Hawaii is sometimes spiritually referred to as the “Esther of the Pacific” due to its potential influence and the history of revival as an island nation. Like Queen Esther who was given an opportunity to intercede for her people, Hawaii has a unique position. On the afternoon of Yom Kippur, October 12, 2024, the Mayor, Mitch (Mordechai) Roth of the Island of Hawaii, opened a gathering for repentance and prayer at the base of Mauna Kea—the tallest mountain in the state.

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I joined pastors from Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island to repent, pray, worship, and share communion. During the three hours, we repented and prayed for many transgressions that have weighed heavily on intercessors’ hearts for generations, including abortion, the worship of idols, negative judgments of others, and the sins of ancestors and government leaders who overthrew Queen Lili’uokalani on January 17, 1893.

This last summer marked the first anniversary of the devastating wildfire in Lahaina, the worst natural disaster in Hawaii’s history and the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in over a century. More than one hundred lives were lost, and we continue to recognize the resilience of the survivors and their families. 

On August 8, I visited Maui County (island) to pray and intercede for the county and Lahaina. I saw some of the temporary housing and took heart that the clean-up from the fires was nearly done. With the first homeowner permits issued to rebuild, owners in the area could finally focus on moving ahead with their rebuilding plans.

According to Front Street Recovery, a group formed recently by landowners of commercial properties on Front Street, 834 businesses were destroyed by the August 2023 fires. And that doesn’t mean just physical structures, but commercial vehicles, furniture, food, inventory, and more. The destruction of so many businesses also means about 7,000 jobs disappeared. Many people lost their homes, vehicles, properties, and jobs all in one terrible day. 

Facing such loss and economic uncertainty, more than 4,000 Lahaina residents have moved away from Maui — another loss the Maui community has to cope with.

As Hawaii’s intercessors cry out to God for revival, I take it as a sign of hope for our state to see that the iconic Lahaina Banyan Tree made it past its 151st birthday with lush leaves sprouting despite fire-ravaged limbs. A gift from missionaries in 1873, the tree’s green shoots remind us of new life. Intercessors, your prayers matter and are being answered–more visibly now!

Pray with us for Hawaii:

• Pray for churches across the island to be faithful to teach the gospel and for gospel unity within and among churches (1 Cor. 1:10).
• Pray for the 1+ million unbelievers to see their sin and to seek salvation in Christ (John 6:44).
• Pray for those under demonic influence to be freed by Jesus Christ (Luke 4:18).
• Pray for the 38 of 51 House seats and 8 of 25 Senate seats that are up for term limits this November. Just a few hundred votes can determine the difference between victory and defeat, especially in Hawaii’s history of voter apathy (1 Thess. 5:14).
• Decree, declare, and claim for our capitol building that the words “In God We Trust” will be reinstated and a dedicated prayer room be established and dedicated to the Lord (Matt. 17:20-21).

Share your own prayers for Hawaii in the comments below!

Loretta Gibson is the leader of the IFA Hawaii state prayer group. Photo Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images.