About St. Benedict · Captain Cook, Hawaii
St. Benedict’s Painted Church, located in Honaunau on the Big Island of Hawaii, is a historic and vibrant Catholic parish overlooking Kealakekua Bay. Founded in 1899 by Father John Velghe, the church is renowned for its unique interior paintings, created by the self-taught Belgian priest as a teaching tool for a largely illiterate community. Though originally built in 1842 as St. Francis Regis Chapel, the current structure was relocated and consecrated in 1902. Today, it remains active with outreach programs and medical services, and is listed on both the Hawaii State and National Registers of Historic Places.
- Established
- 1899
- Patron
- St. Benedict
- Rector
- Fr. William Quiamjot
- Diocese
- Diocese of Honolulu
Why belong here
St. Benedict’s offers a warm, loving community rooted in faith and service, with active outreach programs and medical services for the local community. The parish is united with St. John’s in Kealakekua and St. Benedict’s in Honaunau under the South Kona Catholic Church, fostering a spirit of shared mission and hospitality.
Mass times at St. Benedict
Weekly Mass schedule
History of the Painted Church
The church was originally built in 1842 as St. Francis Regis Chapel near Honaunau’s shore. By the 1880s, residents moved higher up the slopes of Mauna Loa for better climate and soil. In 1899, Father John Velghe arrived and moved the church with mules to its current location. He painted the interior with biblical scenes, inspired by Burgos Cathedral in Spain, to teach the community. The church was consecrated in 1902 and named after St. Benedict. Velghe returned to Belgium in 1904, leaving some panels unfinished. Restoration began in 1983 and was completed in 1985. Major renovations occurred in 2002 for the church’s 100th anniversary, including replacing the altar and pulpit with koa wood and refurbishing statues and carpet.
Guide to the Painted Church
The church’s interior paintings were created by Father John Velghe, a self-taught artist from Belgium. His three-dimensional paintings, inspired by Burgos Cathedral, depict biblical scenes and the lives of saints. The paintings were designed to teach the community, especially in a time when many could not read or write. The church’s unique design includes a gothic vault and octagonal columns painted with Hawaiian mottoes of St. Benedict’s medal.
Mission and Community
St. Benedict’s is part of the South Kona Catholic Church, united with St. John’s in Kealakekua and St. Benedict’s in Honaunau. The parish is committed to growing in faith and living as the people of God, offering outreach programs and medical services to the local community. The church is described as a warm and loving community of the Lord, affirming faith in the Living Body of Christ.