A different kind of traditional church: Still going strong since 1884: St. Augustine's Episcopal

 

About St. Augustine's Episcopal, Kapa'au, HI
Founded as a mission of the Church of England in 1884 by English families who immigrated here to the sugar cane plantations, St. Augustine's Episcopal Church has long been a center of life in Kohala.  Today, “the red door church” reflects the lifestyle, diversity, and community roots of North Kohala.  Our parishioners range in age from keiki (children)to kupuna (elderly-grandparent) and enrich our congregation with their heritages and traditions of Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Portuguese, Puerto Rican, Korean, African, Hawaiian, Samoan, and Caucasian ancestry.
Quoted from the church’s website:
https://www.staugustineskohala.com/who-we-are.html
If you have the chance to stop by St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, I highly recommend doing two things, and noticing a couple of others.
First, take a tour of the church (it is normally open in the daytime, but may be closed unless the Thrift Shop is open). The small but pristine chapel is beautiful, including the sanctuary, which is made from imported wood that is over one hundred fifty years old, and also the grounds.  I don’t recall many details of about the construction, current staff, and services, but that is available on the church’s website. There are services on Sunday at both 7: 00 am and 9:00 am; you'll be a welcome guest if you can attend. The vicar, the other clergy, and the member of the congregation do their best to make visitors (and frequent guests), as well as locals,  feel at home at the service.
Secondly, the Thrift Shop is open on Tuesday and Thursday (afternoons) and takes donations from the church members and from the community for resale. You can find some great bargains. They are particularly well stocked with kitchenware.
Pictured above: John, dressed with a Santa hat at a Christmas event, and Jeanette, who turns 100 years old this month (May 2025).
I visit St. Augustine's Episcopal every time I am on the island of Hawaii: church members John, my friend, and Jeannette, a long-time church member, approaching 100 years old) are two of the reasons I visit the church on a Sunday.  The services (masses and other events) are meaningful, and the sermons are inspiring, but the pastor seems to change every few years.  So it's the welcome from the membership that I really enjoy and what I return to see at St. Augustine's Episcopal Church.
As I wrote at the beginning guests, -- whether few or many, whether first timers or frequent visitors -- are made to feel welcome. I have personally attended Sunday morning service (not usually at 7 a.m., but the one at 9 a.m. many times while vacationing on Hawaii’s Big Island. On June 14, 2025, I will be fortunate enough to attend the celebratory event at the Church in honor of the 100th birthday of one of the churches staunchest members. It’s more like a family event, but I presume that dozens of current members, past members (and guests) and former priests are expected to attend and partake in the celebration. The person whose 100th birthday is being celebrated has been a life-long member of St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, and consequently, one of the pillars of the church and surrounding community.  She will be in attendance this time, and hopefully for many more of her birthdays.

Pictured below:  The current Vicar of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, having out a Mother's Day flowers to  Jeanette.