Our History:
Malia Puka O Kalani - Malia Puka O Kalani Church, nestled in the heart of Hawaiian Homestead, Keaukaha, Hawaii has a rich and colorful history.
In the 1920’s there was no Catholic Church on Hawaiian Homestead. The Hawaiian Homestead Commission made a lot available on Desha Avenue to the Catholic Church. A hall was the first building on the property. Father Sebastian Konze, SS. CC. was Pastor of St. Joseph Church, the closest Catholic Church in the area. The hall was blessed on April 22, 1934. This new hall provided the Keaukaha community with a much needed place for social activities and Catholic Masses on Sunday. The priests would come from St. Joseph parish to celebrate with the local community. This building paved the way for the Catholic Church which would be built on the same lot in the years to come.
The present day church was built in 1939 and completed in 1940 under the administration of Father Martin Dornbusch, SS. CC., pastor of St. Joseph Parish. The church cost approximately $2,224.00. Bishop James J. Sweeney officially established St. Mary Gate of Heaven Parish in September of 1954. A small rectory was soon built next to the church. The first resident pastor Father James J. McLaughlin, M.M. moved in on January 25, 1955. would come from St. Joseph parish to celebrate with the local community. This building paved the way for the Catholic Church which would be built on the same lot in the years to come. The present day church was built in 1939 and completed in 1940 under the administration of Father Martin Dornbusch, SS. CC., pastor of St. Joseph Parish. The church cost approximately $2,224.00. Bishop James J. Sweeney officially established St. Mary Gate of Heaven Parish in September of 1954. A small rectory was soon built next to the church. The first resident pastor Father James J. McLaughlin, M.M. moved in on January 25, 1955.
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The Malia Statue
About our Murals- The murals were done by Artist Ken Charon
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Malia's Stained Glass Windows - The stained glass windows in Malia Puka O Kalani Church dipict some of the beutiful flowers found in Hawall.