Pearl City Community Church has a very special and unique history. Ancestors of our church members had many ties with Ewa Hawaiian Church and Kahikuonalani Church.
Rev. Lowell Smith and his wife Abigail arrived in Honolulu on May 1, 1832, with the Sixth Company of Missionaries. They moved to Molokai in June 1833 to do some mission work. In 1834, the Mission Board had assigned Rev. Smith to establish a church at Ewa District, extending from Red Hill to Nanakuli, and from Puuloa to Waialua.
In January 1836, Rev. Smith had written to the Mission Board: “The time to build the House of the Lord has come.” A thatched roof meeting house was completed on February 10, 1837, on Haupuu Hill, Waiawa (vicinity of Leeward Community College, and was known as the Ewa Hawaiian Church.
The once beautiful church was ruined beyond repair. A new church was built on the same hill on November 21,1883; completed on March 25, 1884, and Ewa Hawaiian Church as renamed Kahikuonalani.
Over a period of years, Sunday School was held at different sites – Kahikuonalani Church, Pearl City Kai School Cafeteria, and a Japanese School in Pearl City.
In 1906, Kahikuonalani Church was moved from Haupuu Hill to Third Street in Pearl City. In 1929, lease agreement was made for a term of three years between Ewa Hawaiian Church (according to the indenture), and Pearl City Community Sunday School (Pearl City Community Church today) to lease the hall adjoining the Hawaiian parsonage for religious services, etcetera. Over the years, the building was badly deteriorated and was demolished in 1945.
Our present property in Lehua Avenue, Pearl City, was a grant from Dillingham and given to a group of Hawaiian people. The Waterhouse Chapel was brought from lower Pearl City to its present site. The Waterhouse Chapel was formerly known as Hui Hoike Nani O Ka Haku O Iesu Kristo (The Assembly that Proclaimed the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ).
On August 15, 1932, a Grant and Charter of Incorporation was amended from Ewa Independent Protestant Church to Hui Hoike Nani O Ka Haku O Iesu Kristo.
In April 1954, a small group of people who were involved with Sunday School meet to discuss the possibility of having worship service at least once a month. It was decided that Worship services held on the fourth Sunday of each month in Waterhouse Chapel. Pastors from other churches conducted the services. Later, our services were held twice a month. To account for the other Sundays, worship services were held at Ewa and Waipahu (tri-church arrangement).
Meanwhile, a Steering Committee was formed to look into organizing a church and preparing it for membership in the Hawaiian Evangelical Association (HEA), the predecessor of the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ. The committee met with the HEA officials and it was suggested that the committee take steps to organize by adopting a Constitution, electing officers and applying for a Grant from the Board of Missions in New York. At a special meeting on February 27, 1955, the members of the Charter of Incorporation of Hui Hoike Nani O Ka Haku O Iesu Kristo voted to amend the Charter of Incorporation by changing the name of Pearl City Community Church.
On May 23, 1955, Pearl City Community Church was admitted at the Aha Mokupuni of the Oahu Evangelical Association held in Hauula.
The next immediate step was to call a full time minister. Rev. Hiro Higuchi answered our call and his appointment became effective on October 1, 1955.
In September 1956, the Trustees and Deacons recommended that a new church be built on the present site. Building a new church was necessary since the Sunday School had grown so rapidly with 200 students having to split into two sessions. The church membership had grown from 50 to 170 by 1956. The present building was completed in 1959 with subsequent additions through 1996.
Six pastors have served Pearl City Community Church:
Rev. Lowell Smith and his wife Abigail arrived in Honolulu on May 1, 1832, with the Sixth Company of Missionaries. They moved to Molokai in June 1833 to do some mission work. In 1834, the Mission Board had assigned Rev. Smith to establish a church at Ewa District, extending from Red Hill to Nanakuli, and from Puuloa to Waialua.
In January 1836, Rev. Smith had written to the Mission Board: “The time to build the House of the Lord has come.” A thatched roof meeting house was completed on February 10, 1837, on Haupuu Hill, Waiawa (vicinity of Leeward Community College, and was known as the Ewa Hawaiian Church.
The once beautiful church was ruined beyond repair. A new church was built on the same hill on November 21,1883; completed on March 25, 1884, and Ewa Hawaiian Church as renamed Kahikuonalani.
Over a period of years, Sunday School was held at different sites – Kahikuonalani Church, Pearl City Kai School Cafeteria, and a Japanese School in Pearl City.
In 1906, Kahikuonalani Church was moved from Haupuu Hill to Third Street in Pearl City. In 1929, lease agreement was made for a term of three years between Ewa Hawaiian Church (according to the indenture), and Pearl City Community Sunday School (Pearl City Community Church today) to lease the hall adjoining the Hawaiian parsonage for religious services, etcetera. Over the years, the building was badly deteriorated and was demolished in 1945.
Our present property in Lehua Avenue, Pearl City, was a grant from Dillingham and given to a group of Hawaiian people. The Waterhouse Chapel was brought from lower Pearl City to its present site. The Waterhouse Chapel was formerly known as Hui Hoike Nani O Ka Haku O Iesu Kristo (The Assembly that Proclaimed the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ).
On August 15, 1932, a Grant and Charter of Incorporation was amended from Ewa Independent Protestant Church to Hui Hoike Nani O Ka Haku O Iesu Kristo.
In April 1954, a small group of people who were involved with Sunday School meet to discuss the possibility of having worship service at least once a month. It was decided that Worship services held on the fourth Sunday of each month in Waterhouse Chapel. Pastors from other churches conducted the services. Later, our services were held twice a month. To account for the other Sundays, worship services were held at Ewa and Waipahu (tri-church arrangement).
Meanwhile, a Steering Committee was formed to look into organizing a church and preparing it for membership in the Hawaiian Evangelical Association (HEA), the predecessor of the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ. The committee met with the HEA officials and it was suggested that the committee take steps to organize by adopting a Constitution, electing officers and applying for a Grant from the Board of Missions in New York. At a special meeting on February 27, 1955, the members of the Charter of Incorporation of Hui Hoike Nani O Ka Haku O Iesu Kristo voted to amend the Charter of Incorporation by changing the name of Pearl City Community Church.
On May 23, 1955, Pearl City Community Church was admitted at the Aha Mokupuni of the Oahu Evangelical Association held in Hauula.
The next immediate step was to call a full time minister. Rev. Hiro Higuchi answered our call and his appointment became effective on October 1, 1955.
In September 1956, the Trustees and Deacons recommended that a new church be built on the present site. Building a new church was necessary since the Sunday School had grown so rapidly with 200 students having to split into two sessions. The church membership had grown from 50 to 170 by 1956. The present building was completed in 1959 with subsequent additions through 1996.
Six pastors have served Pearl City Community Church:
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Pearl City Community Church is a multi-ethnic church where all races worship God together. Our Hawaiian heritage still continues by having a Hawaiian Sunday once a month. Hymns responsive readings, and benedictions are in Hawaiian and English. The choir sings the anthem in Hawaiian. Hoikes are held by the Sunday School Department. There are special Sundays honoring Queen Liliuokalani, Henry Opukahaia, and Prince Kuhio. We have been participating in Aha Meles sponsored by The Oahu Council of Hawaiian Churches and also at the Aha Paeʻainas.
