Rebuilt on faith: Worshippers will soon return to landmark Kona church

A landmark church in Kailua-Kona that has been a spiritual hub and community gathering place for many will reopen this month after several years of rebuilding.

The newly constructed St. Michael the Archangel Church on Alii Drive will be dedicated at 5 p.m. March 25 and the public is invited to the nearly two-hour-long special service led by the Rev. Larry Silva, the bishop of Honolulu. Masses will follow, beginning March 26.

Were very excited about having a permanent place to call home again, said the Rev. Konelio Lio Faletoi. Ever since the earthquakes, we have been on the move and on a spiritual journey, one that has truly tested who we are. Despite the hurdles, we have still remained present in the community and determined to create the sanctuary of our beloved church, which is more than a place of worship for Catholics to praise the Lord. Throughout it all, we have put our faith and trust in the Lord and the Lord continues to give us what we can handle.

The faith of the churchs 2,000-member families was tested on Oct. 15, 2006, when earthquakes severely damaged the more than 160-year-old structure. The church, after being deemed unsafe by structural engineers, closed and decommissioned in 2009, with services held three years on the grounds under a tent.

The church was soon demolished, along with the adjacent wooden administration building, which opened as a convent for the Sisters of the Holy Family in 1955. A groundbreaking for the new church was held Sept. 28, 2012. Originally, church officials estimated it would be completed by fall or winter of 2014.

Delays were mostly due to the typical unknowns that can arise when doing construction in Hawaii, including not knowing exactly whats below until the project starts. Lava tubes and unstable soil are things that had to be considered, as well as being in a flood zone and special management area. A major obstacle was site preparation and building the underground foundation to build the foundation on which the church now sits, Faletoi said.

Not only did it take time to clear the site, it also took time to meet the requirements and obtain the permits or permissions from various agencies and groups. Despite the lengthy process, those agencies and groups, particularly Hawaii Countys Wally Lau, Warren Lee and Bobby Command, have been supportive and helpful throughout the project, Faletoi said.

During the construction, tent services were moved off site of the Alii Drive property to Honokohau Industrial Park.

At nearly 9,500 square feet, the $11 million church is larger and offers seating for 500. Constructed by Heartwood Pacific on a 3-acre campus, the new church will offer outdoor parking for 125 vehicles and is Americans with Disabilities Act accessible. New footings on the propertys south side are in place for St. Michaels future parish center, which will house administrative offices, conference rooms, a library and certified kitchen.

While the 1940 Coral Grotto was moved to the front, the cemetery was not disturbed. Inside the church is a baptismal font sculpted from a large piece of West Hawaii lava. The font has mosaic tiles and etched are the words that appeared over the altar of the first church. It reads: E Kuu Keiki: E Ho Mai Nou Kou Puuwai A E Ike Oe I Kuu Alahele, which means The Lord Says to Thee: Give Me Thy Heart and Let Thine Eyes Keep My Ways.

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Rebuilt on faith: Worshippers will soon return to landmark Kona church