I can remember the 1st Hawaii Marian Conference sponsored by Saint Michael Center held at the Waikiki Shell. I believe the year was 1994. There I learned a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Blessed Mother. After witnessing numerous testimonies our Blessed Mother played in the lives of Irish Catholic singer Dana Scallon and inspirational speakers Julia Kim and Ted Flynn, I have grown in my devotion to our Lady. She is a source of great joy for me. I want to thank my father Ernest for being by my side that entire weekend. (If you visit the Akana home, you’ll see in every room there is an image of our Blessed Mother. We love her!)

Some exciting plans are underway as Thomas and I, along with a group of young adults, brainstorm the possibility of gathering Hawaii’s Catholic youths together. Whether it will be occasionally, monthly, feastly, often, or few times a year is up to the Holy Spirit and the Will of the Father. You see, typing out this newsletter forces me to be accountable in what I share with you. I certainly don’t want to say something and not follow through with it. Many times my fear is bigger than my faith. Questions arise in my head and I turn away from the task at hand. So with complete trust in God, we move forward in faith! The best I know how to share my faith is to sing my faith!

The SING OUR FAITH! youth event is sponsored by Saint Michael Center and generous donors like yourself. Thomas said he will do what is necessary to help with stage, sound, newsletter announcements, etc. I just need to get 10 people together and we can make something happen. So with a lot of support and prayers, we look to a future of endless possibilities for this generation of Catholics to stand together, united in prayer, faith, love, song and God!

-- Shanita Akana

To order Shanita’s CDs or for bookings, please contact

JSA Enterprises
91-1144 Haiamu Place
Ewa Beach, Hi. 96706
(808) 391-4371; lyricjsa@yahoo.com