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.