Dedicated to Prayer

History of Honolulu Christian Church  

The story of our church is the story and heartbeat of all immigrants to Hawaii who worked with others to make our community a better place.  From the early days in Mo’ili’ili, to our present location at 2207 Oahu Avenue the church has grown along with Honolulu. 

 

The Oriental Missionary Society was started in 1921 in Los Angeles, California by students who had a deep concern for the evangelization of the Japanese Community in California.  They expanded throughout Southern California and in 1929 crossed the Pacific Ocean and started the Waialae Holiness Church.  This church began renting space at 2591 South King Street in 1930 and in 1932 was incorporated as Honolulu Holiness Church with Reverend Toshio Hirano as the first pastor.

 

During World War II, the Holiness Churches in California were shut down due to mandatory evacuations and internment, but Honolulu Holiness Church continued its mission work to send supplies to the internees.

  In 1946 the Church moved from Mo’ili’ili to a house at the corner of Alexander and Bingham Streets.  When the house was condemned to make room for the new freeway, we moved to a larger house at 1422 Heulu Street with the Reverend Ernest Kilbourne named as the first English Speaking pastor of Honolulu Holiness Church.  Our church was cited in 1956 by then Mayor Neal S. Blaisdell as having “served and contributed meritoriously as a community organization in the City and County of Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, to make Honolulu a gentler and better place, socially and economically for all of its residents.” 

By 1959, Honolulu Holiness Church had outgrown the home at Heulu Street and purchased our present property at 2207 Oahu Avenue when the Jewish Synagogue, Temple Emanu-El moved from Manoa to their present location in Nuuanu.  This building was previously used as a residence for the Frank Midkiff family, a housing for naval officers during World War II, and a kindergarten for Punahou School.

 

In 1972 Kenneth Ashitomi became the English speaking pastor and promoted outreach to the University of Hawaii.  This campus ministry encouraged our present pastor Russell Higa to enter the ministry.

 

In 1981 Yuichiro Nakano was named the Japanese speaking pastor.  His children grew up at the church and went on to serve the church and community as directors of our preschool, youth ministry and small group ministry.

 Pastors Nakano and Ashitomi oversaw the demolition of the original Midkiff residence and the construction of a new education and multipurpose building which was dedicated in 1982.  At this time, the name of our church was officially changed from Honolulu Holiness Church to Honolulu Christian Church.  Former Governor George Ariyoshi noted then that “many of Hawaii’s people have benefited immensely from this environment and reflect in their lives the insights obtained through teachings of the church.” 

Today our church is led by Pastors Russell Higa (English) and Shinji Seki (Japanese) who both serve and reside in our Manoa community.  Our mission statement reads:  “In love, to present the good news of Jesus Christ so that our world will come to know Him, living faithful, fruitful lives that multiply to future generations.”  We are proud to have been your neighbors for over 75 years and are privileged to continue to reach out and serve the Manoa Community with our many ministries.