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Since 1902, when Saint Elizabeth's was born as a new ministry among Chinese immigrants in Honolulu's Palama District, our church has been a center of worship, hospitality and service. Through generations, we have been shaped by the people, cultures and stories of this community - always striving to love God and our neighbors.
We give thanks for all the Saints who have gone before us, for the work the Holy Spirit continues to do in our midst, and for the many ways we see God continuing to make all things new. The History Wall in Shim Hall, designed by parishoner Stuart Ching, tells the story of Saint Elizabeth's 125 year ministry. |
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BEGINNINGS
In 1902, with the blessing of The Rt. Rev. Henry Bond Restarick, the first American Bishop of the Missionary District of Honolulu, Deaconess Emma Britt Drant began a new ministry among the growing Chinese population of Honolulu’s Palama district. William A. Procter, of Cincinnati, Ohio, generously supported Deaconess Drant in her ministry. Mr. Procter later donated $5,000 to purchase the property at 720 N. King Street to establish St. Elizabeth’s House. St. Elizabeth’s House first served as a settlement house and school. Deaconess Drant, assisted by volunteers from St. Peter’s Church, set up English language and vocational training classes for young men and women, Bible classes and a youth choir were developed. Many were baptized by Deaconess Drant. On September 16, 1904 groundbreaking cermeonies were held for St. Elizabeth’s Church. It was a wooden-frame church named in honor of St. Elizabeth, the mother of St. John the Baptist and for Charlotte Elizabeth Procter, Mr. Procter’s late wife. |
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A STORY OF MANY PEOPLE
The Rev. William E. Potwine (d. 1917) was appointed as St. Elizabeth’s first vicar. The majority of the membership was Chinese, however, St. Elizabeth’s Mission continued to reach out to the Japanese, Hawaiians, and Koreans. St. Luke’s (Korean) Church on Judd Street had its early beginning at St. Elizabeth’s. The Rev. Woo Yee Bew and Rev. Keib also served St. Elizabeth’s growing congregation.
The Rev. William E. Potwine (d. 1917) was appointed as St. Elizabeth’s first vicar. The majority of the membership was Chinese, however, St. Elizabeth’s Mission continued to reach out to the Japanese, Hawaiians, and Koreans. St. Luke’s (Korean) Church on Judd Street had its early beginning at St. Elizabeth’s. The Rev. Woo Yee Bew and Rev. Keib also served St. Elizabeth’s growing congregation.
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GROWTH AND CREATIVITY
In 1945, under the energetic and inspiring leadership of the Rev. Canon Wai On Shim, St. Elizabeth’s Church became a self-supporting parish in the Missionary Diocese of Honolulu. As the congregation grew rapidly, thanks to its unique Church School program and the high birth rate during the post-World War II era, the need arose for a larger church building. On Palm Sunday 1952 the present church was dedicated by Bishop Harry S. Kennedy. It was the first church building in Hawaii to be equipped with central air conditioning. The original, termite-eaten church was demolished to make room for Shim Hall, a school building which housed St. Elizabeth’s kindergarten and elementary school through grade 4. |
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THE OLIVE TREE
The 1952 photo on the left shows the transplanting of an olive tree, originally brought to St. Elizabeth's Mission from Bethlehem.
Following Hurricane Lala in 2026, Junior Warden Dave Kleinshmidt and parishoner Ofa trim branches from the same tree, so it can continue to provide beauty and shade for years to come.
The 1952 photo on the left shows the transplanting of an olive tree, originally brought to St. Elizabeth's Mission from Bethlehem.
Following Hurricane Lala in 2026, Junior Warden Dave Kleinshmidt and parishoner Ofa trim branches from the same tree, so it can continue to provide beauty and shade for years to come.
A SEASON OF ADAPTIVE CHANGE
In the early 1960s, as members were moving into more affluent neighborhoods of Honolulu, St. Elizabeth’s Church ceased to be a neighborhood church. Consequently, the School was no longer viable. Shim Hall was put to community-directed purposes. The Palama Inter-Church Council and its successor, the Immigrant Center, began operations during the rectorship of The Rev. Edwin Bonsey. They served the needs of about 20,000 individuals and families every year. The Rev. Dr. Gerald G. Gifford II, the next rector, further developed the urban ministry aspects of St. Elizabeth’s Church. A Chinese language ministry was begun with The Rev. Peter S. M. Fan of Hong Kong, called as Chinese Missioner in 1985. Fr. Gifford retired in 1989.
The Rev. Gerhard Laun succeeded Dr. Gifford as rector. In 2004 Rev. Laun retired and a six-month interim pastorate ensued with the Rt. Rev. Bob Jones, retired Bishop of Wyoming and former Dean of St. George’s College, Jerusalem. The Rev. Jodene S. Hawkins was called to serve as Priest-in-Charge in 2004, and then in September 2006 to serve as Rector. She and husband Kit began a reading program for neighborhood children that quickly blossomed into a large Sunday school. Community and neighborhood connections and ministries with youth and elders were re-established at St. Elizabeth’s under Mother Jodene's guidance.
