Imagine a church born in a stable. Not literally a stable today but a humble beginning in a dairy office. That was the start of the Church of the Holy Nativity. Bishop Harry S. Kennedy held an inaugural Episcopal service in 1949. It took place in the former Hind-Clarke Dairy office. This spot is now Aina Haina Elementary School. The congregation jokingly called themselves St. Mary in the Dairy.
Soon after, the children of Senator and Mrs. Robert Hind donated land. This generous gift became the site for the present-day Church of the Holy Nativity and school.
Today, we stand before a building dedicated in September 1954. The Church of the Holy Nativity was designed to be simple yet attractive. It even won a national prize. The Church Architectural Guild of America recognized its beauty and functional design.
The Hawaiian Church Chronicle praised the architects. They also credited the congregation. Many building ambiance ideas came from its members.
Notice the side doorways. They open to quiet gardens. The informal lines catch the eye. Natural lava rock walls add texture. Grass-green carpeting highlights the white marble altar and cross. These elements remain constant over time.
In 1965, a fire triggered remodeling. Stained glass windows over the entrance date from that year. Willet Studios installed chancel windows in 1967.
The Church of the Holy Nativity has a chapel named Monteiro Chapel. It honors Aunt Maggie Monteiro. She was a missionary and teacher. She served as an early Christian educator model.
Inside the Holy Nativity Memorial Chapel, find Winnie Waddoups’ mural. She painted it in 1960. The mural depicts the Nativity Scene in a Hawaiian setting. Children of different nationalities offer gifts to the Child Jesus. A young Filipino girl presents a lei. An African boy offers a mango. A Japanese girl carries a lantern. A Chinese boy brings a white dove. Golden rays symbolize Hawaiian sunshine. Silver rays represent Hawaiian rain. Three wise men appear as Hawaiian Ali’i in the distance. The Star of Bethlehem shines above. Fruits, flowers, and shells lie before Jesus. Two tall angels bow in adoration.
This church extends beyond religious services. The Church of the Holy Nativity includes a school. It emphasizes ecclesiastical social service. A single-story school with a chapel and offices extends from the front. It forms a grassed courtyard. This is a twentieth-century Hawaiian take on Rome’s Early Christian church atriums. Classrooms line the courtyard. Wood walls hide behind broad lanai shaded by overhanging rooflines. Chamfered posts carry their horizontal rhythm.
Across Nenue Place stands the Youth Center. Lemmon, Freeth, Haines and Jones designed this gymnasium and auditorium in 1958. The restrooms’ lava-rock facade ties this complex to the Church of the Holy Nativity.
The Church of the Holy Nativity belongs to the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai’i. The Diocese has 35 worshipping communities on five islands.
The Church of the Holy Nativity also has a thrift shop. It is a treasure trove of collectibles, housewares, toys, and clothing. Proceeds fund church programs, community donations, local charities, the Holy Nativity School, the Holy Nativity Church, the Diocese of Hawaii, and parish mission outreach.
Consider the Church of the Holy Nativity’s columbarium. It invites solitary contemplation. Families and friends gather for prayer and remembrance. The columbarium offers reminders of the bond between the deceased and their church family.
So as you leave the Church of the Holy Nativity remember its journey. From humble beginnings to a vibrant community hub it stands as a testament to faith. It also shows architectural beauty. Its impact stretches far beyond these walls enriching Honolulu.