STAR-BULLETIN / 2001
Kaumakapili Church, built in 1911, will undergo an eight-month, $2.5 million restoration.
Renovation closes landmark
church in Kalihi-Palama
By Mary Adamski When the congregation of Kaumakapili Church left after Easter Sunday services, they ceremonially locked the door for eight months.
madamski@starbulletin.comA $2.5 million restoration project will be launched this month on the Kalihi-Palama landmark, which was built in 1911. The gray, Gothic-style church at 766 N. King St. looks like a stone structure that would survive for ages, but it is actually a stucco-covered wooden building riddled with damage from termites, wood rot and mold.
The current building replaced the earlier church, which was destroyed in the 1900 Chinatown fire.
T. Iida Contracting and Mason Architects won the bidding for the reconstruction work, said church member Henry Maunakea.
A priceless Tiffany window depicting the Good Shepherd will be reframed and restored by Judson Studios in Glendale, Calif. It has been girded with wooden reinforcement since a big wind blew out pieces in 1998.
About $1.2 million has been collected so far, and the fund raising continues, Maunakea said. He and Jack Keppeler spearheaded the Sanctuary Restoration Committee, which has sought donations from foundations, corporations and individuals with a family history at the church, as well as the 200-plus families on the membership rolls.
Kaumakapili's history stretches back to 1839. The second church founded by Congregational missionaries, it was perceived as the church of the common folk, a counterpoint to Kawaiaha'o Church, attended by the alii and American business leaders.
Some of the largest donations are from the descendants of those missionaries. "The Frear Eleemosynary Trust has put up a challenge to match their $150,000," said Maunakea. "We are about at $57,000." Other contributions included $100,000 from the Atherton Family Foundation and $50,000 each from the Strong and G.N. Wilcox foundations.
Two annual fund-raisers, the church luau and its capital campaign dinner, have raised $250,000, and 195 individuals pledged about $400,000, he said. They are continuing to seek corporate grants, which now account for about $60,000.
Maunakea said: "We are offering the opportunity to do memorial gifts. We are replacing smaller stained-glass windows and will put memorial names on the new windows. Also, new wooden pews will carry memorial plaques."
Another change ahead is selection of a new full-time pastor. The workload has been shared in recent years by the Rev. David Kaupu, the Rev. Kaleo Patterson and Sherman Thompson, whose part-time contracts will end this year, Maunakea said.
Among those attending the emotional Sunday "closing" was "Auntie Martha" Hohu, 96, retired after 66 years as choir director, who was 4 when the church was dedicated.
Kaupu's sermon Sunday compared the emptied church to Christ's tomb, found empty by his disciples. "It's like a tomb but we know Christ is risen," Maunakea said. "When we come back at Christmas, we'll celebrate Christ's birth and the church's rebirth."
In the meantime, services will be held in the adjacent Hale Kamika community services building, which also houses the free store where food and clothing are distributed to the poor.
Contributions to the restoration made be made to Sanctuary Restoration Committee, Kaumakapili Church, 766 N. King St., Honolulu 96817.
