E Komo Mai (welcome) to Koloa Union Church!
We are followers of Jesus with a distinctly Hawaiian identity. Some of us are descendants of the native people of these islands and we celebrate with the language and customs of our ancestors. As an inclusive community of faith, reflecting the diversity of the people of Hawai‘i, we respect all cultures and backgrounds.
Our mission is to embrace, enhance and nurture God’s diverse and unique faith community, all to the glory of God.
Whoever you are and wherever you have been on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
Church Location:
3289 Poipu Road, Koloa, HI
We are located in the heart of Koloa on Poipu Road between Old Koloa Town and Koloa School and Library. As you are driving along Poipu Road, you’ll see our church set back from the road between the large monkey pod trees. It is a lava rock church with a large white cross in the window. Parking is available in the front and south side of the church.
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 536, Koloa, HI 96756
Directions from Old Koloa Town:
From Koloa Road, turn onto Poipu Road by the Texaco Gas Station. As you drive on Poipu Road, look to your right in about a block and a half.
Directions from Kukuiula (The roundabout where Poipu Road runs into the Shops at Kukuiula):
Exit the roundabout onto Poipu Road towards Old Koloa Town. As you drive on Poipu Road, look to your left just past Koloa School and Library (& Snorkel Bob’s).
Phone: 808-742-6622
A Scent-Free Environment: We have members, friends, and a kahu who are highly allergic to various scents, often resulting in coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing and speaking, as well as other symptoms. Heavy perfumes and colognes are particularly troublesome. We are requesting that our church be, as much as possible, a “scent-free” environment during worship services, social activities and meetings. We realize that there is no way to keep all scents away, and we plan to continue having fresh flower arrangements each week and leis for special occasions, but we do ask everyone to be sensitive to the needs of those around them when it comes to perfumes, colognes and lotions.
Alan Akana Gallery
Koloa Union Church hosts a gallery featuring the works of Kahu (Pastor) Alan Akana. The gallery is just around the corner from the church at 3281 Waikomo Road in the historic Smith Memorial Parsonage, a beautiful building on the grounds formerly owned by Congregationalist missionaries. Proceeds from sales at the gallery support the maintenance, upgrades and repairs of the parsonage. Dr. Akana has been watercoloring the flowers of Hawaii since 1993 and features his work of nearly a quarter of a century. Gallery hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. See www.alanakanagallery.com to learn more about the gallery and Dr. Akana’s art.
A Message from Kahu Akana
It was so good to be back in church after spending three months in Europe! I shared with the congregation about worship services I attended in France, Portugal, Italy, and Switzerland. Although I enjoyed each place, I understood almost nothing of the sermons because they were spoken in languages I did not understand. Sunday was Pentecost, the day we celebrate the Holy Spirit in our world and the Spirit’s desire for everyone to clearly hear in their own language the good things that Jesus did and taught.
Throughout the history of the Christian Church, there have been people on the margins of society who have been kept from hearing and knowing God’s all-embracing love for everyone. On Sunday, we celebrated our unanimous decision to become an official “Open & Affirming” (ONA) congregation of the United Church of Christ. I cannot think of a better day to celebrate our new status, for Pentecost is about making sure that all people are able to hear about and experience God’s love. Our ONA celebration was featured in The Garden Island Newspaper last week. I was overjoyed to see people in church for the first time who learned about us through the article and by personal invitations! Click HERE if you want to see the article. I wanted to offer a special thanks to Penny O. and Penny J. for the fantastic decorations; Rose and Shellee for the amazing dances; Kathleen, Doug, Nancy Murphy and Eric Yoder, for beautiful and meaningful music; Chris for the nice photograph of our congregation (above); the entire Open & Affirming Team for such a great celebration and for leading us through the process of becoming ONA (Michael, Lee, Penny O, Tiffany, and Becky); and for everyone who showed up on Sunday and who participated in any way for us to become Open & Affirming and hold such a wonderful celebration!
I invite you to join me this coming Sunday morning for “Trinity Sunday” as I share more about my sabbatical and some of the more important things I learned, experienced and focused on during my three months in Europe. I will be talking about my favorite piece of art which I saw in a church in Paris that affected me so deeply that I found it difficult to leave! A little hint: It had to do with the Trinity! After church, we will have a special Aloha Hour honoring Father’s Day!
Also this Sunday, June 16, after church I will be hosting a reception at the parsonage from 2 to 5 p.m. to share more about my sabbatical. I will have my brand new photo book Beauty, Art & Spirituality (the theme of my sabbatical) available for sale on Sunday. There will be a talk and slideshow at 3 p.m. Please see the announcement below for the details.
As a follow-up to becoming Open & Affirming, Koloa Union Church has the opportunity to participate in Kauai’s Pride Parade and Festival on Saturday, June 22, in Lihue. I hope you will consider walking in the parade or sitting at our table to hand out information about our church and answer questions about our church. Please see the announcement below for more information.
Aloha nui!
