The first Calvinist meeting house was built in the Hawaiian fishing village of Kalaupapa in 1839. It was replaced
by a second church in 1847, and by a third structure, built in 1853 which is still standing.
Siloama
During the first year of patients arriving at Kalawao, on December 23, 1866, 35 people gathered together to organize
the congregation of Siloama and establish the first church at Kalawao. Siloama means "Church of the Healing
Spring". The protestant church structure was dedicated in 1871 and rebuilt in 1966.
St. Philomena Roman Catholic Church
established by Father Damien -- Joseph (born "Jozef") de Veuster
b. 3 January 1840 in Tremelo, Belguim – d. 15 April 1889 Kalaupapa,
Moloka'i, Hawai'i Canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday 11 October 2009 as Saint Damien of Molokai.
A Roman Catholic priest from Belgium and member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, a missionary
religious order. He was ordained in Honolulu as a Catholic Priest on May 31, 1864.
Father Damien arrived on May 10, 1873 on board the steamer Kilauea with 50 leprosy patients and a cargo of cattle.
At the time of his arrival, there were 800 patients already at the colony. Damien's first course of action was
to build a church and establish the Parish of Saint Philomena. His role was not limited to being a priest: he
dressed ulcers, built homes and beds, built coffins and dug graves. His arrival is seen by some as a turning point
for the community. Under his leadership, basic laws were enforced, shacks became painted houses, working farms
were organized and schools were erected. Father Damien died of leprosy at 8:00 am on 15 April 1889, aged 49
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints also had a congregation at Kalawao. Joseph H. Napela, a Mormon
elder, came to Kalaupapa sometime after 1871 as kokua (helper) for his wife, a patient. In October 1873 he was
appointed president of the Kalaupapa Branch of the Maui, Moloka`i, and Lana`i Conference. He eventually contracted
Hansen’s disease and died at Kalaupapa.
