Keawala’i Congregational Church
Annual Blessing of the Animals
10:00 a.m. – Service
Saturday, December 12, 2026
Sat. Dec. 12th – 10:00 a.m. blessing service – The Annual Blessing of the Animals will be held at the historic Keawalaʻi Congregational Church in Mākena and officiated by Kahu Mitch Nelson. Churches celebrate the blessing of animals in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures. Readings, prayers, and a blessing will be offered as well as a blessing for each animal and photo opportunities with Santa. Arrangements for the day will take into account the needs of the various animals and includes dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, rabbits or any other pets. Dogs must be leashed at all times and other animals must be safely contained. All are welcome to bring your pets, pet photos or just yourself and participate in this wonderful celebration and time of blessing.
Christmas Craft Faire & Bake Sale
11:15 a.m. – pavilion
Sunday, December 13, 2026
Sun. Dec. 13th – 11:15 a.m. – This year we will feature a Christmas Craft Faire & Bake Sale to be held after the Sunday morning service under the pavilion. Please feel free to drop off a baked good or craft item for our sale on Saturday 12/12 from 10am to 12pm. Proceeds from the bake sale will support the work of the Outreach Committee. Grants are provided year-round for individuals and families in need throughout Maui County. This is a great way to support the Outreach mission of Keawalaʻi and start your Christmas shopping.
Waters – Nā Leo Nahenahe (Keawalaʻi adult choir) &
University of Hawaiʻi Maui College Chorus
12:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 13, 2026
Sun. Dec. 13th – 12:30 p.m. – Our Keawalaʻi choir, Nā Leo Nahenahe, will be offering a gift of music at 12:30pm after our Sunday service, alongside the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College Chorus. It will be preceded by lunch under the octopus tree from 11:30-12:30pm.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Thursday, December 24, 2026 – 5:30 p.m.
Keawala`i Congregational Church
5300 Mākena Road
The Annual Christmas Eve Service at historic Keawalaʻi Congregational Church – United Church of Christ will be held on Thursday, December 24, 2026, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the grounds of the church. The outdoor service will be officiated by Kahu Mitch Nelson and includes the church choir, Nā Leo Nahenahe, under the direction of Dr. Thomas Goedecke along with featured special guest musicians Maki Rickard and Jamie Lawrence. The beauty of a Mākena sunset will accent our celebration of the birth of Jesus. Our program will include many familiar carols in English and Hawaiian. Please feel free to bring a flower to decorate the trees.
Seating will be provided for 500. Please dress for the weather. Parking will be available in the parking lots adjacent to the church and along Mākena Road. Overflow parking will also be available in the south Maluaka Beach parking lot (Makena Alanui, pass Honoiki Street, turn right onto Makena Keonoio Rd. – note: leave time to walk on the pathway through to the church). For more information, please call (808) 879-5557.
Give Aloha during September
During the month of September, you can donate up to $249 to Keawalaʻi who has participated in Foodland’s Give Aloha campaign for years. All you need is a Maikaʻi card and donations are payable in the form of cash, check, or credit card at the checkout counter.
If you do not have a Maikaʻi account, you may establish one at checkout. The donation amount and name of the organization you choose will appear on your receipt. Foodland will then match a portion of your gift and pass them on to us, along with an additional donation.
This is an easy way to donate to Keawalaʻi (or other non-profit organizations of your choosing) that helps greatly by contributing to our operating budget. If you have any questions about the program, please call our church office (808) 879-5557 for details. Mahalo nui for your generosity to Keawalaʻi.
Maui Classical Music Festival Concert
Monday, May 11 at 7:00pm
Keawala’i will be hosting the Maui Classical Music Festival practices and one of theirs concerts will be held here at the church on May 11th at 7pm.
Office Flooding Mitigation – Letter from Moderator on April 9
As you are probably aware, the Church office was flooded during the last Kona storm. As a result, there was a recognized possibility of mold developing in the sheetrock walls. Upon removal of a test panel of sheetrock, active mold was discovered. Our insurance agent has been notified, and we have an active claim in progress.
Immediate actions being taken include:
· Relocating activities out of the Hale Kukahiko. Administrative activities have been moved to the Sanctuary.
· Moving out some pews at the back mauka portion of the Sanctuary to make room for the copy machine and enlisting Xerox to move the machine to that space.
· Obtaining portable storage pods to move material out of the office.
· Requiring the use of masks if entry to the office is necessary (some are provided).
· Placing sandbags near the gate and office doors to prevent further intrusion.
· Aloha hour is temporarily suspended.
We will keep everyone informed as the mitigation & rebuild progresses. Services in the Hale Pule will continue to be held at 10am each Sunday.
Sunday Morning Easter Service
Featured Kahu Mitch Nelson
Guest musicians Maki Rickard Ohana and Friends
Ka hale kupapau hakahaka: The Empty Tomb
April 5, 2026 at 7:30am
The Annual Sunday Morning Easter Service was held at historic Keawalaʻi Congregational Church will feature Kahu Mitch Nelson, the new pastor at Keawala’i, and guest musicians Maki Rickard Ohana and Friends as well as the Keawalaʻi Church Choir. The service was on Sunday, April 5, 2026 and began at 7:30 a.m. on the grounds of the church. We had over 450 guests and they brought flowers and lei to place on the outdoor cross.
Book Club
Tuesday, March 24, 2026 – 10:00 a.m.
Lucienne de Naie was with us on the 17th. She is the author of “The Compilation of South Maui Project Ka’eo.
New Pastor at Keawala`i Congregational Church
Sunday, February 15, 2026 – 10:00 a.m.
Keawala’i Congregational Church is pleased to announce the selection of a new settled Pastor, Dr. Mitch Nelson. He is an Ordained Minister with full standing in the United Church of Christ and was ordained on Sep 25, 2022. He comes to us from Duluth, Minnesota where he was pastor of The United Protestant Church in Morgan Park UCC.
Pastor Nelson would describe his faith as “believing in the creation account and seeing nature as something that was created and blessed by God. Also a relationship, I feel that when nature is seen as something sacred in creation this can lead to better care for it and humanity. My call as of late has moved into Pastoral Ministry and writing on Christian Ecology.” His focus on Aloha for the ‘Aina fits well in the Hawaiian culture. He is also an avid surfer, hitting the waves in Lake Superior.
He follows a long line of Pastors in the 194-year history of Keawala`i, from the first minister, Nueku, to our longtime Pastor Kealahou Alika, who served for 29 years. Founded in 1832, Keawala`i Congregational Church was known as the Church of Honua`ula. Originally built of pili grass, a year later it became a stone-wood building.