Welcome to the Kaʻū Catholic Community
Aloha Mai Kākou! The Kaʻū Catholic Community welcomes you!
Holy Rosary Catholic Church
Established in 1885
96-3143 Pīkake Street
Pāhala, Hawai‘i 96777
Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Pāhala, Hawai‘i, stands as a testament to the enduring faith and resilience of its community. Established in 1885 on land donated by King Kalākaua, the Church has served as a spiritual haven for generations of residents in the Ka‘ū district.
Located at 96-3143 Pīkake Street, Holy Rosary Church is part of the Diocese of Honolulu. The parish offers regular Masses and continues to be an active center for worship and community outreach. The parish is currently administered by Rev. William Tūlua-Álvarez.
Throughout its history, Holy Rosary Church has remained a cornerstone of the Pāhala community, adapting to the evolving needs of its parishioners while preserving its rich heritage. Today, it continues to serve as a place of worship, reflection, and community gathering, upholding the spiritual traditions that have defined it for nearly 150 years.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Established in 1842
95-5558 Māmalahoa Highway
Nā‘ālehu, Hawai‘i 96772
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nā‘ālehu, Hawai‘i, was established in 1842 to serve the growing Catholic community in the southern part of the Big Island. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu.
The Church is located at 95-5558 Māmalahoa Highway in Nā‘ālehu. It offers regular Masses and continues to be an active center for worship and community outreach. The parish is currently administered by Rev. William Tūlua-Álvarez.
As the southernmost Catholic parish in the United States, Sacred Heart Church in Nā‘ālehu plays a vital role in serving the spiritual needs of its community, maintaining its commitment to faith and service amidst the unique cultural and geographical landscape of Hawai‘i.
St. Stephen's Byzantine Mission
The Byzantine Catholic community on the Big Island of Hawai‘i has found a spiritual home at Saint Stephen's Byzantine Mission in Honomū, where services are offered by Rev. William Tūlua-Álvarez. While there is no formal Byzantine Catholic parish established on the island, Father William celebrates the Divine Liturgies in the Byzantine Rite at this location, providing a place of worship for Eastern Catholics residing on the Island of Hawaii.
Good Shepherd Mission, a Roman Catholic mission under the Diocese of Honolulu, is located in Honomū and attached to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Papaikou as part of the Hamakua Catholic Community. Originally established in 1888 by Sacred Hearts Father Bonaventure Loots, the church was rebuilt in 1919 after a fire and blessed by Sacred Hearts Father Gabriel Feron.
Today, the mission continues to serve as a unique intersection of Roman and Byzantine Catholic traditions, reflecting the diversity of Catholic spirituality in Hawai‘i.
Register to be a Parishioner
Welcome to the Kaʻū Catholic Community, a community where faith, family, and island hospitality come together in Christ. Whether you’re a lifelong Catholic, new to the district of Kaʻū, or simply seeking a deeper connection with God, we invite you to register you and your family as parishioners and make Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Pāhala or Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nā‘ālehu your spiritual home.
Registering as parishioners helps us stay connected with you and support you in your faith journey: through the sacraments, family ministries, outreach programs, and parish life. It also allows us to plan better for your needs and celebrate life’s milestones with you.
Come be part of a vibrant, welcoming ʻohana rooted in the love of Jesus and the beauty of our island traditions.
E Komo Mai, Welcome!
Click here to download our fillable parish registration form.
Once completed, please print out and mail your completed form to the parish office (P.O. Box 760 Pāhala, HI 96777-0760), or print it out and bring it with you to Mass. Mahalo!
The Kaʻū Catholic Community
in the News
Click the links below to view the news articles/reflection pieces.
East Hawaii community celebrates Akau’s ordination - July 16, 2025
A priesthood journey filled with twists and turns - July 2, 2025
The Hawaii Catholic Herald features our seminarian from Holy Rosary in Pāhala, Mr. John Jacob Akau, as he prepares for Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate by Bishop Larry Silva on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at St. Joseph's Church in Hilo.
Faithful find connection, inspiration in traveling Jubilee cross - June 18, 2025
The Hawaii Catholic Herald features the traveling Jubilee Cross which included stops at some of the most far-flung parishes in the diocese: our very own Holy Rosary Church in Pāhala and Sacred Heart Church in Na‘ālehu .
Reflection: Finding rest and inspiration in rural Hawaii - June 18, 2025
Hawaii Catholic Herald contributor Anthony Selvanathan journeys to the rural communities of Na‘ālehu and Pāhala, rediscovering the spirit of the “old Hawaii” and the deep sense of ‘ohana that defines life on the Big Island. Through his immersion in tight-knit towns centered around Holy Rosary and Sacred Heart parishes, he finds spiritual renewal, rest, and creative inspiration—revealed in quiet landscapes, communal warmth, and the enduring faith woven into daily life
Faithful continue to return - March 26, 2025
The Hawaii Catholic Herald features the parishes of the Kaʻū Catholic Community: Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Pāhala or Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nā‘ālehu, which have seen increases in attendance. Sacred Heart Church in Nā‘ālehu was one of five parishes statewide where Mass attendance not only rose last year, but also matched or improved upon pre-pandemic figures. Our pastor, Father William, was interviewed for this article.