Christ the King Church, Kahului, Maui, is celebrating its 85th anniversary on Nov. 26, the Feast of Christ the King. Bishop Larry Silva will officiate at the 10 a.m. Mass. A parish luau will follow. This celebration is dedicated to all the immigrants who came to work on Maui’s sugar and pineapple plantations. Remaining immigrants who are members of the parish will be honored. A variety of ethnic performances is being planned for the luau. The 85th anniversary theme is “85 Years of God’s Grace and Joyful Journey in Mercy, Compassion and Forgiveness.” The motto for the year of planning was “No task is too big when done together by all.” With the support of pastor, La Salette Father Augustine Uthuppu, and associate pastor, La Salette Father Edwin Conselva, the committee members are Ben Acob, Joan Ai, Conrado Cortez, Anita Fernandez, Jasmine Higa, Judy Moniz, Madie Pascua, Audie Pascual, Greg and Petra Peros, Conchita and Paul Pigao, Kathy Sacapanio, Nancy Tanji, Carol Ursua, Charlene Yamashiro and chairperson Lucy Peros. Above is the cover of the parish anniversary booklet.
By Lucy Peros Special to the Herald
Christ the King Church in Kahului, Maui, will mark the 85th anniversary of its founding with a 10 a.m. Mass on Nov. 26, the Feast of Christ the King, celebrated by Bishop Larry Silva, followed by a parish luau. This celebration is dedicated to all the immigrants who came to Maui to work on the sugar and pineapple plantations.
Christ the King Church was established in 1932 as a mission outpost of the then flourishing Holy Family Parish in Puunene. During the early history of the Catholic churches on Maui, Kahului was an unimportant town consisting of a few houses.
It has been estimated that up until 1924, there were no more than 60 Catholics living in Kahului. But because of the valuable boat harbor and the expansion of the Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company (HC&S), it became obvious that Kahului would become an important city with many residents. It was then that Annie Enomoto approached Frank Baldwin, manager of the Kahului Railroad Company and HC&S to request land on which to build a church.
Baldwin offered Sacred Hearts Father Bartholomew Bax, pastor at Holy Family, a piece of beach front property near the Kahului Harbor where the Maui Seaside Hotel now stands. Because Father Bax was from Holland, he worried about the potential threat of tsunamis and suggested the church be located further inland. His request was granted in the summer of 1931. For one dollar, with the stipulation that the property could not be sold, land was given along the main highway for the establishment of a Catholic church in Kahului where it now stands.
The plantation sent men and equipment to level the lot, and construction began in 1932. Bishop Stephen Alencastre blessed the church as a mission of the Holy Family Parish on the feast of Christ the King, Oct. 30, 1932. Christ the King remained a mission outpost until 1942 when Sacred Hearts Father Evarist Gielen was named Kahului’s first pastor.
Sacred Hearts Father Eugene Rakels succeeded Father Gielen but died after serving only one year.
Sacred Hearts Father Ernest Claes, appointed to Christ the King in 1967, built a new rectory in 1969. Sacred Hearts Father Felix Vandebroek, who succeeded Father Claes, started the drive for the needed expansion of the church. His task was completed by Sacred Hearts Father Joseph Hendriks who took the duties of pastor in September 1979.
On Jan. 20, 1989, the dedicated services of the Sacred Hearts Fathers at Christ the King came to an end with the departure of Father Hendriks and diocesan priest, Father Gary Colton, was appointed pastor.
In June of 2004, the parish was entrusted to the La Salette Missionary Fathers under the leadership of Father Efren Tomas. Today, Christ the King has two La Salette priests, Father Augustine Uthuppu and Father Edwin Conselva.
