For over 200 years, the gospel of Jesus Christ has flourished in the Hawaiian Islands, partially due to an orphaned Hawaiian boy that journeyed on a ship from Hawai’i Island to the continent of America, where he discovered and embraced our Holy and Living God through a Christian mission school. As a scholar, he flourished and though he died at a young age, never to return to his beloved islands and people, his memoir launched a gospel ship of missionaries, who fulfilled his desire to bring the Christian faith to his home. Founded in 1834, Kaneohe Congregational Church celebrates its 190th Church Anniversary this year. It was established through the diligence of missionary, Rev. Benjamin Parker and support of High Chiefess Kuini Liliha. Many Hawaiians became converted to the Christian faith. Our church was the first and only mission station on the Windward side of Oahu.
Songs and singing have always been a part of our Hawaiian lives and it especially flourished in our churches. Hawaiian song found its origin as cultural chants and though it marked rhythm, it did not have a melody. The melody arrived when the church hymns were introduced by the early missionaries. It only needed one thing: the Hawaiian voice. This was the instrument needed and when combined with the old chant and new hymn, Hawaiian music was the result. Congregational singing was magnificent then, as it is today, as everyone would chime in together, both young and old, even without instrumentation.
Singing in church was so wonderful that in the 1880’s, Henri Berger, a German composer and bandmaster to Hawaii’s royalty once said, “Although the choir singing is better in the foreign churches, the congregational singing is far better in the Hawaiian ones.” These marvelous voices continue today for the glory of God. Today, if you listen closely near the church, you will hear our voices and easily find your way to our spiritual home. It is an unbelievable experience to see “culture through faith” and “faith through culture”. Just as our beloved church is unique, God the Son’s uniqueness and His authority extends to every area of life and every corner of earth and heaven. We welcome you to experience His presence. “Aloha” (love) awaits you!
“Worship the Lord our God by glorifying Him in Spirit and Truth”.
Come to a more intimate knowledge of Him for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the service through the exercise of our Spiritual Gifts of love and demonstrate a consistent Christlikeness.
Kāneʻohe Congregational Church has a rich background woven into the tapestry of Hawaiʻi’s history dating back to 1834. Beginning with King Kamehameha III and Rev. Benjamin Wyman Parker this church was founded in Kāneʻohe after a land grant in 1848.
Protestant, member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance.
