About Christ the King · Kahului, Hawaii
Christ the King Church is a culturally diverse Roman Catholic parish in Kahului, Maui, serving the central valley community of the island since 1932. Originally established as a mission outpost of Holy Family Parish in Puunene, it has grown into one of Maui's largest and most multicultural parishes, entrusted to the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette since June 2004. Today the parish celebrates Mass in English, Spanish and Visayan, runs a thriving food pantry and child development center, and supports over thirty ministries that reflect the Filipino, Hispanic, Tongan, Micronesian and multi-ethnic communities of central Maui. It belongs to the Diocese of Honolulu (Maui Vicariate) and gathers daily around the Eucharist on Wakea Avenue.
- Established
- 1932
- Patron
- Christ the King
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Efren A. Tomas, M.S. (Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu (Maui Vicariate)
Why belong here
Christ the King offers an unusually rich liturgical life for a single parish: thirteen Masses a week in English, Spanish and Visayan, weekday adoration, rosary and Divine Mercy devotions, plus a monthly Hispanic Mass and a monthly Visayan Mass that anchor Maui's Filipino and Latino Catholic communities. Its grounds house a licensed Child Development Center and a working food pantry, and more than thirty ministries — from Knights of Columbus and Couples for Christ to the Tongan, Micronesian, and Eucharistic Women of the Cross groups — give newcomers immediate ways to serve. It is also the only parish on Maui entrusted to the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, with weekly devotions to Our Lady of La Salette and a healing Mass on the third Wednesday of every month.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
- By appointment (call the parish office at 808-877-6098)
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month: 12:00 noon – 6:00 PM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by Mass
- First Friday of the month: 6:00 AM Holy Hour for Vocations
Parish History
Christ the King Church was established in 1932 as a mission outpost of Holy Family Parish in Puunene and raised to parish status in 1942. Its origins are rooted in Maui's sugar-plantation era: a local Catholic named Annie Enomoto petitioned HC&S and Kahului Railroad manager Frank Baldwin for land, and for one dollar the parish received a parcel on what is now West Wakea Avenue. Bishop Stephen Alencastre blessed the new mission on October 30, 1932 — the feast of Christ the King — giving the church its name. The parish was served continuously by the Sacred Hearts Fathers (SS.CC.) from 1942 until January 1989, when Father Gary Colton became its first diocesan pastor; in June 2004 it was entrusted to the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, who still shepherd it today. The parish marked its 85th anniversary on November 26, 2017 with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Larry Silva and a luau honoring the immigrant plantation workers who built the community.
- Founded 1932 as a mission of Holy Family Parish, Puunene
- First resident pastor: Sacred Hearts Father Evarist Gielen, 1942
- Sacred Hearts era ended January 20, 1989; Father Gary Colton appointed
- Entrusted to the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette (M.S.) in June 2004
- 85th anniversary celebrated November 26, 2017 with Bishop Larry Silva
Mass & Liturgical Schedule
The parish offers a robust weekly schedule of thirteen Masses, reflecting the multicultural Catholic community of central Maui. The Sunday schedule includes four English Masses (6:00, 8:00, 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM), a Hispanic Mass in Spanish at noon, and a monthly Visayan Mass on the first Sunday at 7:30 PM. A new monthly Healing Mass was inaugurated on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 PM in August 2025. The 8:00 AM Sunday Mass is also live-streamed on the parish website.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM
- Sunday English: 6:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 6:00 PM
- Sunday Hispanic (Spanish): 12:00 noon
- Sunday Visayan: 1st Sunday, 7:30 PM
- Weekday Mass: Monday–Friday at 7:00 AM
- Holy Day Mass: 7:00 AM and 6:30 PM
- Healing Mass: 3rd Wednesday at 6:00 PM
- Live-streamed Sunday Mass: 8:00 AM
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at Christ the King serves students from Grade 1 through High School, with Sacramental preparation woven into the curriculum. Children receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) in their first year and Confirmation and First Communion in their second year. The program is staffed by Sr. Angela Laurenzo and Shirley Kusuno, with Yolanda Caniaveral serving as Confirmation Coordinator. Registration opens each July, with forms available at the church entrances and online; classes resume each September.
- Faith Formation for Grades 1–8 and High School
- First-year students prepare for Reconciliation
- Second-year students prepare for Confirmation and First Communion
- Confirmation Coordinator: Yolanda Caniaveral
- Religious Education staff: Sr. Angela Laurenzo and Shirley Kusuno
- Registration begins each July; classes begin in September
Becoming Catholic — OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) at Christ the King welcomes unbaptized adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion, as well as already-baptized Catholic adults who wish to receive Confirmation and Holy Communion. Fr. Anil Varghese, M.S. coordinates the program together with Pre-Jordan and Pre-Cana preparation. Adult OCIA classes begin each September and meet Saturday mornings at 10:00 AM; new inquirers are asked to bring a copy of their birth certificate.
- OCIA for unbaptized adults (Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion)
- Young Adult OCIA track for already-baptized Catholics seeking Confirmation & Holy Communion
- Coordinator: Fr. Anil Varghese, M.S.
- Classes begin in September, Saturday mornings at 10:00 AM
- Registration forms available at the church entrances
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments and provides clear preparation pathways for each. Baptism preparation classes are held on the second Tuesday of every month at 6:00 PM in the parish hall, with parents and main godparents required to attend. Couples preparing for Matrimony must begin personal interviews and Marriage Preparation at least six months before their desired wedding date. The parish also coordinates Anointing of the Sick (celebrated at the monthly Healing Mass), Holy Orders inquiries, and funeral arrangements through the parish office.
