About Us

Meet Our Staff - Al Kalama

Pastor: "Timesetters" (seniors) Ministry
alk@hopechapel.com

Hometown

I was born on the island of Maui in the town of Wailuku, which use to be the biggest town in Maui. I was raised in a plantation village called Honokohua located on the West side of Maui (the head) which was surrounded by pineapple fields. My parents both worked for the pineapple company, my dad as a mechanic who fixed the trucks and other vehicles and my mom in the company store.

Family Info

I was raised in a family of six with three boys (including me) and three sisters. I am the youngest of our family. I was born and raised in a strong mormon family and served in the mormon church as a deacon. My dad served as a bishop in our church, a small little country church, in Honokohua. I really hated going to church back then because I had to dress in a white shirt and tie every Sunday. Church was boring too.

My family of today consists of my wife, Colleen, whom I met when she was a gorgeous young woman, and still is, at a popular night club back then called Queen’s Surf. I was a young rookie cop and she worked for Hawaiian Telephone Company as an operator.

We got married several months later and from our marriage we produced a total of five children. We lost our first child, a son, at the age of three months but later we gained four beautiful children who today are all adults with their own children.

My oldest son, Randall, is a police officer, like his dad, and works out of the Waikiki station. He was married, but unfortunately, is now divorced but from that marriage. He has three beautiful children. Michaela, 10yrs, Rhys, 7 yrs, and Devyn, 3 years of age.

Staci is the second oldest and she is married to Frank Shiroma and they have two children, Kelsey and Cullen. They are actually from Frank’s first relationship but Staci cares for them like her own.

Our third child is Kelli and she is married to Traves Ukauka and they both parent three children, Tavia (13yrs.), Isaiah (11yrs.) and Elijah (7yrs.)

Our youngest is my son, Alvin Kyle Kaulana, whom we call Kyle, and he is 28 years of age and on the verge of getting married to Hoku Cathcart. They are the parents of a young son of 3 months, known to the family and friends as “Kaulana”.

How Did You Come To HCKB?

I remember back in 1983 during the fall months when my wife started to go to Hope Chapel that was back then was called Hope Chapel Windward. The church was meeting at Heeia State Park. She also became involved in a MiniChurch. Because I was born and raised a mormon I was reluctant to go with her. One week, my wife seemed to have changed and she was very pleasant and nice to me and even cooked dinner and served me. She had a lot of joy when she came home from her job, which she hated, and she was always putting on these worship tapes and singing along as she cooked and then served me my dinner. She then invited me to go to church with her one Sunday morning and I did. I met Pastor Ralph, Aaron Suzuki and Sonny Shimaoka at the door. The church was in the small building at the State Park, but it was crammed with people. I thought I was in a holy roller church when the music started. Being a mormon they don’t clap their hands or even dance but people were jumping up at their seats and singing. Weird! Anyway I enjoyed the teaching by Pastor Ralph and soon I was attending faithfully. I looked up and prayed with Pastor Ralph and my whole life changed from that moment on. Praise God!!!!

I came on board as the men’s pastor in January 1995, about a year and half after I retired from the Honolulu Police Department. Today I pastor people in the ministry called the Timesetters’ which caters to the people in the age bracket of fifty years and older.

Biggest Influence in My Life over the past year and why:

I believe that Pastor Ralph always had an influence in my life because I always believed in what his vision is and where the church is going, but I always see where his heart is when it comes to the future of our church.

Rob McWilliams also influences me because of his drive and vision that he sees for our church and for ministries in the church. He is a pure “go getter,” and I need that in my life to keep from getting lazy.

My wife has a lot of influence on me because she holds me in check at home and even in the office. She is a big part of me.

Fun Stuff

Travels
I just recently went on the Alaskan 7 Day Cruise with people from our church in June. We had a great time on the cruise and on the land tours. Even though I got sick for a day or two I loved being on the cruise with the rest of the Timesetters’ that was a part of the group.

My wife and I desire to go to Europe one day to visit those old cities and see the scenery there. My other wish is to go to New Zealand and Australia for vacation.

Hobbies
I like to walk for exercise and enjoy watching my grandkids play sports. I enjoy playing games on the computer like checkers and scrabble and I can sit there for hours doing that. It challenges my mind.

What Do I Do For Fun?
Go walking in the mall or outside the mall. Watch my grandkids play sports like baseball, football, basketball and soccer. Go to the beach once in a great while and go out to dinner with my wife. I also enjoy going to dinner with my family

What Makes Me Laugh?
A good comedy show or movie. A good joke. Someone who just made a fool of himself like a good friend. Those funniest home videos and also sports blooper highlights on TV.

Favorites

Books
What books do I enjoy reading? Love Life for a Married Couple by Ed Wheat. 90 Minutes –A pastor who died and went to heaven and came back to earth story line. Spiritual Discipleship, which I do with another man.
What I really enjoy is reading the daily newspaper with articles from the Windward Side and the Sports pages.

Music
I love my golden oldies from the fifties and sixties era and very much love the music of the seventies. I love singers like Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Englebert, the Eagles, Chicago, Earth, Wind and Fire, Doobie Brothers, the Beachboys, etc. One of my favorite all time songs is “This I Swear” by the Skyliners back in 1959 when I graduated from high school.

Movies
I have several favorite movies that I would always watch over and over again. They are American Graffiti; Wizard of Oz; From Here To Eternity and Superman One and Two with Christopher Reeve.

TV
I like game shows like Jeopardy. Sports, like watching my favorite teams the LA Dodgers in baseball and the Dallas Cowboys in football plus the University of Hawaii sports like football and men’s basketball and volleyball.