Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 8, 1 August 1988 — Kaumakapili Observes 150 Years of Service to All [ARTICLE]

Kaumakapili Observes 150 Years of Service to All

I Common Man's Church Serves Wide Ethnic Following

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA Kaumakapili Church in Kalihi-Palama, referred to as the Church of the eommon man, is this year observing its 150th anniversary. The very first Kaumakapili Church, according to church records, was organized on April 1, 1838, with the Rev. Lowell Smith being assisted by the Rev. Hiram Bingham. The first congregation consisted of 74 people when "22 persons were received by letter from Kawaiahao Church; two were received from Ewa; one from Kauai; and 49 on profession of faith. This was the eommeneement of Kaumakapili Church." The first church building dedicated Aug. 29, 1839, was of adobe and thatched (pili) roof on the comer of Smith and Beretania Streets on land given by Abner Paki and his wife, Konia, parents of Bemice Pauahi Bishop, founder of the Kamehameha Schools. It was a large structure built to accommodate 2,500 people. The church was also used asHonolulu's town hall for many political crises. An eleetion was held at Kaumakapili for a successor to King Kamehameha V. In 1881, the adobe building was tom down to make way for a twin steeple brick edifice that was completed "seven years and $65,000 later." It had a high basement and a flight of outside stairs to an auditorium 50x100 feet. The building was the first of its kind and was an imposing landmark "visible to arriving vessels and land travelers." It was dedicated on Sunday, June 10, 1888, almost 50 years following dedication of the first church. A third building and the present church was built in 1910 and dedicated June 25, 1911. Because the city's complexion was changing, the old site was sold and a new one purchased at the corner of King and the then Simerson Streets in Palama. Its current address is 766 N. King St. but the structure is actually at the corner of Palama and N. King Streets, across from Tamashiro Market on Palama and Princess Ka'iulani Elementary School on King. A Chinatown fire during the January 1900, bubonic plague destroyed the second church, leaving only the brick walls. The Rev. Henry K. Poepoe began a 47-year ministry at Kaumakapili from 1903 to 1950. Together with the Rev. William Nehemiah Lono, who was then kahu of the church, they moved to a temporary small wooden ehapel on Austin Lane behind the old Palama Fire Station. For the next 10 years until the third building was completed, the church developed its ministry with strong emphasis on Sunday School ministering, including girls from the old reform school whieh was located on the elementary school grounds. During these years and the years that followed, the Rev. Poepoe fostered the idea of enlisting young Hawaiian men into the Christian ministry. Among those he touched were Edward Kahale, Samuel M. Saffery Sr., Samuel Keala, Edward Woodward, Robert Lewers, Roger Kanealii, Edward Kapoo and several others. Lowell S. Dillingham, great grandson of the Rev. Lowell Smith, was baptized in the third church on Sept. 13, 1912. Kaumakapili had established a Maemae Chapel on Wylie St. and an Auwaiolimu-Pauoa Chapel as she had begun missions and sister church relationships in the late 20s and early 50s. The Maemae Chapel is still active under Mrs. Martha Poepoe Hohu while the Auwaiolimu-Pauoa Chapel has since been demolished but the property remains as the Pauoa Hawaiian Cemetery. A parish hall was built some 15 years after the main sanctuary whieh rapidly became the center of the church's social activities. It is sad to note that very little written history of the church has been kept from 1911 to 1969. The church went through a period of reconstruction during 1967-1981. Because of the eontinuing changes in the city of Honolulu, the KalihiPalama area became the receptacle and repository of immigrants from Samoa, the Philippines and

other Asian countries. Many church members moved out of the area resulting in a dwindling membership. But the faithful struggled on to keep the membership alive. It was during this period of reconstruction that members had their prayers answered when the Rev. Richard W. Wong became the kahu after a search of 10 months. He gathered the lost members and new ones back into the church; new activities and programs were initiated with emphasis on young leadership; new interests and excitement were cultivated; programs to meet the changing times were tried, at times with great opposition. The Rev. Wong retired on Dec. 31, 1979, and the Rev. William H. Kaina, former coordinator of the Hawaiian Ministry with the Hawaii Conference, was called, elected and instailed as pastor. Kaina has since left to become pastor of Kawaiahao Church. Kaumakapili is now served by the Rev. David Twigg. A new parish hall and community center was dedicated to the memory of the Rev. Lowell Smith on June 28, 1981, and given the name Hale Kamika or House of Smith. Kaumakapili today shares its sanctuary with four other churches for Sunday worship services — Cosmopolitan United Church

of Christ (Filipino); First Free Tongan Church of Honolulu (Tongan); Savali O Le Filemu UCC (Samoan); and Vaipuna O Le Ola UCC (Samoan). Kaumakapili also maintains afree store and food bank for anyone in need, including furniture, clothing, appliances, furnishings and many, many items. It includes in its ohana many community groups and non-profit agencies, including health services and a dental elinie. It accepts donations of various items. Among those sharing the Hale Kamika facilities on a continuing or as needed basis are the Farrington Adult Community School; Kalihi-Palama Health CIinic; Kamehameha Schools Hawaiian culture lecture series and traveling pre-school; Kaumakapili Literacy Center; Malia Alcoholics Anonymous; Malia Al-Anon Support Group; Farents Anonymous; Na Lei O Ka Holoku Halau; Kalihi-Palama Immigrant Services Center summer program; other halau from one to four times a year; and an estimated 52 wedding and baptismal receptions; birthdays; luaus; Christmas and graduation parties and many more events. That the Kaumakapili eonneehon is really felt in the community and elsewhere is clearly evident in the activities and services offered. Happy 150th anniversary to you Kaumakapili Church!