Following God's Call

Perhaps the answer is because my father, Rev. Solomon P. Ono Sr. before he went to heaven, passed his ministry’s books, logo, literature, etc. to his six children. He specifically gave me a gold cross pendant that he received from a Jewish friend. He perceived that I would carry on the call of Jesus to “...go and preach the gospel....”.

Greetings, my friend! Many people live in the 50th State of Hawaii, but I am a product of many nations. From my paternal lineage, Akita-Makaawaawa-Ononui, I am Hawaiian, Japanese, German (Jew-Tribe of Benjamin).

From my maternal lineage, I am Spanish, Castilian, French, and Filipino. With all these beautiful national features, I became the first-born to a fair, exotic-looking Miss Kauai-Filipina (1939) mother—Maliki (in Spanish) / Mary (English).

Everyone expected me to look like my mother, but the Lord had other plans in mind. So, I was born on April 28, 1941, seven months before Pearl Harbor was bombed. I am a replica of a Japanese girl doll with double eyelids. My features united me with the majority of oriental students in school. This saved me from being an isolated minority in elementary school.

Paternal Care

A year later, my twin sisters were born. Thus, I was entrusted to my paternal Hawaiian-Japanese grandparents--Paleka Ono and Keahi Kawamoto Ono. They were my lifeline of love, and nevermore could my parents separate me from them.

I met the Lord Jesus Christ during Vacation Bible School (VBS) in 1951 at Waimea Baptist Church. That year, I fell in love with the God of the Bible stories I heard. By the time I was 13, I promised the Lord that He would always sit on the throne of my heart as my first love. And, so it still is.

A challenge given to this new teacher was to train a class of students to be news reporters of their community. It developed into Kekaha School’s Chitter Chatter newspaper. Principal Bertha Kawakami encouraged Pat to “Go for it!”

Recognition and Awards

The Chitter Chatter received national recognition during the three years under Pat’s tutelage.

After eight years as a real estate associate and property manager, Pat’s third child was born on April 8, 1981. A new 3-bedroom home in Kaimuki became the address of this family of five. Pat retired from a real estate career.

Trophies & Rewards

Pat earned her Prof. Degree [PD] in Secondary Education at Chaminade University (1983-84). Between 1984-1990, Pat’s career at Hawaii Baptist Academy gave birth to HBA’s Eagle Eye newspaper.

Eagle Eye is a recipient of numerous trophies and awards at the annual University of Hawaii Journalism Day competitions (1985 to 2019). It holds the coveted title of “2019 Best High School Newspaper” in Hawaii.

In 2012, Pat Ono was honored as the founder of the Kauai Bible Church at their 40th Anniversary Celebration (1972-2012).

What seed was planted that grew into a vibrant Kauai Bible Church?

Seventh and eighth-grade students became aware of Pat’s love and faith in the Living God. When the 1967 Six-Day War (Israel vs. Moslem nations) became front-page news, concerned students brought newspaper articles on the “war” to class.

Research on military equipment and workforce proved that Israel was outnumbered 2-to-1. Logically, Israel should have lost, but God revealed the enemy’s approach from the Golan Heights (to a praying Temple priest). Thus, in six days, the war ended.

Months later (in Christianity Today), Israeli soldiers reported that “large, powerful men wearing white garments fought with swords” at their sides. In the heaviest of battle combat on the Sinai plain, these men (angels) wiped out “50 enemy soldiers” in the time it took a regular soldier to end the life of one enemy soldier.