Holy Rosary

October 7, 2023

We visited this beautiful church after lunch at the Paia town proper and, I believe, before (not after) a failed attempt to traverse the Road to Hana (which proved to be not fun to drive because it was too twisty and had only a single lane each way). The church was closed so we were only able to explore the perimeter and a quick peak inside.

The building has a brick facade with cast-stone details, which is uncommon in Hawaii. The cross atop the building is a Celtic cross. All that really made this a uniquely beautiful church. There was a man doing maintenance work around the exterior. He thanked us for visiting their church. We felt like we drove too high upcountry already because there was really not much activity around. The area felt peaceful, but secluded like we were intruding on something.

This was featured in the Maui News, dated 1926:

One of the most impressive and interesting events that has taken place in East Maui was that of last Sunday afternoon when the corner stone of the new Catholic Church at Upper Paia was laid. The Rev. Bishop Stephen made a special trip from Honolulu for the occasion and officiated assisted by the Rev. Father James, Otto, Maurice, Englebert, and Jules and the Brothers of Mary from Wailuku sang the psalms.

 In the corner stone a hole about eight inches deep was cut in which was fitted a brass box that was later sealed with solder then cemented over. In that box were placed a list of names of all those who pledged to give money for the building and all those who contributed, church documents, and coins of all nations and copies of Maui News. The affair was attended by people from all over Maui. The church will rank as one of Maui’s’ finest churches and will be completed sometime in the summer.

The church will hold their centennial celebration on February 14, 2026!