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It was a time of persecution for all people in Hawaii who practiced or even professed the Catholic faith. From 1831 to 1839, Hawaiian Catholics were denied their basic religious rights. Missionary priests and religious were exiled. Those caught expressing their faith were arrested, imprisoned and sentenced to hard labor. Homes were confiscated and heavy taxes were levied on their property. But, out of this near decade-long time of persecution, seeds of hope were planted, and a new community of believers was created on the shores of Waikiki.

The formation of this new community began through the work of local catechists, who had been instructed by the first Catholic missionaries before they were expelled from the islands. Historic documents tell of devotions, such as the Rosary, being prayed and the continuation of adult and child catechism classes being held after dark in private homes. Fr. Arsenius Walsh, a priest who was protected by the British government, was the main source of physical and spiritual support of this new family of believers during the years of underground activity.

Finally, on July 12, 1839, a proclamation was finally rendered by the government ensuring “that the Catholic worship be declared free, throughout all the dominions subject to the king of the Sandwich Islands; the members of this religious faith shall enjoy in them the privileges granted to Protestants.” When their religious freedom was finally restored, the Waikiki Catholics built a temporary chapel, under the direction of Fr. Modestus Favens, using mainly coconut fronds and pieces of wood washed ashore from a wreck off the coast.

What began as a humbly built chapel quickly developed into the thriving parish community of St. Augustine. This expansion came from the influx of many military and their families to the area during and after the Spanish American War. Fr. Valentine Franks greatly aided the growing Catholic community during this time of change. Eventually, in 1901, a larger church was constructed and blessed on the feast day of St. Augustine by Bishop Buistan Ropert. The church was renovated in 1910 and again in 1925.

With the arrival of Fr. Emile Rogers, who became the first pastor of St. Augustine in 1927, also came the vision of a parochial school, supported and maintained by the parish. In 1929, Fr. Rogers opened a kindergarten housed in a hall built adjacent to the church. Later, land was acquired down the street where a school with six grades was opened. The school, staffed by the Maryknoll Sisters, was later expanded to include all eight grades.

n the meantime, the growing community and the expanding tourist trade called for yet another rendition of the St. Augustine church. The rustic wooden Hawaiian design was replaced by the French-Gothic structure that still characterizes the church today. Pastor Timothy Jacobs, commissioned a local architect, George McLaughlin, to design the new church building.

Two traditions truly mark the history of St. Augustine Parish. The first of these traditions is the role the Fathers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary had in the spiritual leadership and formation of the parish. These priests arrived in Hawaii in 1827 from France and were exiled for a time during the persecution period. Despite this time of trial, the Sacred Heart fathers successfully led the Catholics of Waikiki in the establishment of their spiritual home: St. Augustine’s. The second tradition is the baptismal font that dates back to the time of the monarchy. The font was a gift to the church from Prince David and Princess Abigail Kawananakoa on the baptism of their daughter, Kapiolani.

The following Sacred Hearts priests have served the St. Augustine Parish as pastors: Fathers Emile Roger, Hubert Winthagen, Gabriel Feron, Philbert Vanfrachem, Ernest Claes, Timothy Jacobs, Brendan Furtado, Matthew Alencastre, Anselm Gouveia, Alfred Vann, Louis Boeynaems, Gabriel Vanden Brouke, Arsene Daenen, Christopher Keahi and Lane Akiona. Fr. Thomas B. Choo is the present pastor of St. Augustine.

(History based on Fr. Robert Schoofs' writings found in "Pioneers of the Faith," Sturgis Printing Company, 1978. Compiled by Fr. Thomas B. Choo; edited by Mary L. Klipp.)

SUN, SURF & STAINED GLASS: St. Augustine's Challenge To Keep An Inspiration Alive

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