Number of Mass-goers in Hawaii hits a new low

Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald

October, the month the Diocese of Honolulu counts heads in church, is over. While we await the final tally, let’s look at last year’s figures. The news isn’t good. The 2017 count was 48,210, the lowest number the Hawaii Catholic Herald has on record, going back more than 35 years.

Every year in October, Hawaii parishes count the number of people in church for the Saturday vigil and Sunday Masses. The totals for each weekend are averaged. The combined total for Hawaii’s 66 parishes and 24 missions is the “October count,” the number of Mass-goers in the Diocese of Honolulu.

The 2017 number shows a drop of 1,674 from the previous year’s count of 49,884. That’s more than a 3 percent drop, the equivalent of a large parish in Hawaii.

The 2017 figure is a 23 percent drop from the most recent highpoint of 62,590, 17 years ago in 2001. That year, the count was taken the month after the 9/11 terrorist attack.

From 1982 to 2001, the numbers fluctuated between 56,000 and 60,000. After 2001, the numbers hovered mostly in the 55,000-range, until 2015 when it dropped below 50,000.

According to the 2017 October count, the largest weekend congregation in Hawaii is by far St. Joseph in Waipahu at 3,567. The second largest group of worshippers, 2,333, goes to the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in downtown Honolulu. Most Hawaii parishes don’t come close to these numbers.

The October count is coordinated by the diocesan chancellor’s office. The count is generally conducted by ushers with clicking counters. Adults and children 12 and under are counted separately and then added together for a total. The numbers are written on a form which is sent to the chancellor’s office which records and tallies the figures.

The count isn’t an exact science, but it is the only physical head-count the diocese does on a regular basis.

According to Deacon Keith Cabiles who oversees the October count, 2017 was the first year he knows of that every parish turned in their numbers. Usually, a number of parishes do not report. For those, he fills in the blanks with the previous year’s numbers.

Then there are likely miscounts here and there. Also, parishioners who attend Mass less frequently than every week will skew the numbers.

October is chosen for the count because it is considered a neutral month, least affected by vacations and high-attendance feasts like Christmas and Easter. However, October has its own variables, like football season. It is also a slower month for tourist-oriented parishes.

2017 October count

Average number of Mass-goers per parish in October 2017. Source: Diocese of Honolulu Office of the Chancellor

• OAHU

• Cathedral Basilica of our Lady of Peace: 2,333
• Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa: 1,752
•      Vietnamese Community (Co-Cathedral): 540
• Blessed Sacrament, Pauoa Valley: 268
• Holy Family, Honolulu: 740
•      Holy Family Samoan Community: 64
• Holy Trinity, Kuliouou: 715
• Immaculate Conception, Ewa: 1,086
• Mary, Star of the Sea, Waialae-Kahala: 824
• Newman Center/Holy Spirit, UH Manoa: 370
• Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pearl City: 1,300
• Our Lady of the Mount, Kalihi Valley: 355
• Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Waikane: 198
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Ewa Beach: 1,708
• Our Lady of Sorrows, Wahiawa: 609
• Resurrection of the Lord, Waipio: 1,084
• Sacred Heart, Honolulu: 617
• Sacred Heart, Waianae: 566
• St. Ann, Kaneohe: 1,233
• St. Anthony, Kailua: 863
• St. Anthony, Kalihi: 802
• St. Augustine, Waikiki: 1,554
• St. Elizabeth, Aiea: 1,836
• St. George, Waimanalo: 370
• St. John Apostle and Evangelist, Mililani: 1,411
• St. John the Baptist, Kalihi: 786
• St. John Vianney, Enchanted Lake: 602
• St. Joseph, Waipahu: 3,567
• St. Jude, Kapolei: 1,672
• St. Michael, Waialua: 367
•      Sts. Peter and Paul Mission, Waimea: 122
• St. Patrick, Kaimuki: 668
• St. Philomena, Salt Lake: 682
• St. Pius X, Manoa: 215
• St. Rita, Nanakuli: 321
• St. Roch, Kahuku: 167
•      St. Joachim Mission, Punaluu: 33
• St. Stephen, Nuuanu: 236
• Sts. Peter and Paul, Honolulu: 1,387

• HAWAII

• Annunciation, Waimea: 348
•      Ascension Mission, Puako: 214
• Holy Rosary, Pahala: 88
• Immaculate Heart of Mary, Papaikou: 220
•      Good Shepherd Mission, Honomu: 18
• Malia Puka O Kalani, Keaukaha: 117
• Our Lady of Lourdes, Honokaa: 249
• Sacred Heart, Hawi: 185
• Sacred Heart, Naalehu: 84
• Sacred Heart, Pahoa: 449
• St. Anthony, Laupahoehoe: 46
• St. Benedict, Honaunau: 74
•      St. John the Baptist Mission, Kealakekua: 114
• St. Joseph, Hilo: 1,116
• St. Michael, Kailua-Kona: 868
•      Holy Rosary Mission, Kalaoa: 47
•    Immaculate Conception Mission, Holualoa: 57
• St. Theresa, Mountain View: 249
•      Holy Rosary Mission, Keaau: 0

• KAUAI

• Holy Cross, Kalaheo: 400
• Immaculate Conception, Lihue: 720
•      Sacred Heart Mission, Eleele: 92
• St. Catherine, Kapaa: 594
•      St. William Mission, Hanalei: 113
•      St. Sylvester Mission, Kilauea: 125
• St. Raphael, Koloa: 453
• St. Theresa, Kekaha: 179
•      Sacred Hearts Mission, Waimea: 82

• LANAI

• Sacred Hearts, Lanai City: 265

• MAUI

• Christ the King, Kahului: 1,561
• Holy Rosary, Paia: 147
• Our Lady Queen of Angels, Kula: 35
•      Holy Ghost Mission, Waiakoa: 163
•      St. James Mission, Ulupalakua: 0
• Maria Lanakila, Lahaina: 1,110
•      Sacred Heart Mission, Kapalua: 327
• St. Ann, Waihee: 96
• St. Anthony, Wailuku: 999
• St. Joseph, Makawao: 565
• St. Mary, Hana: 83
•      St. Peter Mission, Puuiki: 42
•      St. Paul Mission, Kapahulu: 1
•      St. Joseph Mission, Kaupo: 4
• St. Rita, Haiku: 117
•      St. Gabriel Mission, Keanae: 5
• St. Theresa, Kihei: 1,082

• MOLOKAI

• St. Damien, Kaunakakai: 231
•      Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Mission, Kaluaaha: 23
•      St. Vincent Ferrer Mission, Maunaloa: 25
• St. Francis, Kalaupapa: 8
•      St. Philomena Mission, Kalawao: 2
•      St. Elizabeth Chapel, Bishop Home: 2
• : Total Mass-goers
• : 48,210