Did you know that Pearl City Community Church’s story begins long before its current location on Lehua Avenue? Its roots are deeply intertwined with the history of Ewa Hawaiian Church and Kahikuonalani Church. Rev Lowell Smith and his wife Abigail pivotal figures in the early days of Christianity in Hawaii played a significant role. Arriving in Honolulu in 1832 they were instrumental in establishing a church in the Ewa District. Imagine a thatched-roof meeting house completed in 1837 on Haupuu Hill. This humble structure served as the Ewa Hawaiian Church the precursor to Pearl City Community Church.
This original church sadly fell into disrepair. A new building was constructed in 1883 and named Kahikuonalani. Yet even this church moved to a new location. In 1906 it found a home on Third Street in Pearl City. Pearl City Community Church’s history is a testament to resilience and adaptation. Sunday school met in various locations before the church’s current site. These included Kahikuonalani Church itself the Pearl City Kai School cafeteria and even a Japanese school.
A pivotal moment came in 1929. A lease agreement was established. This was between Ewa Hawaiian Church and Pearl City Community Sunday School the predecessor of the church we see today. They leased a hall next to a Hawaiian parsonage. This building unfortunately deteriorated and was demolished in 1945. The present church building on Lehua Avenue wasn’t built overnight. The land was a gift from Dillingham a testament to community support. A structure called the Waterhouse Chapel was moved to the site. It had a previous life as the Hui Hoike Nani O Ka Haku O Iesu Kristo a name that speaks volumes about the church’s rich history and faith.
The official founding of Pearl City Community Church took place later. In 1954 a small dedicated group of individuals began meeting to explore the possibility of having regular worship services. Services started in the Waterhouse Chapel and were initially only held once a month. This small beginning led to the growth of the congregation. As the number of worshippers increased services became twice-monthly.
This increased attendance spurred the formation of a steering committee. Its purpose was to formally organize the church. The committee took steps to establish a constitution elect officers and secure a grant from the Board of Missions in New York. This culminated in the formal adoption of the name Pearl City Community Church in 1955. Rev. Hiro Higuchi’s arrival as full-time minister in 1955 marked another significant milestone. The rapid growth of the Sunday school which by 1956 had 200 students. It necessitated the construction of the current church building completed in 1959 with later additions until 1996.
Today Pearl City Community Church stands as a vibrant testament to its rich history. It is a beacon of faith a multi-ethnic community where people of all backgrounds come together to worship. The church still maintains its Hawaiian heritage. There is a Hawaiian Sunday every month. The warmth of aloha resonates within its walls a timeless story etched into the very fabric of this community.