The Painted Church

Overlooking the Kealakekua Bay, St. Benedict's Painted Church is near Honaunau, Hawaii.

The Catholic church has been a part of life in Hawaii since 1842.

Father John Berchmans Velghe, A Sacred Hearts father from Belgium, arrived in 1899 and decided to take his chapel with him up the mountain slopes along the South and West coast. The local folks dismantled the church and with the help of mules, moved it to its present location.

With repairs and additions the church looked like new. In August 1902 Bishop Ropert from Honolulu visited the relocated church, consecrated it, and named it in honor of St. Benedict, the father of Western monasticism. St. Benedict wrote the rule that is still followed today in most communities of monks.

View the cemetary and exterior.