Christ the King Church

About us

our story

A few words about us

Christ the King Church was established in 1932 as a mission outpost of the then flourishing Holy Family Parish in Puunene. During the early history of the Catholic churches on Maui, Kahului was an unimportant town consisting of a few houses.

It has been estimated that up until 1924, there were no more than 60 Catholics living in Kahului. But because of the valuable boat harbor and the expansion of the Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company (HC&S), it became obvious that Kahului would become an important city with many residents. It was then that Annie Enomoto approached Frank Baldwin, manager of the Kahului Railroad Company and HC&S to request land on which to build a church..

Baldwin offered Sacred Hearts Father Bartholomew Bax, pastor at Holy Family, a piece of beach front property near the Kahului Harbor where the Maui Seaside Hotel now stands. Because Father Bax was from Holland, he worried about the potential threat of tsunamis and suggested the church be located further inland. His request was granted in the summer of 1931. For one dollar, with the stipulation that the property could not be sold, land was given along the main highway for the establishment of a Catholic church in Kahului where it now stands.

The plantation sent men and equipment to level the lot, and construction began in 1932. Bishop Stephen Alencastre blessed the church as a mission of the Holy Family Parish on the feast of Christ the King, Oct. 30, 1932. Christ the King remained a mission outpost until 1942 when Sacred Hearts Father Evarist Gielen was named Kahului’s first pastor.

Written by:

Lucy Peros

Lucy Peros enjoys writing and reading in her spare time, attends line dancing class and other activities at Kaunoa Senior Center, and spends some of her time to activities at Christ The King Catholic Church. She has taught and Waihe’e Elementary and St. Anthony Grade school where she retired from.

Pastor

Fr. Efren A Tomas, MS

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Associate Pastor

Fr. ANIL KOCHUTHAZHATH VARGHESE, MS

Deacon

KENNETH BISSEN, JR.

deacon

CORNELIO PULIDO

Office staff

Inside the Parish Office

Left to Right: Shirley Kusuno (Religious Education Clerk), Madelyne Pascua (Business/Finance Manager), Sr. Angela Laurenzo (Religious Education), Myrna, Mildred Chargualaf (Administrative Secretary)

Photos by Audie Pascual