Earth cracks walls, not faith of church

STORY SUMMARY »

Second of Five Parts

Psalm 46 says it all for Big Island congregations whose churches still show damage from last year's earthquake:

"We shall not be afraid though the earth be in turmoil."

Yesterday » Part 1: Agencies improve to minimize disruptions in future quakes. Tomorrow The science of earthquakes and the improvements made in the state's seismic monitoring system.

Two 1850s-era churches, Kalahikiola Church in North Kohala and St. Michael Church in Kailua-Kona, remain closed due to damage, while a third church, St. Joseph Mission in Paauilo, is slated for demolition.

Meanwhile, Hulihee Palace, built in 1838 in Kailua-Kona, was briefly closed following the earthquake and aftershocks, but its ground floor was reopened to visitors. The Legislature appropriated $1 million last spring for repairs, but the sole bid came in higher, so the state is negotiating to lower the cost.

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A damaged plantation village chapel will be demolished and two 1850s-vintage churches are closed while multimillion-dollar restoration work is still under discussion a year after the Sunday morning earthquake prompted worshippers to evacuate their sanctuaries.

Federal Assistance Projects Grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and loans from the Small Business Administration: FEMA "Eligible public assistance projects," include schools, county and state government buildings, debris removal and emergency repairs. FEMA reimburses 75 percent. Does not include roads, harbors or agriculture. » Claims submitted: 80 » Estimated costs: $18 million-plus » Claims approved: 759 » Estimated costs: $15.4 million » Claims pending approval: 21 » Estimated cost: $2.76 million "Individual assistance," includes homes » Total claims approved, Hawaii County: $92 million SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Low-interest loans: » Homes: $18.5 million » Businesses: $3 million

Members of Kalahikiola Church in North Kohala decided soon after the earthquake that they want to rebuild the 1855 structure. The Kapaau sanctuary has been closed since day one, when the rear wall became a lava rock landslide, a vivid picture of the quake's impact that was seen in news media around the world.

The 100-member congregation learned last month that an anticipated $1.1 million insurance payment has been reduced to $800,000, and they face a major capital campaign to raise the rest of the $2 million estimated restoration cost, said the Rev. George Baybrook. In the meantime they meet in the parish hall.

It was only three weeks ago that parishioners at St. Michael Church in Kailua-Kona were warned by a California engineering consultant that their church is a "dangerous building."

The 1,500-member congregation had continued to gather weekly under its roof for five Sunday Masses based on the assessment of an Hawaii engineering consultant who advised that only the bell tower be closed. They sought a second opinion after local contractors balked at even bidding on the job, said Tom Peters, planning and building committee chairman.

Peters said it will be several weeks before they learn the scope and cost when the firm of MKM and Associates of Santa Rosa, Calif., presents plans. When the engineer did tests on the 2-foot-thick stucco-covered walls, crushed coral mortar that had bound rocks together "poured out like dust," Peters said. The consultant found there is no foundation; the un-reinforced masonry building sits on sandy soil.

Unlike the Protestant church in Kohala, the decision on restoration of the 1851 Catholic church rests with Hawaii Bishop Larry Silva and not with the congregation.

Catholic church authorities have already decided not to restore St. Joseph Mission in Paauilo, a cinder-block building that was closed immediately after it sustained cracks in walls and ceiling beams. A contractor has removed asbestos material from the 1957 building, and "we are looking for a contractor to do the demolition," said parish secretary Cindy Juan.

Repair Costs A Hawaii County estimate of $17 million to repair county facilities is expected to increase. The county has spent $1.2 million to date. The county must pay all costs, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency reimburses 75 percent. Original estimates: $3,087,402 Roads $295,500 Buildings $10 million+ Water systems $10,400 Traffic signals, street lights $2,878,950 Parks and Recreation $180,000 Bridges (new estimate $500,000)

St. Joseph was built in 1957 in a time when the sugar industry thrived, but the congregation has shrunk since the plantation closed. The mission is attached to Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Honokaa, and parishioners now attend Mass there, Juan said.

Sunday Masses at St. Michael have been held under tents for the past three weekends.

On Oct. 6 a crane crew lifted off the bell tower roof and extracted the bronze bell, cast in Paris in 1853, now on display at the Alii Drive church grounds. "The engineer said the tower could have collapsed under its own weight. ... It wouldn't have taken another earthquake," Peters said.

The 3-acre property is also crowded with three Matson containers, two being filled with pews, statues and stained glass removed from the church. One container will serve as the parish food pantry, from which volunteers distribute 1,000 bags of food per month.

Other churches of the United Church of Christ denomination in Hawaii and on the mainland have contributed more than $60,000 to Kalahikiola Church, as well as funds for individual residents, said the Rev. Diane Weible, Hawaii conference communications minister. The church opened a Web page to update its supporters: kalahikiolacongregationalchurch.com.

The Kapaau congregation acted early on to stabilize the church building. In December a Kauai contractor built a structure of beams to support the roof. "The roof and the floor are intact; it's just the walls," said Baybrook. Members did the carpentry and other work to repair damage to the parsonage and a utility building where Sunday school classes meet.

They planned a service for Sunday to mark the earthquake's anniversary. Baybrook chose Psalm 46 as the theme of his sermon. It goes, in part, "The Lord is my refuge and my strength, a help always ready in trouble. We shall not be afraid though the earth be in turmoil, though mountains tumble into the depths of the sea."

Baybrook said, "The thing to remember is that the church has not been destroyed. It's the people who are the church, not the building."