The Little-Known Church Hiding In Hawaii That Is An Absolute Work Of Art
By Megan Shute|Published November 28, 2017
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
When Christian missionaries arrived in Hawaii, they brought with them their belief system and the church. From small rural chapels to huge cathedrals located in the heart of Hawaii’s capital, the Hawaiian Islands are home to some incredible churches.
While all of Hawaii’s churches are stunning in their architecture and the love of those who worship within their walls, there is a little-known chapel hiding on the southern shore of Hawaii Island that is not only one of the prettiest churches you’ll find in Hawaii but one with an incredibly inspiring story as well. This is Star of the Sea Painted Church in Kalapana, not to be mistaken with Hawaii Island’s more famous painted church, St. Benedict Roman Catholic Church.
Built in the late-1920s out of lumber from run-down churches nearby for a mere $2,500, Star of the Sea boasts a history as vibrant as its painted interior.
Approximately 22 feet by 36 feet, this church is tiny. It features clapboard siding and a steep corrugated metal gable roof, as was typical of Catholic mission churches throughout the state.
Also known as the Kalapana Painted Church, this 90-year old wooden church has survived many earthquakes and tsunami threats as well as volcanic eruptions and lava flows.
In fact, it was moved from its previous location near the former Kaimu Black Sand Beach before a lava flow from Kilauea destroyed the area in 1990. When residents discovered the lava was headed their way, they scrambled through the night to load the church onto a truck and clear the highway of low branches and power lines to move the historic building to safety.
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After the church was saved from destruction, it sat in a temporary location for six years until it was moved to its current locale.
Unfortunately, during the time it sat abandoned on a temporary foundation, many of the paintings were damaged by weather and termites. Fortunately, it was moved to a more permanent setting, added to the National Register of Historic Places, and preserved for everyone to enjoy.
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From the outside, this seafoam green painted church looks unassuming, maybe even a little plain.
The walls and ceilings are almost entirely covered with well-preserved, beautiful hand-painted murals. The vibrant colors, exquisite details, and fascinating stories behind the artwork make this church truly one-of-a-kind.
The church was built under the guidance of Father Evarist Gielen, a Belgian Catholic missionary priest who painted the upper section of the church interior depicting various scenes and religious characters from the Catholic Book of Catechism.
His work depicted the life story of a famous Belgian priest, Father Damien De Veuster. He came to Kalapana in 1864 to begin missionary work for nearly a decade before moving to the island of Molokai to oversee the leprosy colony there.
Located on Highway 130 between mile marker 19 and 20, this charming church is open to the public free of charge seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It, however, no longer serves as an active Catholic house of worship.
Have you ever seen the wonder of Star of the Sea for yourself? If you’re not on Hawaii Island, why not plan a visit to Oahu’s stunning Byodo-In Temple instead?
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