Hokuloa Church commemorates its unique history. From its beginnings as one of many Christian churches established by American missionaries to the Kingdom of Hawai‘i, the church is now a progressive congregation with members and friends living in Hawai’i and many other places.

 

1819   

The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) sent its first missionaries to Hawai‘i. King Kamehameha II tasked the missionaries “…to aim at making people of every class wise and good and happy.”

 

1832   

Lorenzo Lyons (1807 –1886) traveled with a group of missionaries to the Island of Hawaiʻi and lived here the rest of his life. He brought Western music and education to the Island along with his Congregationalism. Hawaiians called him Makua Laiana (Father Lyons). He wrote the lyrics of the popular song, "Hawaiʻi Aloha” and composed or arranged hundreds of hymns in ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian language). Many are still used in the Islands’ churches. Lyons received praise from the Hawaiians who knew him who. They called him cordial and enthusiastic.

 

1856   

Lorenzo Lyons and the Puakō community gathered for worship

 

1858   

Lorenzo Lyons reported that almost all the 70 residents of Puakō were members of the Hokuloa Church.

 

1860   

Lyons and his congregants completed Hale Pule Hokuloa (a house of prayer) and at some point a school building. Hokuloa is one of fourteen churches and several schools in in the districts of Kohala and Hāmākua built by Lyons and his congregants. The church remained active until about 1914 when most people moved out of Puakō at the closing of the local sugar plantation and mill. Occasional services were held and the church building was maintained by Imiola Church members.
 

1957   

When the United Church of Christ (UCC) formed, it inherited five different religious traditions. Those groups included the Congregationalists (started by English settlers), the Evangelical Synod of North America and the Reformed Church (started by German immigrants), and Christian churches and the Afro-Christian Conference which began in the U.S. Those diverse people shared values and beliefs. They created a united church that welcomed autonomy and covenant.

1960s

A short-lived community effort sought to establish Hokuloa Church as an ecumenical chapel for the growing number of tourists visiting South Kohala.

 

1989   

The Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ sought to start a new congregation. Rev. John Hoover served as the founding pastor from 1990 until his retirement in 2016. John was also active in the Puakō community where he served on the Puako Community Association Board of Directors, the South Kohala Community Development Plan, and the Puako Historical Society. Rev. Hoover died at his home in Tennessee in 2022.

 

2019   

Hokuloa Church joined with other Open and Affirming UCC churches to welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) members. Hokuloa is the sixth UCC congregation in the state and the first on Hawai‘i Island to become an Open and Affirming congregation.

 

When we look at the religious past, we often see mistakes and moral lapses. Many religious people also demonstrated devotion and altruism, that expanded into the UCC, a progressive denomination with a devotion to a social justice and welcoming women, people of color, indigenous individuals, and LGBTQ+ individuals.