Old Kauai plantation church quietly closes its doors forever

By Patrick Downes | Hawaii Catholic Herald

One of the diocese’s more unusual churches, St. Joseph Mission in Kaumakani, Kauai, was closed by its pastor, La Salette Father Danilo Galang, with a last Mass on Oct. 10, marking the end of the 96-year-old “plantation parish.”

The mission, an inconspicuous building that had once been a pool hall, sat at one end of an old plantation shopping center where it had served the Catholics in the sugar plantation town of Kaumakani for decades. It was the successor of an earlier St. Joseph Church in nearby Makaweli.

The Gay & Robinson Sugar Plantation, which owns the building and land, ended its sugar operation in October.

St. Joseph was a mission of the west-end parish of St. Theresa in Kekaha, about eight miles away. It used to be the mission of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Waimea which is now also a mission of St. Theresa.

Bishop Larry Silva was informed of the pastor’s decision in a Nov. 4 letter. In his response, the bishop told Father Galang that, because neither the parish or diocese owned the building, closing the church was the “discretion” of the pastor.

The original St. Joseph Church was dedicated on Jan. 1, 1913, by Bishop Libert Boeynaems in Makaweli to serve the Filipino immigrants working in the Makaweli plantation. It burned down more than 60 years ago. Mass was then moved temporarily to a community gym before the plantation offered the use of its building.

For the past 12 years, the only Mass scheduled at St. Joseph was the 5:30 Saturday evening vigil.

The following story is a report of St. Joseph’s last Mass on Oct. 10 by St. Theresa’s parish and school reporter, Chantal Duarte.

Photo courtesy of Chantal Duarte

Parishioners pose for a final photo after the final Mass at St. Joseph Mission Church in Kaumakani, Oct. 10.

Sunset in Kaumakani

By Chantal Duarte | Special to the Herald

On Saturday, Oct. 10, at 5:30 p.m., the last Mass was celebrated at one of our two parish mission churches, St. Joseph in Kaumakani.

Due to a number of reasons, a most difficult decision was made to close this lovely chapel in Kaumakani Village here on Kauai. The closure coincided with the last sugar cane harvest at Gay & Robinson, Inc., the last surviving sugar plantation on Kauai.

While our Kaumakani parishioners and others were very saddened at the news, it reminded me of the sunrise and sunset. Sunrises represent new beginnings, while sunsets represent the end. But both can be equally beautiful.

What we all have to keep in mind is that, with the setting of the sun — or as in this situation, the closing of a church — tomorrow brings a new sunrise and new beginnings. While it is difficult for one to understand why things happen, we need to put our trust and faith in the Lord that a new beginning is just around the corner.

I was blessed to be able to attend Mass many times over the years at St. Joseph Church. The congregation was a mix of working plantation people, retirees, visitors and people who just found it convenient to attend the Saturday evening Mass. There was a comfort and closeness in this chapel that will certainly be missed.

Speaking with lifelong parishioners Andy and Marcia (Riola) Emayo, Marcia’s sister Melinda, and her brother Bernard Riola and his wife Marcy, I learned that the church had been alive and well in their lives for more than 44 years.

For well over 50 years at this location, people have fulfilled their Sunday obligation, seen many children baptized and receive their First Holy Communion, participated in many weddings and funerals, not to mention our parish Filipino Catholic Club’s annual St. Joseph Feast Day celebrations.

Immediately following the Mass on Oct. 10, a beautiful and delicious potluck was enjoyed by all.

We thank God for all the blessings and memories that were created here and the Gay & Robinson family for their generosity in allowing our parish to use this facility over the years.

We encourage and welcome our Kaumakani brothers and sisters in Christ to attend Mass at either Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Mission Church in Waimea on Sundays at 7 a.m., or the 5 p.m. Saturday Mass, or 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass at St. Theresa Church in Kekaha.