculean efforts of our Executive Pastor, with the more than able assistance of our Church Secretary/Musical Director. The recent "Too Many Mangoes" production, while under the authority of Community Connections, was the result of the efforts of Reverend Melissa, Roz, and of course Arnold and the Aloha Hour cadre. Parking was organized by an ad hoc group of Deacons who helped organize the parking of close to two hundred in attendance in the Sanctuary for the production on August 30th.
The Committee has also supported CCH's quarterly all-campus lunches, which bring together the staff of the many organizations who share our campus. These gatherings have been a wonderful way to get to know our campus partners and to strengthen the relationships that make our campus a true community.
The Committee also supported CCH in renting our space for the October 29th Faith & Politics panel on the rise of Christian nationalism, seeing it as both an important conversation and an important partnership with our longstanding partners at the Interfaith Alliance Hawaiʻi.
Community Church of Honolulu also remains in contact with the Nuʻuanu Valley Interfaith Group, which includes approximately twelve congregations and organizations representing traditions ranging from Buddhism and Islam to Judaism and Seventh-day Adventism. Preparations for the 2026 Interfaith Thanksgiving Service have begun, and CCH and Pastor Amy are officially members of the planning committee. The 2026 Thanksgiving Eve Service will be held at the Soka Gakkai International (SGI-USA) Buddhist Center, located at 2729 Pali Hwy, on November 24, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., with refreshments and fellowship to follow. All are welcome! Please bring ID as SGI requires this for entrance.
Fellowship, now known as Aloha Hour, continues administratively under the umbrella of Community Connections. It should be noted that it is ably and faithfully captained by Sandy Nishimura and Arnold Hirotsu (with input from chef emeritus Francis Wong), and has oftentimes spectacularly provided the body of CCH with nourishment after service every Sunday. Although there is a steady and resolute crew, any additional volunteers and donations are always welcome.
Finally, for all of those who review this report, if there are any projects, groups, or causes that you believe Community Church of Honolulu should be involved with under the umbrella of the Community Connections Ministry, please contact any of the members of the Ministry with information. And, because we are now three, if anyone knows of any member who would like to join us, please let us know. And if you're interested in joining yourself, we would love to hear from you! Please be advised, however, that because Aloha Hour conflicts with the usual Sunday committee meeting time, Community Connections typically meets by Zoom on a weekday evening to better accommodate busy schedules.
The Community Connections Ministry
Paul Murakami, Arnold Hirotsu, and Kami Kato
