About Our Lady of Mount Carmel · Kaneohe, Hawaii
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a Catholic parish in windward Kaneohe (Waikane), Oahu, Hawaii, in the Diocese of Honolulu. The parish takes its identity from its 1939 dedication, but its Catholic roots stretch back to the 1840s through Father Martial Jan and the old St. Charles Mission chapel at Waikane. Today it is a multicultural Catholic 'ohana that gathers for daily and Sunday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, RCIA, faith formation for youth and adults, a food pantry, and a wide variety of parish ministries serving the Windward Oahu community.
- Established
- 1939
- Patron
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Blessed Virgin Mary under the Carmelite title)
- Rector
- Rev. Leonardo (Leo) Tubana (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Honolulu
Why belong here
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a welcoming, multicultural Catholic 'ohana in windward Kaneohe that prays, learns, and serves together. Daily and Sunday Masses are offered alongside First Friday Eucharistic Adoration from morning to night, a busy OCIA (RCIA) team for adults exploring the faith, a youth and young adult ministry called Hale O Iesu, faith formation for children, and a working food pantry that reaches the surrounding Windward Oahu community. With more than two dozen lay-led ministries — from lectors, altar servers, music directors, and bereavement ministers to the building, finance, and pastoral councils — the parish gives every parishioner a concrete way to use their gifts in worship and service.
Mass times at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM (also by appointment with the parish office secretary)
- By appointment made with the parish office secretary
Adoration times
- Every First Friday, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Other hours by sign-up at the entrance of the church (call the parish secretary at (808) 439-3471 to sign up or find a substitute)
Our Story — A Catholic 'Ohana in Waikane
Our Lady of Mount Carmel traces its roots to the missionary chapels of the Ko'olau windward coast in the 1840s and to the St. Charles Mission chapel at Waikane, built in 1867 under Bishop Maigret. The present church was dedicated by Bishop Stephen Alencastre on December 17, 1939, and the parish became independent in 1968 under Bishop John Scanlan. Today the parish describes itself as a 'multicultural parish' united in prayer, faith, and the evangelizing mission of Jesus Christ.
- 1841 — Father Louis Maigret divides Oahu into missionary districts; Father Martial Jan assigned to the Ko'olau.
- 1845 — Nantes, France donates the bell that still hangs in the church.
- 1865–1867 — Sacred Heart brothers under Br. Calixte Lecomte build and dedicate St. Charles Mission chapel at Waikane.
- 1939 — Bishop Alencastre blesses and dedicates the new Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church on December 17.
- 1968 — Bishop John Scanlan creates the independent parish; Fr. Gabriel P. Vanden Broucke becomes first pastor.
- 2008 — Parish de-clustered and restored as independent; Fr. Paulo Kosaka, O.F.M. Cap. named administrator on July 1.
Treasure of the Parish — The Nantes Bell
The parish's most treasured artifact is its bronze bell, now approximately 182 years old. It was given to Father Martial Jan by the people of Nantes, France, in 1845, inscribed as a gift to 'Monsieur Jan Martial, missionary to the Sandwich Islands.' Fr. Jan arrived in Hawaii in November 1840 and was assigned to the Catholic community gathered at He'eia, where he built up the church and school in Kaneohe and taught at Ahuimanu College until his work was cut short by illness in 1871.
The Wooden Statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
In 1986 Louis Benanto carved a wooden statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel from Koa logs shipped down from Mauna Kea on the Big Island. The parish describes the statue as 'a labor of love' and a devotional centerpiece of the church.
Parish Mission Statement
'We the Ohana of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church stand united as a committed multicultural parish in prayer and faith; with the power of the Holy Spirit, and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary; to evangelize in the service of God, by sharing the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ in our words and actions with the hope of eternal salvation for all.'
Pastor & Parish Leadership
Father Leonardo (Leo) Tubana currently serves as parish administrator, having taken over in 2023 after Father Paulo Kosaka was transferred to St. Rita in Nanakuli. Fr. Leo previously served Masses at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in downtown Honolulu. He is assisted by Deacon John Tolentino and a robust team of lay leaders organized through the Pastoral Council and Finance Council.
