Rich Hawaiian Heritage

Holy Innocents Church Drawing by parishioner David Chenoweth

The Anglican Church in Hawai‘i:

Formally established in Honolulu on November 30, 1862. On December 14, 1862, Anglican services first came to Maui and were conducted in Lahaina by The Right Reverend Thomas Nettleship Staley, the first Bishop of Honolulu. Bishop Staley used the Book of Common Prayer as translated by King Kamehameha IV.

Holy Innocents’ first church:

Built in 1872 on a lot diagonally across Front Street (toward Prison Street) from the present location. The land under today’s church was acquired in 1908, and is rich in Hawaiian historical significance. On these royal grounds, Hawai‘i’s last reigning monarch, Queen Lili‘uokalani, enjoyed holidays and vacations as a child. The site of the sacred island grotto of Moku‘ula is nearby, just across Front Street.

Present facilities:

In 1927, this church structure was built, along with a vicarage and a parish hall. Many improvements followed: 1966 – the church sanctuary was renovated and enlarged; 1973 – the parish hall was built; 1974 – Holy Innocents Preschool (HIPS) was started in parish hall; 1980 – our office building was completed; 1990 – a sacristy was added to the present sanctuary.