- Baptism: 2nd Tuesday of the month, 6:00 PM, parish hall
- Confirmation: through Faith Formation or OCIA
- First Communion: second year of Faith Formation
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:30–4:00 PM or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick: at the 3rd-Wednesday Healing Mass or by request
- Matrimony: at least 6 months of preparation required
- Holy Orders & Funerals: through the parish office
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Christ the King supports more than thirty active ministries and organizations clustered under five commissions: Parish Pastoral Council, Worship, Evangelization, Service, and Temporalities/Finance. These include the traditional liturgical ministries (Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Ushers, Altar Servers, Music Ministry) alongside parish-wide lay movements (Knights of Columbus, Couples for Christ), ethnic communities (Tongan Community, Pasifika Ehu Micronesian Community, Hispanic Community, CTK Filipino Catholic, Santo Nino Club of Maui) and outreach groups (Food Pantry, Bereavement, Grief Support, Homebound, Cancer Ministry, Respect Life). The parish also has two deacons who lead prayer groups, and a choir for nearly every cultural community — the Communion & Assumpta Choir, CTK Marian Choir and St. Peter Chanel (Tongan) Choir.
- Worship Commission: Lectors, Ushers, Altar Servers, Music, Extraordinary Ministers
- Evangelization Commission: Faith Formation, Confirmation, OCIA, Safe Environment, Respect Life, Social Media, Spiritual & Mental Health
- Service Commission: Bereavement, Food Pantry, Grief Support, Homebound, Outreach Networking, Cancer Ministry
- Temporalities/Finance Commission: Building & Grounds, Finance, Stewardship, Parish Annual Bazaar
- Lay movements: Knights of Columbus, Couples for Christ, Eucharistic Women of the Cross
- Cultural communities: Tongan, Micronesian (Pasifika Ehu), Hispanic, CTK Filipino Catholic, Santo Nino Club of Maui, Sacred Hearts Society
Christ the King Child Development Center
Sharing the parish campus at 20 West Wakea Avenue, the Christ the King Child Development Center is a licensed Catholic preschool serving children ages 2 through 7. Director Carol Arakawa leads a community-focused early-learning program with capacity for 49 children; the center is part of the Hawaii Catholic Schools early-learning network and partners with parish families. It is the only Catholic preschool on Maui operated directly by the parish.
- Ages 2–7 (Infants through Preschool)
- Licensed capacity: 49
- Director: Carol Arakawa
- Phone: 808-877-3587
- Member of the Hawaii Catholic Schools early-learning network
Clergy & Staff
The parish is staffed by the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette. Father Efren A. Tomas, M.S. has served as pastor since the La Salette Fathers' arrival in June 2004. Father Anil Kochuthazhath Varghese, M.S. serves as Associate Pastor and coordinates OCIA, Pre-Jordan, Pre-Cana and Youth & Young Adult Ministry. Two active deacons — Deacon Kenneth L. Bissen Jr. and Deacon Cornelio Pulido — assist with sacramental and parish life, and Rev. Ornoldo Cherrez coordinates the Maui Hispanic Ministry. The lay staff includes a secretary, business manager, two directors of religious education, a youth/confirmation coordinator and the Child Development Center director.
- Pastor: Rev. Fr. Efren A. Tomas, M.S.
- Associate Pastor: Rev. Fr. Anil Kochuthazhath Varghese, M.S.
- Maui Hispanic Ministry: Rev. Ornoldo Cherrez
- Deacons: Kenneth L. Bissen Jr. and Cornelio Pulido
- Lay staff: Mildred Chargualaf, Madelyne Pascua, Sr. Angela Laurenzo, Shirley Kusuno, Yolanda Caniaveral, Carol Arakawa
Contact & Visit
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon (summer hours). Visitors and parishioners can also send a message through the parish website's contact form or follow the parish's Facebook page, managed by the Social Media Ministry. The church is located at 20 West Wakea Avenue in Kahului, with parking on site and a live-streamed Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM for those unable to attend in person.
- Address: 20 West Wakea Avenue, Kahului, HI 96732
- Phone: 808-877-6098
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours (summer): Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–3:30 PM; Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Live-streamed Sunday Mass: 8:00 AM
- Child Development Center: 808-877-3587
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Sacred Hearts Father Evarist Gielen1942–
Kahului's first resident pastor; succeeded as mission in 1942.
- Sacred Hearts Father Eugene Rakels
Succeeded Father Gielen; died after only one year of service.
- Sacred Hearts Father Ernest Claes, SS.CC.1967–
Built the new parish rectory in 1969.
- Sacred Hearts Father Felix Vandebroek, SS.CC.
Succeeded Father Claes; launched the campaign to expand the church.
- Sacred Hearts Father Joseph Hendriks, SS.CC.September 1979 – January 20, 1989
Completed the church expansion; last Sacred Hearts pastor.
- Father Gary Colton1989–
First diocesan priest appointed pastor; ended the Sacred Hearts Fathers' tenure.
- La Salette Father Augustine Uthuppu, M.S.2004–c.2017
La Salette pastor following 2004 transition; led 85th anniversary in 2017.
- La Salette Father Edwin Conselva, M.S.c.2017
La Salette associate pastor around the 85th anniversary.
- La Salette Father Efren A. Tomas, M.S.2004–present
Current pastor; led the parish into La Salette hands in June 2004.