Emmanuel Episcopal Church
A Short History
(Excerpts from a paper written for a Church History course in the Diaconate training program, 1985, by The Rev. Dr. Eleanore G. Akina.)

In 1956, the long-range planning committee of St. Christopher’s Episcopal church, Kailua, recommended that, “The Vestry approve the plan that we consider a mission near the Waimanalo-Kailua Road Junction and authorize the Long-Range Planning Committee to study the possible acquisition of the site.”

The time for action came in 1959. Mr. Harold Castle of Kaneohe Ranch donated a piece of land at the Waimanalo Junction , near the site of the proposed new hospital, at the mauka end of what is now known as “Church Row” in Kailua. A group of families from St. Christopher’s began meeting to plan the new mission, with the approval of Bishop Kennedy, who wished the mission to serve the newly developing areas of Olomana, Pohakupu, and Maunawili.

On July 28, 1960, the Maunawili Mission was born, as the first Bishop’s Committee met to hear of their official appointment by Bishop Kennedy. Services were held at the Maunawili Elementary School in Olomana. The initial membership consisted of some eight families and quickly grew to 25. The name “Emmanuel Episcopal Church” was chosen and approved by Bishop Kennedy.

In early 1961, Mr. Kodama, the proprietor of the old store on the church property, was persuaded to move and leave the structure intact, in exchange for some building materials he needed to construct a garage in Waimanalo. The church then moved into the store building, initiating a period of great “spirit” and activity as the question of whether things would hold together another week was always present.

Early in 1963, it was thought that perhaps the site at Waimanalo Junction was not, after all, a very good one for Emmanuel. Factors considered were the proximity of so many other churches, the new highway construction and the expected increase in noise level, and the fact that the Enchanted Lake area was opening up and the greatest population growth would most likely be in that area, which had as yet no church. By June of that year, the land at Waimanalo Junction was sold and the present site on Keolu Drive was bought. Altogether funding totaled $100,776.58 of which $51,775.00 went to acquire the land, leaving $49,001.58 to build the new parish hall/church.

With suggestions from the Bishop and modifications to fit the site, plans for the new building were completed and it was constructed on the Waimanalo side of the property, being finished in late 1963 and dedicated by Bishop Kennedy in January of 1964.

Also in 1964 Emmanuel’s Day Care Center moved from dream, to plan, to going concern, under the leadership of two lay women of Emmanuel.

In 1974, the value of the properties (vicarage in Maunawili and Church House in Enchanted Lake) held by Emmanuel had appreciated greatly. Under the leader ship of the Rev William Collins, our vicar at the time, the idea of building the church was proposed, a building committee set up and the process begun. Plans were shared with, and approved by, the congregation at every step and by the end of the year, they were ready to be put into effect. Financing was chiefly from the sale of the properties.

In January 1975, Bishop Hanchett broke ground for the new building in a ceremony remembered by many for its poignancy, the Bishop having recently undergone cancer surgery. Bishop Hanchett died in August of that year before completion of the building, which was achieved in time for Christmas. The first service in the new church was the Christmas Eve midnight celebration.

The Clergy of Emmanuel

1. The Rev. Iver J. Torgeson, 1960-1962.
2. The Rev. Norman Ault, 1962-1964.
3. The Rev. Guy Piltz, 1963-1964.
4. The Rev. Del Westling, 1964-1966.
5. The Rev. Fred Barnhill, 1966-1971.
6. The Rev. Malcolm Turnbull, 1971-1973.
7. The Rev. William Collins, 1973-1976.
8. The Rev. Elsbery W. Reynolds, 1977-1981.
9. The Rev. John G. Shoemaker, 1981-1992.
10. The Rev. Eleanore G. Akina, 1983-present (Deacon)
11. The Rev. Peter Van Horne, 1994-2001.
12. The Rev. Peter O. Champion, 2001-November 2006.