Tropical
music, tropical outfits and Tropical Storm Calvin converged at Calvary
Community Church Saturday night to celebrate the 25th anniversary of
Island Breeze Ministries. More than 100 Island Breezers and their fans
gathered for what seemed like the most fun family reunion in history.
The event began under torrential rains but nothing came close to dampening the spirit of celebration. After all, they were there to celebrate God's faithfulness and His heart for the world through their ministry.
Coleman Kealoha Kaopua emceed the event just as he has at the King Kamehameha Hotel for 23 years. He introduced what he called his “A Team”—Rudy Valle on ukulele, June Mataia and Maima Brown on vocals, Matthew Slade on drums, and Pat Caploe, Al Brown on guitar.
“It’s not just singing and entertaining for us,” Kealoha said. “It’s worship.”
That’s the whole focus behind Island Breeze’s ministry. While hundreds of thousands have attended professional luaus at hotels, churches and concert halls over the last 25 years, many had no idea that they are hearing praises to God. They just knew they were uplifted. In Samoan, Hawaiian, Tahitian, Fijian, or Maori, Island Breezers were just praising the Lord.
“They share their faith through cultural expressions to 1000's of people each week,” Kealoha said. “People sense the spirit of God.”
“We were all young back then,” singer June Mataia said, recalling Island Breeze in the 80s. “No matter where we go, our hearts are linked. We are family.”
Family is just what this entire night celebrated. It was unclear who is the most talented in the family—the original members of Island Breeze (who ALL clearly still have it after all these years) or their children. Toddlers danced like pros in the aisles. A group called the Cousins made up of five teenage girls with lots of hair and even more rhythm, busted some pretty great dance moves on the stage.
“Our girls don’t play with Barbies, but they do experiment with dance moves,” Kealoha explained after they danced to a medley containing the songs Beat It, Stayin’ Alive, and Car Wash. He said it reminded him of the days when Island Breezers held car washes to pay their staff fees.
Women and girls performed the graceful hula, the Fijian and Maori warriors demonstrated their strength and courage as they performed their spirited War Dance.
The finale was a sneak preview of their new production "Gathering Of The Kings", based on the prophecy of the Hokule'a (the star of gladness) which is similar to the three wise men that followed the star and found the way to Jesus. This is a story of the kings of the Pacific gathering to find the true king.
“As we do this,” Kealoha explained, “something in the spiritual realm moves away.”
These days, Kumu
(teacher) Christine Patu runs a Polynesian
cultural dance studio to pass along her talent and skills to the next
generation.
Other Island Breeze members have multiplied this ministry to other parts of the world. Saipele Maika heads Island Breeze Puerto Rico, Ole Olegario started Island Breeze Brazil, Waqa Baravilala leads Island Breeze Australia, New Zealand is led by Ray Totorewa and Tom Fernandez continues to lead Hawaii. The Valles head Island Breeze IWT and reside in Missouri. Island Breeze International is now headquartered in Australia and run by Ieru To'omua and his wife Karen.
To close the evening, Ieru passed along his blessing as the fathers used to do in Biblical times. He prayed that Island Breeze would be released to a new level, that an even greater anointing would be upon them, that the Heavenly Father would be glorified and that they would be released into all that God has for them. Others blessed the ministry in English and in Samoan?
In the words of John Dawson;” Look out world! Round two has just begun!"
And wherever you are, don't miss Island Breeze’s next reunion.
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