Kahu
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Our Kahu (Pastor) offers a weekly message in church most Sundays during the year. Unfortunately, we have experienced some technical issues with our video software, but expect to have Sunday’s sermon to our YouTube channel by the end of the week. Check back soon. Click HERE to see a video of a recent message from Sunday morning. You may see the Koloa Union Church YouTube channel to see many of his past messages and subscribe in order be notified when a new message is posted. Please share these videos with friends and invite them to church. Please feel free to “Like” any of the videos you see and share them on social media, such as Facebook, so that others will notice them.
“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana” is provided most weeks by the Kahu (Pastor) of Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.
Weekly News of the Church
Kauai Pride Parade & Festival
Saturday, June 22, 2019
A GREAT opportunity for us to talk about
our new Open & Affirming status and
invite new people to church!
Walk in the Pride Parade on Rice Street 9-10 a.m.
Gather at 8 a.m. at Vidinha Stadium Parking Lot
Bring water and sunscreen
Wear bright colors or your KUC t-shirt
Wear your rainbow wristband too
Rainbow flags will be provided
KUC Booth at the Pride Festival 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Kauai Historic County Building on Rice Street
A family-friendly event for all ages
Enjoy entertainment, music, speeches, food!
KUC will have a tent, table & 2 chairs
We will have literature about KUC &
Our new Open & Affirming Status
Let’s invite people to church!
Please sign up at church for the parade and booth.
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Koloa Union Church
In The Garden Island!
“Open & Affirming”
Koloa Union Church was in the Garden Island Newspaper on Saturday! TGI did a wonderful feature of our new “Open & Affirming” (ONA) status and promoted our ONA celebration this past Sunday! There were people at out church for the first time because they saw the article. There are others who plan to attend because of the article. Click HERE to read the article online. Thanks to Dennis Fujimoto of The Garden Island for the article and the photograph of Kahu and Michael above!
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Alan Akana Gallery
In Western Art & Architecture!
“Wanderings: Kauai, Hawaii”
There is a wonderful article in the June/July 2019 edition of Western Art & Architecture Magazine, entitled “Wanderings: Kauai, Hawaii.” The writer, Kathy Chin Leong, writes about fun and meaningful things to do on our beautiful island of Kauai, including visiting Alan Akana Gallery! The article includes a beautiful photograph of Alan’s watercolor “Naio”—a flower that is endemic to Hawaii and the Cook Islands.
Be sure to pick up this beautiful edition at a newsstand or bookstore, or click HERE to see the article online. We also have a copy at the gallery for you to peruse. Stop by anytime Sunday-Thursday from 1-5 p.m.
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Aha Paeaina Calls
Conference Minister
The Aha Paeaina (the Hawaii Conference annual gathering of ministers and church leaders) voted on June 8 to call the Rev. Dr. David Kentner Popham as the permanent Conference Minister for the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ. He and his wife Kerrie plan to move to Hawaii from New Jersey later this summer and beginning his ministry among us in September. Koloa Union Church was represented by Kahu Akana, Bridget Hammerquist and Shellee Riggio at the Aha; they will give a presentation during church on Sunday, June 23, with the highlights of this year’s Aha Paeaina. For more information on Rev. Dr. Kentner Popham, click HERE to see the latest Special Edition of the Coconut Wireless.
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Alan Akana Gallery
Located in the Smith Memorial Parsonage
3281 Waikomo Road in Koloa
“Beauty, Art & Spirituality”
A Special Reception Highlighting
Kahu’s Recent Sabbatical in Europe
Father’s Day, June 16, 2019
2:00-5:00 p.m.
Talk & Slideshow at 3:00 p.m.
Kahu’s latest book “Beauty, Art & Spirituality”
Will Be Available for Purchase
Everything in the gallery will be 20% off!
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MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS. . . .
FATHER’S DAY LUNCHEON
Sunday, June 16 after Sunday service. Join us as the church ladies prepare a lunch in honor of the men of Koloa Union Church and our fathers and grandfathers.
LECTIONARY READINGS (Old & New Testament Readings for the Week)
Each week, Christians throughout the world read biblical passages from the Revised Common Lectionary, including the Old Testament, Psalms, New Testament, and Gospels. After three years, a good portion of the Bible is included and the cycle begins again. RCL passages are often read in church worship services, and Kahu Akana usually includes at least one of them on the following Sunday. This week’s readings are Proverbs 8:1-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15.
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COMING UP. . . .
ALL CHURCH BREAKFAST
Tuesday, June 25, at 7:30 a.m. Join the church members and friends for a fun, relaxing breakfast. Location TBA.
LECTIO DIVINA
Join Kahu Akana and Karen Johnson at the Smith Memorial Parsonage on Wednesday, June 26, at 7 p.m. for a time to hear and respond to the Scriptures in a quiet, reflective and meaningful way.
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“Weekly News of the Church” is provided by Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference. Please contact the church office if you would like to have our weekly news sent directly to your inbox. Join us at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!