In front of the Cannon Activities Center stands a statue of pioneer convert to the gospel and co-translator of the Book of Mormon Jonathan Napela, whom the Hawaiian and Pacific Island studies program of BYU–Hawaii is named after. Napela played a fundamental role in the early establishment of the Church in Hawaii. He helped establish Laie, developed the first language training program for missionaries and was a man of lifelong faith in the Lord.
“He’s something to be proud of because he helped the Church a lot in those early days. I feel like a lot of Hawaiians have a hard time understanding what we are capable of. For me, he proves to Hawaiians we are capable of doing much more than we think,” explained Lyla Talaroc-Kaniho, a senior majoring in hospitality and tourism management from Maui.
According to churchofjesuschrist.org, Napela was an “ali’i” (chief of minor rank) and a circuit court judge in Maui before meeting George Q. Cannon and converting to the gospel in the 1850s.
Hawaiian hero
Alohalani Housman, associate professor of the Hawaiian studies program explained Napela’s greatest influence was his example of intertwining his culture and the gospel.
“He did it beautifully. He was a Hawaiian and a strong member of the Church. Some current members of the Church, or even students, have a difficult time in how we navigate being strong as a Hawaiian and as a member of the Church.
“He put God first but was Hawaiian through and through. We learn from him we can be Hawaiian, or any Polynesian or any ethnic group, while also being strong members of the Church. There may come a time when we find something incompatible between the two, but the gospel always comes first.”
Talaroc-Kaniho remarked, “I feel like [Napela] should be celebrated for what he did as a Hawaiian and member of the Church in these islands. He did a lot for the Church here in Hawaii and was very influential in helping many Hawaiians learn about the gospel. He may have even helped some of my ancestors.”
According to Housman, Napela organized a school to teach new missionaries from the mainland the Hawaiian language so they could proselyte in Hawaiian. This was viewed as a precursor to the Missionary Training Center language training programs.
Lifelong faith to the Lord
Housman shared Napela was well known for the great faith he had. George Q. Cannon recorded in his journal many faith-building experiences he had with Napela.
“Cannon and Napela worked a lot together in establishing the Church here in Hawaii. While Cannon taught Napela a lot about the doctrine of the gospel, Napela taught Cannon a lot about having faith.”
Housman said Cannon recorded Napela’s demonstrations of his great faith a number of times, including praying for storms at sea to go away, giving a blessing for the healing of a diseased woman and more in which his faithful prayers were answered.
Walter Lawrence, a BYUH alumnus who has lived in the community for 23 years said he thinks Napela is the epitome of faith. “I can’t think of anyone else who would be a better example than him to represent the Center for Hawaiian and Pacific Island Studies. I think it’s appropriate he has a statue together with George Q. Cannon.”
A student at the time the statue of Napela and Cannon was erected, Lawrence said as the statue was being built, the school showed a play about Napela. “During this time, I learned a lot about Napela’s strong faith, strong testimony and missionary efforts.”
According to Housman, Napela was the first known Hawaiian to receive his endowment in the temple. He traveled all the way to Utah to get his endowment. “He stayed strong in the faith his entire life in building the Church here in Hawaii.”
Faithful legacy
Housman noted it was Napela who prepared land in Maui where the first branch of the Church was organized and where the first chapel was built in the Hawaiian Islands.
Talaroc-Kaniho said she visited this chapel during her childhood. “Growing up, I went to the chapel several times in upcountry Maui Napela helped organize. The chapel has a monument for him, and it was really nice knowing he had a part in developing the Church from Maui.”
Napela was part of the first gathering of Hawaiian saints to the island of Lanai, Housman said. After this did not work out, Napela was a part of the group who helped gather the saints and establish the Church in Laie.
The Jonathan Napela Center, Housman explained, has written a song honoring him, done extensive research on him and taken students to significant places Napela visited.
She shared Napela’s life was one of service to his people and the Lord. “He spent his whole life serving, not only members of the Church but the people of Hawaii. Napela showed us if we do what we can to build up the kingdom and show great faith, miracles will happen, not only for us but people around us.”