Just sharing Elder Akana's latest letter.  President Alvarado got all the Poly elders to help a local Bishop put on a full scale luau for the mission!  This is his account:

Dear Familia,

  Like the title implies sorry about that. We were pretty busy las week. But i'll explain why in a second. So how are we today?! I hope you are all still enjoying life as usual. I got an E-mail from Casey and he is now becoming like papa! (In spanish that's "potato" or "Papa" depending on how you say it). I'm sure you have heard it already but he is selling houses or last can sell houses. I'm so glad he got into BYU too! 

   Now on this side of the world I finally sent my card for mom in the mail. Sorry about that again. I have been having a lot of fun this past week. We had our Easter Conference to remember the Savior just this Saturday, and now i'll fill you in. 

The first day we had a recital/Fireside where investigadors were invited. We sang a medly of four songs about Jesus Christ that sounded awesome, a few talks and video presentations fo apostle talks of the savior. The spirit was strong. The next day We sang in a mall in a food court those same songs, but we did a "flash mob" We randomly stood up and started to sing. It was great.

    But let me explain what happened a few days before. This past week something awesome happened. Around last Wednesday we get a call from President that Me, Elders Nauahi, Matautia, and his companion Elder Piperato (Both are zone leaders) need to help preapare for something. It turns out it was a luau! We wake up the next morning early and we start gathering wood. I ask why and, then I was told that we're cooking a pig underground! Long story short, we gathered wood, bannana leaves, coconuts, bannanas, and bannana tree trunks and river rocks. All the neccessary things to cook the pig. It was pretty much us four that were specifically called to prepare the luau (Another Hawaiian, Elder Oden, showed up a little later to help, he lives in another area). Pretty much all the Polynesians in the mission to do this. The guy who was in charge of it was a branch president of one of the islands named Brother Kalama and his family. He Knows You Dad!! He's from Laie and he went ot BYU Provo. I couldn't beleive it, small world! He was diercting the show so that was good (A Hawaiian to do a Hawaiian's job) It took about 2-3 days to prepare. The luau was on Staurday (The second day of Conference) and it was awesome, the pig tasted great, and all us polys and a few white boys did the Haka. I did the Haka!!! Finally!!! One of the sister missionaries danced ate the PCC so she did a number with the Kalama girls and President's wife! My companion did a fireknife dance (He danced at PCC too) and it was awesome! Matautia did a little but gave the stick back and the real show began! All this was so awesome and I felt right at home and good that I could prepare a luau like the old days!

   Prestident pretty much loves Polynesians. He said he always wanted to have one for this mission. When he was on his he met some polynesians and recognized the spirit of Aloha and that was something he was yearning for. And sure enough we felt it here. the Pictures will tell the story. We are all having a blast and don't worry one bit about me. We are in good hands. I love all of you each single last one of you.

                                          Elder Akana

 

Frank Kalama, Ry's friend from Laie


The pig is going into the imu


LUAU BABY!