Photo courtesy of St. Michael Parish

The cover of “North Kona’s Catholic Heritage … remembered”

New book traces Kona’s Catholic history

A stone hitching post inside the Kona Plaza Shopping Arcade marks the location of the first Catholic Mass celebrated on the Big Island in 1840. A brand new book takes it from there.

“North Kona’s Catholic Heritage … remembered,” a colorful 52-page volume published by the Heritage Committee of St. Michael Parish in Kailua-Kona, chronicles the daunting tasks and accomplishments of Kona’s Catholic priests and congregations over the last 170 years.

With plenty of photos, text and a timeline, the book traces the history of St. Michael Parish, which includes a string of churches along the Big Island’s west coast — Immaculate Conception Church in Holualoa, St. Peter Church in Kahaluu, St. Paul Church in Honalo and Holy Rosary Church in Kalaoa.

The publication also looks at plans to demolish St. Michael Church and build a new one. An October 2006 earthquake had damaged the 159-year-old church beyond repair.

The book will be released over the weekend of the Sept. 27 feast day of St. Michael the Archangel, starting after the 5 p.m. vigil Mass on Saturday, Sept. 26.

The parish’s feast day party begins after the 11 a.m. Mass. The celebration will be centered across the street at Hale Halewai and the fun, including a picnic, games, entertainment and silent auction and pony rides, will sprawl onto the church grounds.

A running slideshow of the historic photographs collected for the book by parishioners will be presented at Hale Halewai.

The book, printed in Hawaii on recycled paper, will sell for $20. Proceeds will go toward the church’s building fund. The book is also available via mail by sending a check or money order for $22.50 to North Kona Catholic Community, 75-5769 Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. For information, call (808) 326-7771 or e-mail office@stmichaelskona.org.