Meet Jacob Marsh (left) and Reverend Bruce DeGooyer at the special Pau Hana on Friday, Dec. 16, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

LAHAINA — The public is invited to a Pau Hana at historic Holy Innocents Episcopal Church and campus on Friday, Dec. 16, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. to kick off its capital campaign to raise $350,000 for needed repairs.

The free event features the debut of a mini-movie about the church, guided tours of the historic property highlighting areas that need repair or replacement, music by Wilmont Kahaialii and hula by Kalei Jaramillo.

“This church building, the history, the sanctuary, the art and the location on Front Street are very special in Lahaina,” said the Reverend Bruce DeGooyer, Vicar of the Church. “Everybody is welcome. It provides a place where people can encounter God in any way they know God or don’t know God.”

He continued, “If you have not had the opportunity to be with us at Holy Innocents, and experience its peace, spirituality and connection with the Hawaiian culture and history, I invite you to come visit us. And if you have been here before, maybe once, maybe many times, I invite you to return and experience the blessing of ‘ohana (family and friends).”

The present church building with services at 8:30 a.m. every Sunday dates to 1927, but its origins date to 1862, when King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma — with the support of England’s Queen Victoria — established the Anglican religion in Lahaina.

The King had translated the Anglican practices and orders of service (“The Book of Common Prayer”) from English to the Hawaiian language.

Services began in temporary quarters where King Kamehameha III Elementary School sits today.

In 1872, Holy Innocents opened its first church building at Front and Prison streets. The present church and campus, dedicated in 1927, features original paintings that tell a story about the beginnings of Christianity in Hawaii.

The church opened a preschool in 1974, where more than a thousand youngsters, many of them now thriving adults, have received their first experience with education.

Jacob Marsh, chair the Holy Innocents Capital Campaign and general manager at the Kaanapali Royal AOAO, pointed out that regular maintenance is no longer enough for the almost 100-year-old Church building and other parts of the property.

“Major components must be restored,” he said.

He explained that during the COVID-19 pandemic, a major storm severely damaged the church building’s roof.

“The roof is patched temporarily but must be replaced along with the parking lot that has many holes and needs to be completely replaced; the list goes on,” he said.

In addition to weekly Episcopal services, people from many different faiths have for years flocked to services to celebrate Easter and Christmas, honor the passing of their loved ones or to celebrate their dream Hawaiian wedding. The Free Church of Tonga gathers weekly at the church. It is home to both Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

Parishioner Diane Delos Reyes explained that during the pandemic, in-person attendance to church services stopped, but the ministry to the Lahaina people didn’t stop. The repair needs have only grown.

“It’s hard for us to admit, but we do need everybody’s help to do what we need to do here to preserve this church and property. We need the community to help; we can’t do it ourselves,” she said.

In addition to entertainment, light pupus and guided tours, those attending the Pau Hana will have the opportunity to give financially to the campaign and to talk with Campaign Chair Marsh and the Reverend DeGooyer about special gifts in the name of others or in-kind services that could be offered.

More information and ways to give to the Capital Campaign to Preserve Holy Innocents are available on the church website at holyimaui.org

“We look forward to the greater community joining us to kick off this campaign that will help preserve Holy Innocents for this generation and many, many more,” said Campaign Chairman Marsh. “Please join us.