- Parish Administrator: Rev. Leonardo Tubana
- Deacon: John Tolentino (Active Ministry)
- Parish Secretary: Lucy Salas
- Pastoral Council Chair: Nick Cambra
- Finance Council Chair: Charles Woodward
- Finance Accountant: Francis Daguiaog
- Religious Education: Lucy Salas
Parish Life & Getting Involved
The parish says, 'the heart of a parish is the Eucharist, but the parish family is the body that makes it a unique and vibrant community.' In addition to Mass, Our Lady of Mount Carmel offers liturgical ministries (choir, lector, altar server, Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist), social-justice ministries (homebound visits, food pantry, St. Vincent de Paul), and fellowship groups including youth ministry, men's and women's groups, and the annual parish bazaar.
Liturgical & Music Ministries
Music is led by separate directors for each Sunday Mass, with a Basic Latin instructor on the team. Liturgical roles for lectors, altar servers, sacristans, Eucharistic ministers, and ushers keep the Mass running smoothly.
- Music Director 5:00 PM Vigil — Bernadine Zimbra
- Music Director 7:30 AM — Lucy Salas
- Music Director 10:00 AM — Danita Hugh & Boi Dumadag
- Basic Latin Music Instructor — Steve Ziadie
- Lectors — Betty Lou Kam
- Altar Servers — Harvey Recarte (overall); Gregory Leong (5 PM); Troy Euclide (10 AM)
- Sacristan Lead — Harvey Recarte
- Altar Care — Harvey Recarte
- Altar Environment — Charlotte Recarte with committee
- Eucharistic Ministers — assigned and approved by Fr. Leo
- Ushers — Charles Woodward
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Lucy Salas directs Faith Formation / Religious Education for the parish, and Hannah Mills Welch-Ornellas leads the youth track. The parish invites all ages — not only children — to grow in 'knowledge and understanding of our faith in Jesus Christ and the Church he gave us.'
- Faith Formation / Religious Education Director: Lucy Salas
- Youth Leader: Hannah Mills Welch-Ornellas
- Youth & Young Adult Ministry Chairwoman: Lucy Salas
Becoming Catholic — OCIA / RCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) at Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the formal communal process for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church through the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation). The parish walks inquirers through the Period of Inquiry (Pre-Catechumenate), the Catechumenate, the Rite of Election, reception at the Easter Vigil, and Mystagogy. Baptized Christians from other traditions preparing for Confirmation and Eucharist are also welcomed.
- OCIA / RCIA Directors: Steve & Lynn Ziadie
- RCIA contact: Jim Muneoka
- Steps: Pre-Catechumenate → Rite of Initiation → Catechumenate → Rite of Election → Sacraments of Initiation at Easter Vigil → Mystagogy
Hale O Iesu Youth & Young Adult Ministry
The 'Church of Jesus' youth and young adult ministry, known as Hale O Iesu, brings together high-school-aged and young-adult parishioners for faith, fellowship, and service. It complements the parish's broader Faith Formation and Youth & Young Adult Ministry efforts.
- Ministry leaders: Rick Pulliam, Grannette Pulliam, Betty Lou Kam, Francis Johnson
- Aligned with parish Youth & Young Adult Ministry (Lucy Salas; Youth Lead: Hannah Mills Welch-Ornellas)
Outreach & Parish Operations
Parish operations and outreach are organized through the Pastoral Council and Finance Council, supported by committees that keep the church buildings and grounds in good shape. The food bank/pantry ministry is one of the most visible parish outreach efforts to the broader Windward Oahu community.
