By Anna Weaver | Hawaii Catholic Herald

Holy Cross Church in Kalaheo, Kauai, was ready to move back into its main church for the Sept. 12 Mass celebrating the centennial of the parish after an electric fire in its eucharistic chapel moved services temporarily into the parish hall.

Faulty electric candles were blamed for the Aug. 7 fire which started around 4:30 p.m. A passerby who spotted smoke alerted Holy Cross’ pastor, La Salette Father Edison Pamintuan, and two church workers, who were in the rectory.

Police officer Dean Martin, the first on the scene after a call to 911, helped the three put out the fire with an extinguisher and garden hose before firefighters arrived.

The eucharistic chapel had two windows blown out and suffered extensive smoke, soot and water damage. The main church interior had lesser soot and smoke damage.

According to Father Pamintuan, Holy Cross’ insurance company put the damage at $60,000, of which $10,000 must be covered by the parish, though the pastor said he thinks the repairs will cost more than that.

Parishioners had their first daily Mass back in the main church on Sept. 10. The carpet had already been replaced and cleaning and some painting had been completed in time for Bishop Larry Silva to preside at the centennial Mass on Sept. 12.

But temporary chairs are in use until the original ones can be reupholstered, and more painting is needed. Holy Cross is aiming to have chapel repainting, window replacement and other repairs done by the start of October.

Father Pamintuan said one happy byproduct of the fire is that the main church looks refreshed with new carpet.

“[The parishioners] were shocked but they were optimistic that they were going to be able to bring back everything the way it was,” he said. “They especially wanted to get back into the main church for the centennial celebration.”