About St. Elizabeth · Aiea, Hawaii
St. Elizabeth Parish is a Roman Catholic faith community in Aiea, on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, belonging to the Diocese of Honolulu (Central Oahu Vicariate). The parish's stated mission is to live and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by protecting and supporting the sanctity of human life, ongoing faith formation and evangelization, and steadfast devotion to the Sacraments of the Church. It serves a diverse central-Oahu congregation with five Sunday Masses plus a Chuukese Mass each month, a parish school, religious education, and outreach programs. The parish sits on Moanalua Road near the H1 freeway and is pastored by Father Sebastian Kumar Soosai with a parochial vicar, two active deacons, and a religious-sister-led school.
- Established
- 1925
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- Rector
- Rev. Sebastian Kumar Soosai
- Diocese
- Diocese of Honolulu (Central Oahu Vicariate)
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth offers one of the most complete parish experiences on central Oahu: five Sunday Masses plus a monthly Chuukese Mass, daily Mass every weekday, weekly Thursday adoration and benediction, and Saturday confession. A parish school (Pre-K through 8) under the Sisters and a Religious Education / Faith Formation program for K-5 anchor the faith formation of children, while RCIA/OCIA, That Man Is You, the Women's Apostles for Catechesis, Youth Ministry, and a Hospital & Home-Bound Ministry serve adults, families and the wider community. The parish's outreach team coordinates charity across the Aiea–Halawa area, making St. Elizabeth a natural spiritual home for anyone in central Oahu looking for a long-established, mission-driven Catholic community.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00 AM
- Also by appointment
Adoration times
- Every Thursday: Adoration / Benediction 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Parish History
St. Elizabeth Parish traces its roots to the 1860 mission chapel in the Aiea–Halawa area that served Catholics on priests' journeys to the leeward coast. A more permanent St. Patrick's church was blessed on St. Patrick's Day 1860 and rebuilt after fire destroyed it; Father Raymond Delalande, SS.CC., became the area's first resident priest in 1867. The present parish was created in 1925 when Bishop Alencastre blessed a new church on Moanalua Road and renamed the community St. Elizabeth's of Aiea. The parish grew rapidly after World War II under Father Cyril L. Eraly, SS.CC.; a major restoration in 1951 added a remodeled rectory, garage, playground and parish hall. The parish marked its centennial with Bishop Larry Silva in November 2025.
- 1860 — first sturdy church in Aiea–Halawa built by Mr. Paiko, blessed on St. Patrick's Day as St. Patrick's
- 1860s — Father Agathange Groult, SS.CC., oversees the district; 200+ Hawaiian baptisms recorded
- 1867 — Father Raymond Delalande, SS.CC., becomes first resident priest of Halawa
- c. 1871 — original church destroyed by fire; rebuilt and completed 1873
- 1899 — Honolulu Plantation Company formed; refinery opens 1905
- 1920s — first Moanalua Road church built by Kobayashi and Sons
- April 15, 1925 — Bishop Alencastre blesses church and renames it St. Elizabeth's of Aiea
- 1931 — Father Otto Duching, SS.CC., retires
- 1932 — Father Anthony Jacobs, SS.CC., builds the original parish hall
- 1947 — Father Cyril L. Eraly, SS.CC., appointed pastor
- June 10, 1951 — Vicar General blesses restored church, remodeled rectory, garage, playground and parish hall
- November 2025 — Centennial Mass celebrated by Bishop Larry Silva
Our Saint — St. Elizabeth of Hungary
The parish is named for St. Elizabeth of Hungary, a 13th-century Hungarian princess renowned for her charity to the poor and her life of prayer; her feast day is November 17. The parish website dedicates a page to her as the community's patron.
- Patron: St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- Feast Day: November 17
Mission
The parish's published mission is: "Our mission as good stewards of St. Elizabeth Parish in Aiea, a Roman Catholic faith community in the Diocese of Honolulu, is to live and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by protecting and supporting the sanctity of human life, being committed to ongoing faith formation and evangelization, and the steadfast devotion to the Sacraments of the Church."
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is pastored by Father Sebastian Kumar Soosai, with Father Clement Beeri serving as Parochial Vicar. Two active deacons — Deacon Frederico Carahasen and Deacon Gerald (Gary) Streff — assist with ministry. Lay staff include Norma Manzano (Business Manager) and Bernie Teson (Secretary), while Rose and Dino Javier coordinate Youth Ministry, Sister Meristella Umdor directs Religious Education, and Rona Barsano and Trini Yco lead the Outreach Ministry.