- Pastoral Council Chair: Nick Cambra
- Finance Council Chair: Charles Woodward
- Finance Accountant: Francis Daguiaog
- Building Committee Chair: Nick Cambra; Co-Chair: Charles Woodward
- Grounds Maintenance: Larry Lopez
- Food Bank / Pantry Ministry: Nick Cambra
- Respect Life Chairwoman: Lynn Ziadie
- Bereavement Ministers Team: Jimmy Muneoka, Lucy Salas, Charlotte Recarte, Harvey Recarte, Candice Muneoka (with assistants Charles & Pacita Woodward)
- Pua (Flower) Ministry: Betty Lou Kam
- Kokua Lua: Charlotte & Harvey Recarte
- Money Counters: Charles Woodward
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
Beyond Mass and Confession, the parish prepares adults for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist through OCIA, and offers bereavement support to families. The parish notes that anyone needing to meet with the parish priest for spiritual services or a confession outside the published schedule should call the office or email to arrange an appointment.
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 4:00–4:30 PM and by appointment
- Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation: through OCIA process
- Bereavement Ministry
- Appointments with Fr. Leo: call (808) 312-4157 or email [email protected]
Visit, Call, or Write
Parishioners and visitors are encouraged to reach the office by phone or email; office hours are Monday through Friday, with messages returned within 2–3 business days. The office is closed on observed holidays and weekends.
- Address: 48-422 Kamehameha Highway, Kaneohe, HI 96744 (Waikane, Windward Oahu)
- Phone: (808) 312-4157
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://mtcarmelhawaii.com/
- Office hours: Monday – Friday
- Closed on observed holidays and weekends
- Alternate secretary line referenced on the parish website: (808) 439-3471
Part of the Diocese of Honolulu
Our Lady of Mount Carmel belongs to the Diocese of Honolulu (Roman Catholic Church in Hawaii) and is part of the Windward Oahu vicariate. It shares the vicariate with neighboring Windward parishes such as St. Ann in Kaneohe and St. Roch in Kahuku.
- Diocese: Diocese of Honolulu
- Vicariate: Windward Oahu
- Bishop (per parish history references): Bishop Larry Silva (installed Fr. Paulo Kosaka as Pastor on Oct 16, 2016)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Martial Jan1840s–1871
Pioneering missionary assigned to the Ko'olau windward districts by Vicar Delegate Fr. Louis Maigret in 1841; received the Nantes bell in 1845; built the church community and school in Kaneohe and taught at Ahuimanu College until health failed in 1871.
- Father Anthony O'Brien1939
Then in charge of the He'eia district; received permission to tear down the old St. Charles chapel and build the present church.
- Father Gabriel P. Vanden Broucke1968–1971
First pastor of the newly independent parish created by Bishop John Scanlan; Sacred Heart priest.
- Father Iedephonse Kunz1971–1976
Sacred Heart priest.
- Father Louis Boynaemas1976–1980
Sacred Heart priest.
- Father Matthew Alencastre1980–1983
Sacred Heart priest.
- Father Gerard Leicht1983–1985
Sacred Heart priest.
- Father Raymond Churchill1985–1987
First diocesan priest assigned as pastor.
- Father Paul Evers1987–1990
Diocesan priest.
- Father Roland Pacudan1990–1992
Diocesan priest.
- Father Randy Nowak, O.F.M. Cap.1992–1994
Capuchin Franciscan.
- Father Alfred Rebuldela1995–1996
- Father Romero Rabusa1996–1998
- Father Eugene L. Keusal1999–2003
- Father Sydney Fernandes2003–2008
Made parish administrator when OLMC was clustered with Sts. Joaquin and Ann (Punalu'u) and St. Roch (Kahuku).
- Father Paulo Kosaka, O.F.M. Cap.2008–2023
Capuchin Franciscan; appointed parish administrator on July 1, 2008 when the parish was de-clustered; installed as Pastor by Bishop Larry Silva on October 16, 2016; transferred to St. Rita, Nanakuli in 2023.
- Father Bob Maher, O.F.M. Cap.2008–2009
Joined the new Capuchin fraternity in the parish in September 2008; left July 2009.
- Father Marvin Bearis, O.F.M. Cap.2009–
Joined the Capuchin fraternity in December 2009.
- Father Leonardo Tubana2023–present
Current parish administrator; previously served Masses at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in downtown Honolulu.