History

Beneath the majestic Ko’olau mountains in Waikane and within the view of Mokoli’i Island, better known as Chinaman’s Hat, the quaint church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel stands. The parish boundary sprawls from He’eia Kea pier overlooking Kaneohe Bay, southeast to the Valley of the Temples and to Kahana Bay in the northwest.

Inconspicuous as Waikane of today may seem, it was once an important Hawai’ian settlement. When Sacred Hearts missionaries arrived in the Hawai’ian islands, in July 1827, the firmly entrenched Protestant ministers attempted to prevent the Catholics from admission to the Kingdom of Hawai’i. To escape persecution many Catholics sought refuge in the Ko’olau district on the windward side of the island. Pioneer missionary Father Robert Walsh was forbidden to minister to the Hawai’ians in Honolulu, and spent much of his time helping the refugee Catholics with resettlement in and around He’eia.

In 1841 Father Louis Maigret, the Vicar delegate, divided O’ahu into missionary districts. Father Martial Jan was assigned to supervise the Ko’olau districts divisions. By the early 1850′s the windward coast of O’ahu was dotted with chapels in Opana, Kahuku, La’ie, Kahana, Papa’akoko, Mokapu, He’eia, and Waikane. The native style chapels were of simple construction covered with pili grass, and Father Jan visited them on horseback or by canoe.

In 1865 Sacred Heart brothers under direction of Brother Calixte Lecomte began to build and frame the chapel at Waikane. Completed in 1867, it was blessed by Bishop Maigret and dedicated to St. Charles. St. Charles church belonged to the district of He’eia and the priests assigned to St. Ann’s church visited periodically. Sunday masses were generally taken care of by the priests-teachers of nearby “Ahuimanu College” from its beginning in 1864 until it closed in 1878.

For almost three-quarters of a century St. Charles was a well-frequented mission. Unfortunately, the many epidemics that decimated the Hawai’ian population reduced the population of Waikane to only dozens of families. The busy pastor of He’eia continued to conduct services in the old chapel monthly, more frequently during Lent.

In 1939 Father Anthony O’Brien, then in charge of He’e ia district received permission to tear down the old dilapidated chapel and build a new one. On December 17, 1939, Bishop Alencastre blessed and dedicated Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

It wan not until 1968 that Bishop John Scanlan created an independent parish and appointed Father Gabriel P. Vanden Broucke as first pastor.  Subsequent pastors have been Father Iedephonse Kunz (1971-1976), Father Louis Boynaemas (1976-1980), Father Matthew Alencatre (1980-1983), and Father Gerrd Leicht (1983-1985).  These were all Sacred Heart priests.

In 1985 Father Raymond Churchill became the first Diocesan priest assigned as pastor.  He was succeeded by Father  Paul Evers (1987-1990) and Father Roland Pacudan (1990-1992).

From 1992-1994 Father Randy Nowak O.F.M. Cap., a Capuchin Franciscan, was pastor.  He was followed by Father Alfred Rebudela (1995-1996), Father Romero Rebudela (1996-1998) and Father Eugene L. Keusal (1990-2003).

In 2003 the parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was clustered with the mission chapel of Sts. Joaquin and Ann in Punalu’u and the parish of St. Roch in Kahuku.  Father Sydney Fernandes was made the parish administrator and oversaw their needs.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel was restored as an independent parish when it was de-clustered and Father Paulo Kosaka O.F.M. Cap., Capuchin Franciscan was appointed as the parish administrator on July 1, 2008.  A Capuchin fraternity now exists in the parish with the arrival of Father Bob Maher O.F.M. Cap. (September 2008 – July 2009) and Father Marvin Bearis O.F.M. Cap. (December 2009).   This forms a small Capuchin fraternity in the parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel for the first time.