- Rev. Sebastian Kumar Soosai — Pastor
- Rev. Clement Beeri — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Frederico Carahasen — Active Ministry
- Deacon Gerald (Gary) Streff — Active Ministry
- Norma Manzano — Business Manager
- Bernie Teson — Secretary
- Sr. Meristella Umdor — Religious Education
- Rose & Dino Javier — Youth Ministry
- Rona Barsano — Outreach
- Trini Yco — Outreach
St. Elizabeth School
St. Elizabeth Catholic School is a parish school serving preschool through grade 8 at 99-310 Moanalua Road, just down the road from the church. Its mission states that it is "a Catholic community centered in Christ and committed to the formation of the whole child," integrating Catholic truths and values across an academically rigorous curriculum. All students participate in daily prayer, religion classes and liturgical services during school hours; community service is required at every grade level. Sister Alma Amancio serves as Principal.
- Address: 99-310 Moanalua Road, Aiea, HI 96701
- Phone: 808-488-5322
- Fax: 808-486-0856
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.steliz-hi.org
- Principal: Sister Alma Amancio
- Office Secretary: Sharon Nagasawa ([email protected])
- Grades: Preschool through 8
- Daily prayer, religion classes and church services for all students
- Community service required at every grade level
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish calls its catechetical work both "Religious Education" (the teaching of Catholic doctrine) and "Faith Formation" (helping parishioners live and cherish the Catholic faith). Parents are recognized as the primary formators of their children, with parish ministries assisting them; the parish also teaches adults through Bible studies, prayer days and catechetical ministries. Sister Meristella Umdor directs the program, which currently serves children in grades K through 5.
- Religious Education, Grades K–5
- Director: Sister Meristella Umdor ([email protected], 808-725-4080)
- Adult faith formation through Bible studies, prayer days, and catechetical ministries
RCIA / OCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Adults preparing for full initiation into the Catholic Church (or seeking to complete their sacraments) are welcomed into the parish's Order of Christian Initiation of Adults process, which also functions as the OCIA per recent liturgical updates. Information is available through the parish office.
Ministries and Organizations
St. Elizabeth Parish offers a wide range of parish ministries for men, women, youth, the sick and the wider community. These include faith-formation, fellowship and outreach programs for every stage of life.
- Religious Education, grades K–5
- That Man Is You (TMIY) — men's faith and fellowship
- Hospital Ministry & Home-Bound Ministry
- Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA/OCIA)
- Women's Apostles for Catechesis (Women's Ministry)
- Youth Ministry (Rose & Dino Javier)
- Outreach Ministry (Rona Barsano and Trini Yco)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Reconciliation is offered Saturday mornings at 9:00 AM and by appointment. Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Funeral Masses are coordinated through the parish office. Adult sacramental preparation is provided through the RCIA/OCIA program.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist (Sunday and daily Mass)
- Reconciliation — Saturday 9:00 AM and by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage (Matrimony)
- Holy Orders
- Funerals
Contact and Location
The parish office is open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, closed on holidays. The parish sits on Moanalua Road in Aiea, convenient to both Honolulu and the central/leeward sides of Oahu via the H1 freeway.
- Address: 99-312 Moanalua Road, Aiea, Hawaii 96701
- Phone: 808-487-2414
- Fax: 808-487-2168
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stelizabethaiea.com
- From Honolulu: H1 west → Stadium/Aiea exit → cross one street, church on right
- From Waianae/Wahiawa: H1 east → H1-78 W via Exit 13A → merge onto Moanalua Road
Centennial Celebration (2025)
In November 2025, Bishop Larry Silva presided at a centennial Mass with the parish, marking one hundred years since Bishop Alencastre first blessed St. Elizabeth's and renamed the community from St. Patrick's of Halawa to St. Elizabeth's of Aiea in 1925. The Hawaii Catholic Herald covered the event with photographs and notes on attendance.
- Centennial Mass celebrated November 2025
- Presider: Bishop Larry Silva, Diocese of Honolulu
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Otto Duching, SS.CC.through 1931 (retired due to health)
Worked hard to establish the new St. Elizabeth's parish on Moanalua Road
- Father Anthony Jacobs, SS.CC.after 1931
Built the original parish hall in 1932
- Father James Beynes, SS.CC.after Jacobs
Successor pastor in the mid-20th century
- Father Remy Matthews, SS.CC.after Beynes
Continued shepherding the growing parish
- Father Cyril L. Eraly, SS.CC.appointed 1947
Focused on reorganizing parish societies and ministry to youth; oversaw the 1951 restoration and expansion