HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – This week Stephanie Lum kicks off an exciting Hawaii News Now series “Exploring Taiwan”.

Lum traveled to Taipei as part of an East-West Center and Ming Chuan University journalism fellowship.

In her week-long series, she traces Hawaii and Taiwan’s shared history that dates back thousands of years.

Lum takes us to the village of one of 16 recognized indigenous tribes in the district of Pingtung where Kamehameha Schools students strengthened friendships.

In the city of Taipei, Lum talked with residents and officials about the constant threats from China and shows us Taiwan’s so-called “Silicon Valley” for insight into the island’s dominant microchip industry, incredible ability to withstand catastrophic earthquakes, and ambitious path to renewable energy.

Join us this week for “Exploring Taiwan” with Stephanie Lum on Hawaii News Now at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. on KHNL and KGMB.

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CNA Staff, Jan 19, 2025 / 06:00 am

A recently launched ministry in Hawaii is bringing the Church to fishermen and other seafarers whose long hours and remote work renders them an “invisible part of the body of Christ.”

Honolulu Bishop Larry Silva launched the Hawaii Apostleship of the Sea Ministry out of the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa late last year. He put Deacon Marlowe Sabater, ordained in January of last year, in charge of the new program.

In an interview with CNA, Sabater said the initiative was created specifically to minister to seafarers, who make up a considerable portion of the Hawaiian economy. Seafarers “include foreign fishermen working for the Hawaii longline fishery and crew from cruise and cargo ships,” the deacon said. 

Sabater pointed to St. Paul’s words in 1 Cor 12:12 in which the evangelist wrote: “As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.”

“The seafarer is an invisible body part that is out of sight [and] out of mind,” he said. The Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development “calls for us to minister and advocate for their rights and dignity.”

The ministry is currently in its infancy, the deacon noted, and is working to spread the program to various parishes. At present the ministry offers evangelization and fellowship to fishermen at the Port of Honolulu via the services of two priests and two deacons. 

“The ministries also provide the material needs of seafarers, such as clothing and food for their work and daily consumption,” he said. The Catholic apostleship partners with a similar ministry at Waipio Community Baptist Church, he noted.

This is not the only Catholic ministry that brings the sacraments to those who work long hours on the water. The Archdiocese of Seattle partners with several other Christian churches in that city to care for maritime workers from around the world.

As in Hawaii, Catholic seafarers in Seattle are able to access the sacraments, including the Eucharist, through the ministry. It also offers practical services such as SIM cards for cellphones and transportation to shopping near the shore. 

Sabater said the Hawaii program is currently focused on longline fishermen in Honolulu itself. “In the future, we will expand to ministering to crew members onboard cruise and cargo ships,” he said. 

The ministry plans to partner with the Apostleship of the Sea, a professional association of Catholic maritime ministers.

Seafarers “play a significant role in providing food for our table, transporting our goods, and catering to our enjoyment at sea,” the deacon said.

But “their pastoral needs are hampered by the nature of their work and the conditions of their labor,” he added.

“We are called to serve every member of the human family,” Sabater said, “including those who spend a significant amount of time out at sea risking their lives to serve, fish, entertain, deliver, and make life easier for us.”

(Story continues below)

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Ernie Els has claimed a seventh PGA Tour Champions victory, winning the season opener in Hawaii by two shots from Bernard Langer, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Alex Cejka.

The 55-year-old South African closed with a six-under 66 to finish at 18-under 198 at the Hualalai course on Sunday.

The 67-year-old Langer missed an early chance to win for the 19th straight season on the 50-and-over tour. Playing alongside Els and Cejka in the final group, he parred the last four holes for a 66.

The German star won the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship last year for his record-extending 47th senior title.

Jimenez closed with a 64, and Cejka shot 68. Langer and Jimenez have each won the event three times.

Els won three times last season. He is a four-time major champion, winning the U.S. Open and British Open twice each.

Rod Pampling tied for 15th at 11 under after a 70 while fellow Australian Mark Hensby (66) was a shot further back.