16th June 2026

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

Bartimeus Lalana Puaʻaiki (1785 – February 21, 1844) is often remembered as the “Blind Preacher of Maui.”

According to records from the American Mission Society, he was born around 1785 in Waikapū, Maui. He was born blind, exceptionally short in stature, and physically deformed. Believing that the infant could not survive or be useful, his biological mother followed a tragic pre-contact custom of the time and attempted to bury him alive in a shallow grave.

A relative rescued the baby from the grave and raised him. Because of his fragile and unusual physical appearance, and the wretched condition in which he was found, he was given the name Puaʻaiki, meaning “Little Pig.”

Later, he became an expert in hula pāhua, a specialized type of fast stick dance. He used his storytelling ability, quick wit, and performance skills to serve as a court jester for King Kamehameha II and Queen Kamāmalu.

Puaʻaiki was living in Honolulu as a blind royal court entertainer and was struggling with alcoholism when the first American Protestant missionaries arrived in Hawaii in 1820. Curious about the new palapala (reading and writing) and the message they brought, he sought out the mission. Because of his physical disabilities and ragged appearance, he was initially looked down upon by others, but the missionaries welcomed him and began teaching him.

Though he could not read the newly printed Hawaiian texts with his eyes, Puaʻaiki possessed a phenomenal auditory memory. He sat at the feet of missionaries and native Christian leaders, listening intently to the Bible. He committed large portions of Scripture, sermons, and Christian hymns entirely to memory.

He gave his life to Jesus through a powerful transformation driven by a deep spiritual hunger, an exceptional memory, and a dramatic break from his past life.

The story of Jesus healing the blind beggar Bartimaeus in the Gospel of Mark resonated so profoundly with him that he chose it as his own identity. He recognized that while he remained physically blind, Jesus had opened his spiritual eyes.

Giving his life to Jesus did not stop at his baptism. Bartimeus immediately dedicated his remaining years to spreading the Gospel. He moved back to Maui, co-founded the historic Lahaina Church, and used his powerful command of the Hawaiian language to preach Christ’s message to thousands of his fellow countrymen until his death in 1844.

The life of Bartimeus is a powerful testimony that when Jesus Christ enters a life, the past no longer defines the future. He takes our brokenness and gives us purpose. He takes our shame and gives us dignity. He takes our old life and makes us a new creation.

No matter how difficult your beginning may have been, or what labels people have placed upon you, Jesus Christ has the power to transform your life. In Him, the old has passed away, and a new life filled with hope, purpose, and eternal significance has begun.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,Thank You for making us new creations in Christ. Help us to leave our old life behind and walk in the purpose You have prepared for us. Open our spiritual eyes, strengthen our faith, and use our lives for Your glory.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.