On October 6, 2023 at 88 years old, we said “a hui hou” to Loren Cunningham. This is the story of a remarkable man who flew 6 million miles, visited every nation on earth, founded one of the world’s largest Christian missionary movements and proudly called Kailua-Kona home. His life serves as a shining example of the impact that one life can have when it is given to others.
The pivotal moment in Loren’s life presented itself when he was only 26 years old. A beloved, wealthy aunt invited him to join her prosperous business. The generous offer would have ensured a life full of luxuries and prominence. A difficult choice was before him: missionary or millionaire? With deep conviction, Loren followed his call to serve God. He pioneered a Christian missionary organization for young people called Youth With A Mission (YWAM).
When Loren set out on this adventure, no one would have guessed that he would end up meeting with presidents, prime ministers and popes; co-found a global university, and impact over 5 million lives through the training, outreach and mercy programs of YWAM.
We could write about Loren’s meetings with major world leaders, or describe the harrowing tales of dangerous border crossings, but instead, we want to focus on the impact Loren made locally here in Hawai’i.
Loren and his wife Darlene moved to the Big Island in 1974 with a dream to train young people to be missionaries. In those days this was unheard of, only seminary graduates were qualified. They first arrived in Hilo but set their sights on a dilapidated hotel in the heart of Kona called the Pacific Empress. Having been abandoned for 10 years, it was overgrown and occupied by squatters and drug addicts. Where others only saw a headache, Loren saw an opportunity and in 1977, Loren, Darlene and a group of YWAMers drove onto the property to make it home.
In those days, as they whacked down the weeds and reclaimed the land, people joked that the acronym “YWAM” stood for “Youth With A Machete.” This group of volunteers slept in rooms with large holes in the floor, took showers in their bathing suits with a hose draped over a tree limb, and washed their dishes in a bathtub set on a table outside. Life was not comfortable but it was driven by purpose and a dedication to serve.
In 1978, YWAM launched what would become the University of the Nations (UofN). Today, the campus is home to over 2,000 students a year and 600 full-time volunteer staff. Their schools and ministries impact communities overseas and here on the Big Island. Earlier this year, the campus hosted a First Responders fitness competition that paired high school students with local police, firefighters and paramedics. They host Hawaiian language classes, provide resources for single mothers and offer sustainable agriculture seminars.
Loren held several master’s degrees in education. He knew the impact of investing in the next generation. When YWAM came to the Big Island, the first program they established was a preschool. Today, directed by his daughter Karen Cunningham, the University of the Nations Preschool remains one of the top-rated preschools in the Hawaiian Islands.
The belief that every gift could be used in a transformative way to impact society was a guiding principle for Loren. When his son David, a Konawaena graduate, decided to pursue filmmaking, Loren supported and encouraged him in his efforts to establish the film industry on the Big Island. The release of the recent feature film in Olelo Hawai’i, The Wind and the Reckoning, is one fruit of that effort.
Loren honored the strengths and gifts embedded in every culture and ethnicity, and was especially bonded to the people and traditions of Polynesia. At a time when many traditional church leaders frowned on the use of cultural music and dances in church, he championed island culture. Loren helped islanders pioneer a Polynesian cultural arts ministry, travel the world and share the beauty of their culture.
One may be tempted to think that a man with such a resume, who traveled so much and led so many people would have been prideful or aloof. As anyone who knew him can attest, Loren remained humble, good-natured and tenderhearted to his last days. He was a man of the highest integrity who embodied his deeply cherished Biblical convictions. Loren and Darlene were members of Central Kona Union Church (now called Lifewater Church) for over 46 years. He was faithful to attend whenever he was on the island.
Loren was always a visionary. In January 2023, he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and the doctors only gave him 4–6 weeks to live. But he had one last vision to impart. For 10 miraculous months, Loren implored the worldwide YWAM family to take up the final dream that God planted in his heart. He wanted to see the Bible translated into every mother tongue language on earth so that everyone could know the loving God that so marked his life.
Jesus says in the Gospel of John, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Loren took that verse to heart and left behind a global 'ohana who is doing their best to embody it as well. His life provokes us to examine ourselves, to look for the needs of others in our community and to become servants to them. He exemplified the best of what our Kona community can be.
Loren is survived by his wife Darlene, his daughter Karen, his son David and wife Judy, and grandchildren Madison, Kenna and Liam. He is also survived and honored by a global family of tens of thousands of YWAMers who serve at 2,000 locations in 191 nations.
Learn more at lorencunningham.com
His life provokes us to examine ourselves, to look for the needs of others in our community and become a servant to them.