In the early 1960s, as members were moving into more affluent neighborhoods of Honolulu, St. Elizabeth’s Church ceased to be a neighborhood church. Consequently, the School was no longer viable. Shim Hall was put to community-directed purposes. The Palama Inter-Church Council and its successor, the Immigrant Center, began operations during the rectorship of The Rev. Edwin Bonsey. They served the needs of about 20,000 individuals and families every year. The Rev. Dr. Gerald G. Gifford II, the next rector, further developed the urban ministry aspects of St. Elizabeth’s Church. A Chinese language ministry was begun with The Rev. Peter S. M. Fan of Hong Kong, called as Chinese Missioner in 1985. Fr. Gifford retired in 1989.
The Rev. Gerhard Laun succeeded Dr. Gifford as rector. In 2004 Rev. Laun retired and a six-month interim pastorate ensued with the Rt. Rev. Bob Jones, retired Bishop of Wyoming and former Dean of St. George’s College, Jerusalem. The Rev. Jodene S. Hawkins was called to serve as Priest-in-Charge in 2004, and then in September 2006 to serve as Rector. She and husband Kit began a reading program for neighborhood children that quickly blossomed into a large Sunday school. Community and neighborhood connections and ministries with youth and elders were re-established at St. Elizabeth’s under Mother Jodene's guidance.
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JOYFUL SERVICE TO GOD AND NEIGHBOR
Mother Jodene retired on September 1, 2009, and the Rev. David J. Gierlach was called to be the next Rector of St. Elizabeth’s. Under Fr. David’s leadership, St. Elizabeth’s established four ethnic choirs that add joy to the Sunday Mass, in addition to our wonderful Bell Choir and children's choir (musical director Ajaon Chen). Wallyhouse was born as an expression of the Catholic Worker Movement, providing many services for those in need in our community, including a daily food pantry, delicious Saturday breakfasts and Tuesday hot lunches, laundry services for the houseless and a community peace garden with aqua and hydroponics. Under Father David's leadership, Saint Elizabeth's became actively involved in social justice organizations and causes. |
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THE NEXT SEASON
In June, 2026, The Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers was appointed Priest-in-Charge of Saint Elizabeth's. In this new season, St. Elizabeth’s constant prayer is to continue living out our shared life of worship and service rooted and grounded in the love of God and God’s call to love one another as God loves us. |
An article called “The First Fifty Years of St. Elizabeth’s Church, Honolulu” was written by C. Fletcher Howe in 1952 and can be read by clicking here.
The History of The Diocese of Hawai'i
The Episcopal Church in Hawai'i began in 1862 when King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma invited the Church of England to Hawai‘i. The King and Queen supported the Church's establishment throughout the islands with gifts of land, and by founding the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Honolulu. Queen Emma also founded Queen's Hospital (now Queen's Medical Center) and St. Andrew's Priory School for Girls in Honolulu.
The last Queen of Hawai'i, Queen Lili'uokalani, depended upon the spiritual support of the Episcopal Church during and following the overthrow of her reign in 1893.
The Missionary District of Honolulu originally included the Hawaiian Islands, as well as Guam, Okinawa, Taiwan and Kwajalein. It became the Diocese of Hawai'i in 1969 and now consists solely of the State of Hawai'i.
The Diocese is made up of people who are native to Hawai'i and from everywhere else in the world who worship according to the Book of Common Prayer, 1979. Even though we are Episcopalians, our friends and other members of our families may worship as Roman Catholics, in a variety of Protestant faiths, as well as Buddhists, Shintoists, Mormons, Jews, Hindus and in traditional Hawaiian and other native ways. We hold our cultural and religious variety in respect.
Worship in the Diocese fits the heritage, language and experience of the parishioners. Congregations in the Diocese have formed based on various ethnic groups, such as Hawaiian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese and Korean. The Eucharist is celebrated regularly in Hawaiian, complete with Hawaiian language hymns. The Diocese celebrates annually, King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma Day —the Feast of the Holy Sovereigns —on November 28.
The last Queen of Hawai'i, Queen Lili'uokalani, depended upon the spiritual support of the Episcopal Church during and following the overthrow of her reign in 1893.
The Missionary District of Honolulu originally included the Hawaiian Islands, as well as Guam, Okinawa, Taiwan and Kwajalein. It became the Diocese of Hawai'i in 1969 and now consists solely of the State of Hawai'i.
The Diocese is made up of people who are native to Hawai'i and from everywhere else in the world who worship according to the Book of Common Prayer, 1979. Even though we are Episcopalians, our friends and other members of our families may worship as Roman Catholics, in a variety of Protestant faiths, as well as Buddhists, Shintoists, Mormons, Jews, Hindus and in traditional Hawaiian and other native ways. We hold our cultural and religious variety in respect.
Worship in the Diocese fits the heritage, language and experience of the parishioners. Congregations in the Diocese have formed based on various ethnic groups, such as Hawaiian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese and Korean. The Eucharist is celebrated regularly in Hawaiian, complete with Hawaiian language hymns. The Diocese celebrates annually, King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma Day —the Feast of the Holy Sovereigns —on November 28.
In 2012, the Diocese celebrated its sesquicentennial with celebrations on each of the main islands, culminating with a grand event on O'ahu with then Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori. At left is the video created for the sesquicentennial celebration, explaining the history of the Episcopal Church in our islands.