Vintage

History of Nu`uanu Congregational Church
(Click here for Historic Timeline)

          Nu`uanu Congregational Church had its beginning on February 8, 1885 when 950 immigrants from Japan arrived in Honolulu on the SS City of Tokio.  Shinichi Aoki, a divinity student at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan was also on board the ship.  Aoki, along with Dr. Charles McEwen Hyde, one of the secretaries of the Hawaiian Board, conducted Bible classes at the YMCA hall.  This class evolved into the Japanese YMCA with Dr. Hyde as its first president.  These efforts by the early Christians resulted also in the formation of the Japanese Benevolent Society, which in turn established the Kuakini Medical Center.

           After two years Shinichi Aoki returned to Japan to further his education.  Although the group met regularly and was ready to be organized as a church, there were no Japanese-speaking ministers to take the helm.  Help came from the Methodist Episcopal Church in California.  One of the men sent by the Methodist Episcopal Church was The Rev. Kanichi Miyama.  In 1887 Miyama helped to organize the Honolulu Japanese Church, a joint venture of the Congregational and the Methodist denominations.  In September 1891, lacking funds to continue, the Methodist Board of Missions asked the Hawaiian Board to assume full support and direction of the Japanese work in the Islands.  The Honolulu Japanese Christian Church met in the Queen Emma Hall, located on the makai-Waikiki corner of Nu`uanu and Beretania Streets.  In 1894 the church moved to the Lyceum on the makai-Waikiki corner of Nu`uanu and Kukui Streets.

           The church became self-supporting in 1902 during the pastorate of The Rev. Takie Okumura, and its name was changed to "The Japanese Independent Church."  The church was one of the few self-supporting churches in Hawaii.  Under the leadership of succeeding ministers, the Japanese Independent Church grew into one of the leading Japanese churches in Hawaii, primarily serving the Japanese-speaking community.  During this period, the English-speaking membership had English worship services using guest preachers.

           With the arrival of The Rev. Paul Tamura in 1928, the emphasis began to shift to the English-speaking congregation.  The Rev. Masaichi Goto, whose term began in 1938, was instrumental in completing the shift of the management of the church to the English-speaking congregation.  It was during his pastorate that the church became known as the Nu`uanu Congregational Church.  Under the ministries of The Revs. Masaichi Goto, Paul Osumi, and David Hirano, Nu`uanu Congregational Church continued to grow in influencing Hawaii.  It provides leadership in the Oahu Association, Hawaii Conference, and its denomination, United Church of Christ, based in Ohio.

          In 1985, the church celebrated 100 years of Christian work among the Japanese immigrants with a banquet honoring and remembering our pioneers.  Dendo, One Hundred Years of Japanese Christians in Hawaii and the Nu`uanu Congregational Church, authored by member, Mary Kuramoto, commemorated the event.  Itadakimasu, a cookbook published by the Women of Nu`uanu, received official recognition status from the Governor's Coordinating Committee of the 1985 Japanese 100th Anniversary Celebration.  The church invited World-famous Christian artist, Sadao Watanabe of Japan to come to Honolulu in May 1985 for an inspiring exhibit of his works at the Honolulu Academy of Arts.  The State Foundation of Culture and the Arts partly sponsored his coming.

          The Rev. Dr. Wallace Ryan Kuroiwa, former senior pastor, engaged the congregation's focus on the specific local missions of homelessness and native Hawaiian sovereignty.  He led the church to explore the areas of leadership development, long-range planning and Jubilee/sabbatical spiritual renewal.

THE PROFILE

            With over 500 active members, the church is divided into two language speaking groups.  The English-speaking congregation, which comprises about 95% of the total membership, has its worship service each Sunday at 9:00 a.m.  Over 200 persons attend these services.  The Nichigobu (Japanese-speaking congregation) has its service at 10:30 a.m. with an average of 30 in attendance.  NCC offers Christian Education for all ages.  It has an average of 34 children from nursery to grade six.  An ethnically mixed but predominantly Japanese congregation, the membership is open to anyone who desires to commit to membership.  The staff and leadership embrace the church's multiracial ideals.  There are approximately 20 in the high school group, grades 9-12. Church and community resource persons offer a diverse curriculum for the adult program.  Bible study is offered in Japanese and English on weekdays and Sundays at the church and in members' homes.                      

            The chancel and children's choirs offer anthems and special concerts throughout the year.  The youth are active in church sponsored sporting events, fundraising projects, and are faithful in coordinating the annual Easter sunrise service.  The Women of Nu`uanu continues its vital support of the church by encompassing the mission of the church.  Some of the WON's activities are the joint effort with the council for the annual Plant and Potpourri Fest in October, publication of the Itadakimasu cookbook (volume I in 1985 and volume II in 1991), the annual luncheon, seminars, craft and cooking sessions, and community service projects.  Proceeds from the Plant & Potpourri Fest and cookbooks are designated for local and global missions, as well as to help meet the needs of the church.

            A family church from its inception, there are fifteen Nichigobu members who have children and/or grandchildren in the English-speaking congregation.  In the English speaking congregation, there are at least ten families in which parents, children and/or grandchildren are members of the church or youth groups.  Because of family ties and a feeling of unity, joint worship services are held with the Nichigobu on special occasions. 

            Support groups use church facilities without charge.  "Make Today Count," a support group for persons with life threatening illnesses and sponsored by the American Cancer Society, meets the first and third Saturdays.  "The Care Group," a bereavement support group and sponsored by Hawaiian Memorial Park, meets the first and third Monday evenings.  The Samoan Congregational Church of Nu`uanu (UCC) uses the church for its worship service on Sunday afternoon and for seasonal choir rehearsals.  A preschool, The Children's Center, Inc. leases facilities during the weekdays.  Weddings for couples from Japan who desire a Christian wedding ceremony are held almost daily.  Begun almost forty  years ago by Rev. Paul Osumi, NCC was the first Christian church in Hawaii to offer these weddings.

            NCC has established a long range plan to strengthen the congregation's effectiveness for the new century.  The church undertook a novel time of Jubilee--intentional rest and spiritual renewal during Rev. Dr. Wallace Kuroiwa’s 1994 sabbatical leave.

The church is located in lush Nu`uanu Valley alongside a stream in a three and a half acre picturesque setting.  The sanctuary and open fellowship lanai were completed in 1965.  There is an administrative building adjacent to the sanctuary connected to the fellowship lanai.  A multi-purpose building for classrooms, combination gym-social hall and a new administration wing was completed in 1987.