Over the past seven months our world has changed due to the novel coronavirus, upending our churches, our choirs, our economies and our way of life. All of my spring concerts got cancelled, or took on a new format, as our latest Early Music Hawaii concert was videotaped and then broadcast over the internet. The entire economy in Hawaii has changed dramatically, and even though a new policy was instituted on October 15 (with a negative Covid test within 72 hours of arrival, one can forego a mandatory 14-day quarantine), tourism has a long way to go.

Three years ago, you may remember my writing about the reconstruction and enlargement organ project for All Saints Episcopal Church in Kapa’a, Kaua’i (“Free means more?“). A “free” concert (with donations welcomed) was held on November 4, 2016 to raise funds for the instrument.

From the church’s website you can read: In 1925, Mrs. S. W. Wilcox generously donated an Austin Pipe Organ to Kauai’s first Episcopal mission, All Saints. It was the first pipe organ on Kaua’i. Ninety years later, the historic instrument is still Kaua’i’s only pipe organ. The pipe organ is an integral and beloved part of the Church’s worship services and community music outreach programs in service to All Saints’ vision to be a cathedral for the people of Kaua’i. Unfortunately, age and the tropical environment have taken their toll on this beautiful and historic instrument. The pipe organ’s various wood, metal, and leather parts have deteriorated. Routine maintenance and minor repairs were unable to stop the inevitable finale of the current pipe organ’s lifespan. The historic instrument was decommissioned, with gratitude, on February 7, 2016, and a capital campaign was launched, with the full blessing of the Vestry and congregation. The campaign’s goal is to reconstruct and expand Kaua’i’s only pipe organ, thereby allowing All Saints to share this prominent, beautiful, and historic instrument with the people of and visitors to Kaua’i.

In the years since, the parishioners of All Saints have been patiently waiting for their instrument to arrive from the firm of Manuel Rosales (Opus 40). Originally the organ was scheduled to arrive by Easter 2018, but just today, October 31, 2020 (Halloween), look what has arrived in a Pasha container! (All photos by Shane Morris Wise, senior project leader and organ consultant).

Morris said that it was “hilarious” that the organ arrived on Halloween in “mortuary boxes!” The crew from the Rosales firm is scheduled to arrive the end of November.

How very exciting for the people of Kaua’i!

[NOTE: The stop list is in the Comments section.]