The old parish coral grotto stands center amidst the excavations for the foundation of the new St. Michael Church.
It’s been seven years since the 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit off the shores of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii rousing residents and tourists from their beds and causing the church of St. Michael the Archangel to shudder. The trembler exposed a church structure dangerously weakened by time, which had reduced the cement to sand.
The 157-year-old building was condemned and, in 2007, demolished. By this past September, the footings for the new church were finally in place.
A number of obstacles had to be overcome to prepare for the footings, or underground foundation. It took time to clear the large site and to obtain building permits and permissions from the Kona Historical Society and Kona Village Association.
Boring for solid rock for the foundation “was almost like drilling to China!” said Cynthia Taylor, a parish pastoral associate and building committee member.
Another major challenge was moving the parish’s landmark grotto made of coral pieces.
In August, contractors dismantled a part of the coral structure, which was built in 1940, and moved it about 12 feet. The original well, fed by one of the few fresh water springs in old Kailua, was found intact beneath. In the plans for the new church, the 16-foot well will be cradled by two curved staircases leading to the front door of the church.
Slowly, progress is taking place. Meanwhile, the recent closing of the Keauhou Beach Hotel provided a surprise bonus.
“Come now if you want carpet,” was the phone message the parish received from the shuttered hotel.
Springing into action were the pastor Father Konelio Faletoi, Father Anthony Rapozo, Father Juan Pablo Galeano, Father Stephen Macedo and two parishioners. The beautiful green carpet from the hotel’s corridors and ballroom was re-employed as ground cover under the tent that serves as a temporary church and classrooms, and along the driveway and in between the parking stalls.
By mid-December, the steel for the church’s frame is expected to arrive from the mainland. The church should be completed by the fall of 2014.