With an array of Hawaiian Kingdom artifacts, nineteenth-century Anglican Church items and 80 years of rich heritage on display, the All Saints’ Episcopal Church 80th Anniversary Historical Tours offer more than just an ordinary trek through local religious history.
“The church and all of the surrounding buildings are definitely overlooked,” David Murray, co-chair of the celebration said. “Everyone who passes by always assumes that it’s just another church, when the truth is, it’s not.”
All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Kapa‘a, the first Anglican church established on Kaua‘i, has strong ties to a host of Hawaiian royalty, including Queen Emma, the wife of Kamehameha IV and mother of Prince Albert Kauikeaouli Lei o Papa a Kamehameha, the namesake of Princeville.
The British Anglican church is the forerunner of its American wing, the Episcopalian Church, of which All Saints is a member.
The central bay embedded in The Founder’s Porch section of the church’s Memorial Hall is dedicated to Queen Emma, “through whose instrumentality the Anglican Church was brought to the Islands,” as an inscription says, and is a gift donated by the ‘Iolani Guild of St. Andrew’s Cathedral.
A highlight of the week-long event is a Wednesday evening rededication of an inscribed, rectangular footpath stone honoring the queen. Comprised of a service and ceremonial rites, the event will be attended by Episcopalian dignitaries and other significant individuals and groups from the Hawaiian community.
“We have asked a number of different Hawaiian groups to participate in the service and the rededication ceremony afterwards,” Mary Smith, co-chair of the celebration said. “We received confirmation a representative from the ‘Iolani Guild and look forward to the attendance of members of the other invited groups.”
“It will be a nice event,” Murray said. “After the church service, members of the Hawaiian Choir from the First Hawaiian Church will lead attendees out of the church, and onto The Founder’s Porch for the ceremony. It should be interesting, as they’ll all be in their costumes. We will also have a lot of pupus that we plan to eat under the big tree, if the weather permits.”
“The list of invited persons and groups includes the Daughters of Hawai‘i; the Royal Order of Kamehameha I; Na Wahine Hui O Kamehameha; Aha Hui O Ka‘ahumanu; Hale O Na Ali‘i; Hawaiian Civic Clubs; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Alu Like Inc., Kaua‘i Island Center; Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate; Ho‘ola Lahui Hawai‘i; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Queen Liliu‘okalani Children’s Center; and other organizations and individuals,” Murray said. “We hope for the participation of at least a representative from each group.”
The Rectory, which is currently in the process of restoration, is the hub of the church’s display of loaned historical artifacts.
An unique Kaua‘i exhibit displays a photograph of the Honorable Edward Kamakau Liliu’okalani, who escorted Queen Emma on a trip to Kaua‘i. The photo is on loan from Victor Punua. Lilikalani, is Punua’s great-grandfather and a cousin of King David Kalakaua. Also in Punua’s collection is a signed photograph of Kaua‘i’s Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole, a covered calabash and coconut poi bowl from King Kalakaua’s collection, a poi pounder, and a two-piece basalt grinder.
Remnants of Queen Emma’s help in the establishment of the Anglican church on Kaua‘i are exhibited in the Rectory. Items visitors can see include Queen Emma’s Koa wood prayer desk, and what’s called The Gift of Royalty, a silver chalice and paten used in communion services. Each carry the inscription: “Presented by Queen Emma to the first Anglican Church on Kaua‘i, September 6, 1883.” The church’s history records their use at the first communion service held at the stone church on Christmas Day 1925.
Queen Emma’s Koa wood desk, which was frequently used by the Queen and bequeathed to a relative, and one of her ladies-in-waiting who presented it to the church. The desk is regularly used in the healing services held on Sunday at All Saints.
The building housing the historical items is in the process of being refurbished itself, a project, which according to Murray, will take several years to complete.
“We first worked on the wall, patched it, got rid of the rot, and repainted it,” Murray said. “We worked on the front of the house and created a more open feel, by getting rid of the original dark colors, so now it is more welcoming. But we need to repaint the side and back of the building. We even pulled out the carpet of the main room of the Rectory to expose the wood floor, which is comprised of 25 foot long floor boards. All in all, it is a nice plantation style house.”
“We even have a separate guest house, in which used to be of convenience to visitors,” he said. “We are also working on restoring the garden. There used to be a beautiful garden in the back of the house, and a couple of church members have offered to donated a lime and a plumeria tree. Soon enough, we will be able to restore the original beauty of the garden. However, the entire restoration will take a number of years to complete, after all, it is 80 years old.”
A refurbished stained glass window known as the Gethsemane window is the centerpiece of the church and rises above the altar in the main sanctuary. The window has its own interesting story. “During Hurricane ‘Iniki, the piece depicting Jesus blessing the children was shattered and need to be patched up and fixed on site from someone from the Mainland (Vance T. Wood of Stained Glass Art in California),” church member Elaine Tamura said. “The funny thing is, although the glass was shattered, the only solid piece left was the head of Jesus. I think it was a sign from God.”
Another interesting stained glass window is called The Victory Window. It was dedicated in April 1946 following World War II. The window honors six servicemen listed on the church’s brass plaque Honor Roll who gave their lives during the war, and the seventy men from the Kapa‘a church who returned home.
“We are having a service on Sunday, the final day of the week-long celebration, honoring the men listed on the Honor Roll,” Smith said. “We have contacted a few of the men and their descendants, but wish to have more informed. They have honored us greatly and should be recognized for what they have done. It would be wonderful for them…and their relatives to attend the service. There will be a small parade of veterans, with a historic display open to the public. It will also be our first service with our new rector, Mary Kappel who is only 28 years old. She and her husband Mark, just moved here from New Orleans. Also, Bishop Richard O. Chang will be presiding over the service. Our hope is that all men and/or their descendants will be able to honor those who deserve it.”
- The All Saints’ Episcopal Church 80th Anniversary Historical Tours continue through Friday, August 12 and its celebration continues through Sunday, August 14. For more information about the tours, celebration, or the Honor Roll, please call 822-4267.
