Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Parish life across the diocese: Holy Rosary Keaau, St. Ann Kaneohe

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Parish News and School News are on summer break. If your parish or school has an update to share in the meantime, please email herald@rcchawaii.org. Aldrein Tangalin, Alealani Decosta, Amara Adaoag, Jonalei Simpliciano and Nathaniel Mattos received their first holy Communion and confirmation May 24 from Father Samuel Loterte, pastor of Holy Rosary. Religious education […]

Reflection: Through thick and thin, family remained faithful to God

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By Chad and Ree Decosta Special to the Herald Our names are Chad and Ree Decosta, and we are parishioners at Holy Rosary Church in Keaau. Ree is a cradle Catholic, while Chad, a Hilo native, did not grow up in any particular faith or religion. Although Chad believed in God, he did not yet […]

Mass, banquet kick off Holy Rosary’s centennial celebration

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By Almie Lonzaga Special to the Herald Holy Rosary Church in Paia, Maui, formally opened its yearlong centennial celebration Feb. 14 with its inaugural centennial banquet, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the church’s 1926 groundbreaking. The evening started with a special Mass celebrated by Father William Kunisch, pastor of St. Theresa Church in Kihei, who […]

Holy Rosary Church centennial: Revealing the past, looking to the future

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By Almie Lonzaga Special to the Herald With prayerful reflection and deep gratitude, the Holy Rosary Church community in Paia, Maui, gathered Feb. 2 to mark a historic milestone — the opening of a time capsule sealed 100 years ago during the laying of the church’s cornerstone. Held on the feast of the Presentation of […]

Holy Rosary Church gears up for centennial celebration

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By Almie Lonzaga Special to the Herald Holy Rosary Church in Paia, Maui, is honored to commemorate a century of rich history and significant milestones, which have shaped its legacy as a spiritual haven for the community. The journey of the present location of Holy Rosary Church began on Jan. 24, 1926, with the placement […]

Faithful find connection, inspiration in traveling Jubilee cross

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By Celia K. Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald Since the start of the Jubilee Year, the Diocese of Honolulu has provided Catholics across the state with a unique way to feel spiritually connected to Rome as well as to each other. In addition to the official Jubilee cross that resides at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa […]

Reflection: Finding rest and inspiration in rural Hawaii

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By Anthony Selvanathan Special to the Herald As a local boy born and raised in the hustle and bustle of urban Honolulu, I must admit that I sometimes yearn for the “old Hawaii” that our kupuna often reminisce about. In search of a taste of what life as a Catholic in rural Hawaii was like, […]

Father Elias “Eli” Escanilla / 1951-2025: Pastor shared love of Christ and culture with all

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By Celia K. Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald Father Elias “Eli” Escanilla possessed a keen ability to cultivate many things — plants and animals; funds for church repairs and improvements; interest in the Philippines, his home country; and a sense of community and pride at the parishes where he served. At Holy Rosary Church in Paia, […]