Kahu Anela Rosa prepares to welcome ʻohana back to Lahaina’s Waiola Church

Kahu Anela Rosa said a typical Waiola Church service “is filled with a lot of aloha and serving.”

“People who come to Waiola feel welcomed and comfortable,” she told Aloha State Daily. “Laughter and fun are big for me; I like to bring smiles to their faces and make it enjoyable for them to come to church. They come to listen to the music and the message, then leave looking forward to the week and ready to accomplish what’s ahead. That’s my goal.”

Since the Maui fires destroyed the church building on Aug. 8, 2023, the 70 member congregation has not been meeting on Sundays in-person. Rosa said church attendance had already been impacted by Covid-19 restrictions on gathering sizes, and the effects were “still lingering.” Prior to the fires, there were about 30 to 50 regulars and visitors, she added.

Since the fires, folks have been attending other churches on the island, while still supporting each other and the local community. She said many lost their homes and businesses, and if they were not directly affected, they had friends, cousins, aunties in need. 

“You realize what you miss when it’s gone,” Rosa told ASD. “The congregation is strong and faithful. After the fires, we found out pretty quickly that everyone was safe and could make the most of the resources we had available. … They’re survivors and I’m grateful for the faith they have for themselves and for the community.

“Coming together as a congregation to kōkua the community is what it’s all about,” she said. "There’s enthusiasm. There’s the need and the want to be back together. It’s a dying desire. They really miss each other.”

With this in mind, Waiola Church will be holding its first service back on the historic property at 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 2. Rosa said it will be a “casual setting” outdoors and under a tent.

“The first Sunday of the month is when we take communion together, so that’s the purpose behind this one-time event. And bring your own chair. We’ll see how things go from there.”

Rosa has been a part of Waiola Church for more than 40 years, serving in various capacities, she said. She assumed the lead role 14 years ago. The church is a member of the Hawai‘i Conference of the United Church of Christ.

The biggest challenge on Maui continues to be housing, she noted. “The dynamic of Lahaina town is completely different now, but structures are coming up here and there. It’s really promising.”

As for Waiola Church’s rebuild, the total cost is still unknown. But Rosa expects it to be in the millions. Funding to restore the historic site will mostly come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, in addition to fundraising.

“There’s leg work that has been started. We’re working on more strategic planning,” Rosa said.

Waiola Church, which means living water, was built in 1823 by missionaries. The last time the church was rebuilt was in 1953, more than two years after the structure was destroyed by Kaua’ula winds, per its website. The property also serves as a cemetery for part of Hawaiʻi’s royal family.

CONTACT
Waiola Church
Kahu Anela Rosa
Address: 535 Waine‘e St., Lahaina
Email: info@waiolachurch.org
Website: waiolachurch.org

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.