The 59th National Convention of the Baha’is of the Hawaiian Islands was held April 25-27 at the Baha’i National Center in Honolulu. Thirty-eight delegates elected by Bahá’í communities across the islands participated in the 62nd election of the national governing council—the National Spiritual Assembly—and consulted about ways to best contribute to the spiritual and material progress of Hawaii.
In contrast to partisan political systems common throughout the world, Bahá’ís have adopted a unique approach to selecting those who serve on its administrative institutions, local, national, and international. The Bahá’í administrative order is non-partisan: there are no candidates, no campaigning, no debates or clash of personalities, no electioneering, no craving for seats of power or financial benefits, by those elected to serve.
This novel approach, Bahá’ís believe, offers a pattern for new forms of governance that will take democracy to a new level of effectiveness. Delegates to the national convention can vote for any adult Bahá’í living in the Hawaiian islands who they feel has the attributes needed to serve in the community’s senior administration.
Before making their choice, the delegates spent a day in prayerful preparation at the resting places of three early proponents of the Bahá’í Faith in Hawaii. Agnes Baldwin Alexander, the first person to bring the Bahá’í Faith to Hawaii, in 1901, is buried at the cemetery at Kawaiaha’o Church. Martha Root, considered the foremost international teacher of the Faith is buried at O’ahu Cemetery, Nu’uanu, as is Dr. George Augur, another early Bahá’í in Hawaii who became the first Bahá’í to reside in Japan.
The consultation of the delegates centered on the need to expand the process of community building currently underway across the islands and to contribute to social transformation, in ways that lead to both spiritual and material development.
This year, the convention bid farewell to Ms. Mollie Sperry, who served on the National Spiritual Assembly with great distinction for 39 years. Mollie and her husband Mark are moving to Boulder, Colorado to be close to their family.
Members of the National Spiritual Assembly from left to right: Bob Losey, Heidi Mathison, Nick Okamoto, Melina Rajaei, Clara Whippy, Uʻileiuluwehi Pimental, Antonio Puga, Frank Hernandez, Curtis Jamison. (photo credit Liz Hahn)
Delegates (and guests) gather for the 59th National Convention of the Baha’is of the Hawaiian Islands. Retiring member Mollie Sperry is seated, center, holding an image of the “Greatest Name.” (photo credit Liz Hahn)