“Ono Akua” – I’m sure if you are a native Hawaiian speaker you see those words together and are scratching your head.  If read literally, it means “delicious God.”

Not an expected word combination, I admit.   In the Hebrew Scriptures, there is a place where we are encouraged to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8).  As someone with an artistic bent, it is inspiring to me to see how God is multi-sensory and challenges us to approach him at a multi-sensory level.

While on vacation in Hawaii, Tina and I noticed the word “ono” describing a variety of culinary offerings. It was not uncommon to see the expression “So Ono!” etched across the top of a menu or restaurant marquee. (“Ono”, of course, means “delicious”).

“Delicious” – the word not only implies a savory quality, mouth-watering goodness, but it implies freshness as well.  Our God is a God who is constantly bringing “freshness” into the lives of those who love Him and follow Him.

There is another passage in the Hebrew Scriptures which says,

“Behold, I am doing a new thing;now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert…
…for I give water in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
the people whom I formed for myself
that they might declare my praise.”  (Isaiah  43:19-21)

If you notice in the Scripture above, there’s quite a few mentions of “desert” and “wilderness” (two of each to be exact).  Often, God brings His “freshness” and newness in the midst of our dry spells.  It’s exactly when the sense of desolation has settled in our lives and hope has faded that He is able to do the unthinkable and miraculous – resurrect hope and life.  Notice also in this passage he doesn’t simply give water rations to keep us alive, He brings forth “rivers”.  Over abundance.
I suppose this is the crazy, extravagant,  “Ono” love of Christ Paul is referring to in Ephesians 3 when he says:

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

I think if Paul were Hawaiian he may simply end that statement with the exclamation – “Ono Akua!”

That leads me to one final thought from this Isaiah passage.  Isaiah describes what the natural response to this overwhelming goodness of God looks like – “…that they might declare my praise.”  All of this freshness and Ono love of Christ poured out in our lives produces a response of praise and adoration.  How can it not?  When God pours out live-giving refreshment and newness, victory from despair and hopelessness, all we can do is raise our hands and proclaim how amazing and miraculous is our God.  So Ono!
I wonder, what kind of dry spell are you experiencing?  Have you given up on the hope that anything can ever change for you?  Maybe you have never known what it is to have a relationship with God in Christ Jesus. Jesus is simply inviting you to come, “to taste and see that the Lord is good.”  And He is… So Ono!While Hawaii is, hands down, one of the most gorgeous places on earth, it doesn’t require a trip there to appreciate Christ’s love, or to experience His transforming power.  I’ve seen and heard of God doing the most astoundingly beautiful things in some of the ugliest places on earth.  In fact, these are often exactly the places he chooses to work His most breathtaking transformations.

The video below is a collection of pictures and footage from our trip to Hawaii. We were completely captivated by God’s glory in what we saw. We hope that maybe this will inspire you as well to have a renewed vision of God’s greatness and a thirst and hunger for his Ono goodness. Aloha and many blessings to you!