PUKAʻANA
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
Kahu Keoki Kiwaha
Wryen "Keoki" Kiwaha was called to serve as Senior Kahu (Pastor) of Pukaʻana Congregational Church and began his call on September 8, 2023.
He was raised and has lived his entire life in the Keālia and Hoʻokena communities where his family has been rooted for generations. Throughout his life he has remained engaged in the community and efforts to support and lead organizations related to public education, crime and public safety.
Since joining the Pukaʻana family in 2014, Keoki has been an active participant in the wider UCC family - serving in various leadership roles in the Hawaiʻi Conference UCC, the Hawaiʻi Conference Foundation, the Hawaiʻi Island Association UCC, the State Council of Hawaiian Congregational Churches, and the Association of Hawaiian Evangelical Churches. He has been specifically an advocate for both labor/economic justice and Native Hawaiian issues.
In addition to being licensed pastor, Keoki is also a Member in Discernment on a spiritual and educational journey towards ordination in the United Church of Christ. He currently resides in Keālia.
Office Phone: (808) 464-8482
Office Email: keoki@kealamakia.org
NA KAHU O KA LUAKINI O PUKAʻANA
Ke Kahu Hoʻokahua
In 1849, our church was established at Hoʻokena by a church planter and missionary - the Rev. John Davis Paris (1809-1892). He belonged to the ninth company of missionaries sent to the islands by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. While he supervised the construction of this and other churches, as well as led the organizing of faithful congregations, he is best associated with Lanakila Congregational Church in Kainaliu - the last church he was responsible for building and pastoring. He died in 1892 and is buried there alongside generations of his descendants.
Nā Kahu Mua
Since 1849, there have been four individuals called to serve as the settled and senior Kahu - shepherd, pastor, teacher - of our church, providing significant leadership to our congregation and the wider community.
+ the Rev. G. W. Waiau*, 1878-1902
+ the Rev. John L. Keala, 1904-1936
+ the Rev. Nancietta K. Haʻalilio, 1997-2014
+ the Rev. W. Keoki Kiwaha, 2023-present
Nā Kahu Kūikawā*
Additionally, it was not uncommon for a small, rural, kalawina (or, Hawaiian congregational) church such as ours to have been served by supply (and circuit) pastors and preachers, deacons, and lay leaders during the long periods where there were no settled pastors serving the community of faith. Among them were:
+ the Rev. T. Puʻuohau, 1877
+ Kahu Charles P. W. Kāʻeo
+ the Rev. William M. Kalaiwaʻa, 1903-1904
+ the Rev. C. M. Kamakawiwoʻole
+ the Rev. Samuel A. Keala
+ the Rev. James L. Awai
+ the Rev. Francis K. Endo
+ the Rev. Dr. Henry K. Boshard
+ the Rev. Evyn Adams
+ the Rev. Richard P. K. Kamanu
+ the Rev . Kenneth Mākuakāne
+ Pastor Phillip Buenavista
+ Kahu Charlene Taketa
+ the Rev. Sam Masilamoney
+ Pastor Phillip Buenavista
+ the Rev. Dr. Jonathan C. Roach
* Dates are not available for all supply pastors or preachers. Kahu needed to have provided support or supplied the pulpit regularly to be named in this particular list.