The Painted Church, St. Benedict

The Painted Church, located on the Big Island, Kona side, is a historical site as well as an active vibrant parish. It sits atop a hill, overlooking Kealakekua Bay in Captain Cook. It was built in 1899 by Fr. John Veighe, a Belgian missionary. Without professional training and using housepaint on ordinary wood, he painted the frescoes along the church’s ceiling and walls, inspired by the Gothic designs of the cathedral at Burgos, Spain; but he added the sky and palm fronds for tropical flair.

We took the public bus as close as we could to the church but had to Uber after that. Unfortunately, the church was closed when we visited so we were not able to take photos of the interior.