St. Elizabeth’s is deeply grateful to the Diocese of Hawaii for supporting the ministry of Fr. Saimone Lino and his family. Fr. Lino is an Anglican priest of Tongan heritage who served the youth of Fiji and New Zealand (Aotearoa) for 12 years before moving to Hawaii.

The Linos are the heart and soul of our Pacific Youth Ministry program, which embraces many of our recent Micronesian immigrants, the youth of Mayor Wright housing and other nearby youngsters of all races and ethnic groups.

With the financial assistance of the Episcopal Diocese, the Honolulu Community Foundation and the congregation of St. Elizabeth’s, the Linos are actively involved in providing a variety of programs for our brothers and sisters in need. These include music lessons, cooking lessons, arts and crafts, reading and writing time, sewing, Micronesian wood crafts and work in our community garden.

The art of traditional Micronesian woodcarving.

The program serves over 40 children on any given day. The summer program provides structured activities on Wednesday and Friday from 10-2, with unstructured activities all day Tuesday and Thursday. During the school year, a Wednesday and furlough Friday program runs.

On Sundays, Ajaon Chen, a truly gifted music teacher, provides a children’s music/choir hour for the children. The kids learn simple instruments and learn how to sing in harmony with one another.

The Linos live in the Parish rectory, the first clergy family to occupy the rectory for many decades. Their presence in the neighborhood has done much to foster trusting and loving relationships with those the Pacific Youth Ministry serves.

The Holy Spirit blesses us each day at St. E’s! Come by and feel the breeze!