E Komo Mai!
Welcome to Koloa Union Church!
We are followers of Jesus—the man who opened his arms to all kinds of people (including the scorned and oppressed, the poor, those living on the margins of society, and people from other places), who gave voice to the voiceless, who fed the hungry and healed the sick. Following in his footsteps, we welcome people from all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, cultures, nationalities, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities; and we share God’s love in its many forms. We are a diverse community where everyone has something to offer. Come and join us—let us follow Jesus together!
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you’re 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 in old Hawaiian style with a large white cross in the window. Parking is available in the front and south side of the property.
Scroll to the Bottom for Directions!
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 536, Koloa, HI 96756
Phone: 808-742-6622
Click HERE To Watch
Our Recent Worship Services
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Worship During COVID-19
10:30 a.m. on Sundays
Our Board of Deacons and Church Council are committed to do all in our power to keep our congregation healthy and safe in the midst of this pandemic. While members, friends and visitors have varying theologies and opinions about worship services, role of government and health guidelines, we hold life as sacred and believe the imperative to protect and preserve life outweighs all other considerations.
Since Sunday, June 14, 2020, we have been worshiping back in our sanctuary after offering only online worship services. As long as we believe it is safe, we will continue to to offer on-site worship services. We continue to provide our weekly services online for those who are uncomfortable or unable to return at this time (usually available by Wednesday each week).
We Welcome Visitors to Our Worship Services!
Please Abide by Our Visitor Guidelines below.
Seating in the Sanctuary
More Space Under the Big Tent on the Patio
Live-streaming in Moore Hall on a Large TV Monitor
Please arrive BEFORE 10:30 if you wish to be seated in the sanctuary!
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND IN-PERSON WORSHIP SERVICES IF…
You are not required by the State of Hawaii or County of Kauai to quarantine
and
You have been on the island for at least 10 days with no Covid-19 symptoms
and
You or any member of your household or social bubble have not been exposed
to anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19 for at least 14 days.
and
You do not have a fever of 100°F or higher or have any symptoms of Covid-19.
Visitors are also asked to abide by “Guidelines for Attending Worship Services” below.
In order for everyone to remain safe while worshiping with us, we ask that you attend church with the following expectations:
- Approach the sanctuary with a cloth face mask that completely covers your mouth and nose. Wait for instructions before removing your face mask once you are in the sanctuary.
- Use a name tag to help us identify who you are. (It’s a little trickier with face masks!)
- You will be asked to affirm that you are healthy & have no symptoms of COVID-19.
- Your temperature will be taken before entering the sanctuary (with a “no touch” thermometer).
- You may drop off your offering in an offering bowl as you enter or leave the sanctuary.
- An usher will assist you in finding a seat. Once you are seated, please remain in your seat until the end of the worship service. If you have to use the restroom or leave your seat for any other emergencies, please place your face mask back on and allow others around you to do the same.
- Do not plan to make any verbal announcements. Please submit any verbal announcements in writing to the church office ahead of time.
- Offer joys and concerns for our prayer time by writing them down on a prayer card and dropping off the card as you enter. You may also contact the church office or the pastor directly.
- Put your face mask back on before the benediction and keep it on until you are at your car or off church property.
- Take your bulletin home with you or drop it off in the blue recycling container next to the Deacons’ cabinet.
- Please return permanent name tags (if you have one at the church) to the table in front of the name tag cabinet. Do not replace your name tag directly into the cabinet!
- Children are asked to sit with their families. There will be no Sunday school at the church until further notice.
- Children are not allowed to use playground equipment or play games with others where physical contact is involved.
- Remember: please stay home if you are sick, if you have a fever or any other symptoms of COVID-19; or have had any known exposure to a COVID-19 case in the prior 14 days.
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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
Due to the pandemic, the gallery will be closed until further notice.
Online purchases are available.
Items may be shipped for a fee or you may arrange for pickup at gallery.
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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 over a quarter of a century. See www.alanakanagallery.com to learn more about the gallery and Dr. Akana’s art.
A Message from Our Kahu
| For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; —Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 A Message from Our Kahu “A Time To Mourn…and To Dance” |
| When I returned to work on Tuesday morning after a 2-week vacation, I felt very grateful for the time spent resting, reading, hiking, watercoloring, working on some projects at the parsonage, and spending time on the phone and Zoom with family and friends on the mainland. During this time, I also made some space to grieve. Since the end of October, three of my colleagues passed away, as well as my cousin, a close friend, Toyo Nishida (who was our oldest church member) and a number of acquaintances. It became obvious that grief was suppressed in the midst the busy-ness of daily life, as well as the inability to travel and be with people as they passed on to eternity and as loved ones would normally gather to celebrate life and hold grief together in community. The past two weeks gave me some space to reflect and grieve my own losses. It also allowed me to lift up in prayer every member and friend of the church, for we have all experienced loss during this past year and have had to grieve in a very different kind of way. A couple of days ago, I was walking along the south shore while I was thinking about the losses I have experienced and giving thanks for the lives I have loved, when I saw a whale breach and cause the usual huge splash on the surface of the water. Within a minute, there was another breach…and then another…and another. The whales were engaging in their ongoing jumping, twirling, splashing, and playing. They reminded me that the world goes on through the cycles of mourning and dancing. They reminded me that there is still joy and praise. They reminded me that God is still present in love, often just below the surface, waiting to surprise us. May you be surprised by God’s loving presence this week! Aloha nui! Kahu Alan Akana |
News of the Church
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED MONDAY & WEDNESDAY
January 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 20: Inauguration Day
KALAUPAPA SUNDAY
January 24, 2021
| On Sunday, January 24, Koloa Union Church will join congregations throughout the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ for Kalaupapa Sunday. Each year in January, we remember, commemorate and honor all the patients of Kalaupapa, many of whom came from or had connections to our families and churches. Kalaupapa is the isolated settlement on the north shore of the island of Molokai, where patients with Hansen’s Disease (formerly known as leprosy) were sent by the government to live out the remainder of their days without the support of family and friends. Kahu will share with us some of his thoughts during and after his latest visit there in January of 2019 with his son Palani. For more background and information about Kalaupapa Sunday, click the button below: |
BLESSING BAGS
January and February Outreach Project
The Outreach Committee and Koloa Union keiki will be assembling 40 “Blessing Bags”— care packages for the homeless at Salt Pond. Each bag will have an assortment of personal care items, non-perishable food and miscellaneous extras, such as flashlights, eating utensils, small blankets, and Coleman propane canisters. There is a sign-up list at the church with requested items. The deadline for donations is February 28. You can drop items off in the Share Aloha bin to the right of the church entrance or at the church office. Call Amber at 907-227-9045 if you have other ideas, questions or need a pick up.
Mahalo to everyone for your continued support!
LECTIONARY READINGS
Weekly Readings from the Bible
During challenging times, reading the Bible on a daily basis is a great source of inspiration and hope. I encourage you to read and meditate upon the Scriptures of the Revised Common Lectionary and ask yourself how God might be showing up in the Scriptures for you, what God might be saying to you, and what guidance you might find as you share God’s love in creative and meaningful ways.
—Kahu Alan Akana
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 reading each Sunday.
Readings for January 17 are 1 Samuel 3:1-20; Psalm 139:1-18; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; John 1:43-51.
Readings for January 24 are Jonah 3:1-10; Psalm 62:5-12; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20.