About St. Theresa · Kihei, Hawaii
St. Theresa Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Kihei, Maui, Hawaii, belonging to the Diocese of Honolulu (Maui Vicariate). Founded in 1928, it has served the South Maui Catholic community for nearly a century and today worships in a contemporary-style church dedicated in 1985 that seats over 600. The parish embraces both English- and Spanish-speaking communities, runs a robust faith formation program for children and teens, and is home to Hale Kau Kau, a meal ministry that has fed the hungry and homebound since 1991. Its motto, 'Rooted in Jesus, we love and serve others,' captures the community's focus on Eucharist-centered worship and active stewardship.
- Established
- 1928
- Patron
- St. Theresa of the Child Jesus (the 'Little Flower of Jesus')
- Rector
- Rev. William Kunisch II
- Diocese
- Diocese of Honolulu (Vicariate of Maui)
Why belong here
St. Theresa offers a full Catholic life in the heart of South Maui — multiple weekend Masses in English and Spanish, daily Mass Tuesday through Friday, Saturday confessions, and First Friday Adoration & Benediction. Active ministries invite every age and stage into the life of the parish, from Family Ministry for Pre-K through 12th grade, to a Youth Group for 6th–12th graders, to Hale Kau Kau, the long-running meal program that has fed the hungry and homebound since 1991. Rooted in Jesus and serving South Maui from a contemporary 600-seat church, it is a place to worship, form your family in the faith, and put faith into action.
Mass times at St. Theresa
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- First Friday Adoration & Benediction following the morning Mass
History of St. Theresa Parish
St. Theresa was planted in Kihei nearly a century ago. The first church was blessed on April 22, 1928, and a second, larger church was blessed on June 3, 1958, when the Catholic community in Kihei numbered about 75 families. Continued growth led to the construction of a third, contemporary church which was dedicated on April 27, 1985 and remains the parish's worship home today.
- 1928 — First church blessed
- 1958 — Second church blessed (Kihei Catholic community ~75 families)
- 1985 — Present contemporary church dedicated
Architecture & Sacred Art
The current church is a contemporary semi-rotund design with a bell tower and a capacity of over 600. Beneath its single roof are the sacristy, chapel, reconciliation room, bookstore and a hospitality room. The interior's centerpiece is a large crucifix of Christ with distinctly Polynesian features carved by Hawaiian sculptor and activist Sam Kaai, mounted on a massive Ohia log from the Big Island; its inscription is in Hawaiian. Koa wood is used for sanctuary furnishings, and statues of St. Mary and St. Joseph by Louis Benanto, Jr. flank the nave. A tile-wall painting of the patroness, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, greets visitors at the entrance.
Faith Formation (Religious Education)
Family Ministry is the parish's faith formation program for Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade and their families, meeting once a month on Sundays from 8:15 AM to 9:15 AM between the morning Masses. Catechesis centers on the Sunday Gospels with age-appropriate references, exercises and activities. Families preparing their children for First Holy Communion and/or Confirmation register through Family Ministry. Karen Powers coordinates the program (ext. 125, [email protected]).
- Family Ministry — Pre-K through 12th grade, monthly Sundays 8:15–9:15 AM
- Youth Group — 6th–12th grade, Wednesdays 6:30–7:45 PM
- Sacramental preparation: First Holy Communion & Confirmation
Youth Ministry
STC Youth Ministry serves students in 6th through 12th grade through an EDGE/Life Teen-style, Eucharist-centered movement that leads teens and their families into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. It meets Wednesday nights from 6:30 PM to 7:45 PM in the parish Youth Room as scheduled.
Hale Kau Kau Meal Ministry
Hale Kau Kau, meaning 'House of Meals,' was founded in 1991 by a diverse group of South Maui individuals and continues this service today at St. Theresa Church. Its mission is to alleviate hunger by providing nutritious meals to the hungry and homebound of South Maui in a safe, loving and supportive environment.
- Founded 1991
- Located at St. Theresa
- Serves the hungry and homebound of South Maui
Hispanic Ministry
St. Theresa maintains an active Hispanic Ministry under the chaplaincy of Rev. Ornoldo Cherrez. The community gathers for a Spanish Mass on Saturday evening at 7:00 PM and a Friday evening Mass at 6:30 PM, providing Spanish-language spiritual life alongside the English-speaking community.
- Chaplain: Rev. Ornoldo Cherrez
- Saturday 7:00 PM Mass in Spanish
- Friday 6:30 PM Mass in Spanish
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by its pastor with the support of a chaplain for the Hispanic community, two retired priests in residence, and a small lay staff handling liturgy, youth ministry, parish secretarial work and bookkeeping.
- Rev. William Kunisch II — Pastor
- Rev. Ornoldo Cherrez — Chaplain, Hispanic Community
- Rev. Gary Colton — Retired
- Rev. J. James Orsini — Retired
- Alex Nicholl — Liturgy Coordinator
- Karen Powers — Youth & Young Adult Ministry
- Makalita 'Maka' Falekaono — Secretary
- Iva Rivera — Bookkeeper
Pastoral Council & Parish Governance
St. Theresa has an active Pastoral Council made up of 9–12 lay men and women representing a cross section of the parish, meeting monthly with the pastor and (ex officio) the Pastoral Associate and Finance Committee Chair. The Council is consultative and advisory, examining pastoral work, setting priorities, sustaining the parish mission statement, and developing policies. The council has produced a Strategic Plan focused on stewardship and faith formation.
- 9–12 lay members
- Meets monthly
- Strategic Plan focus: Stewardship and Faith Formation
Parish Mission & Motto
Parish motto: 'Rooted in Jesus, we love and serve others.' Mission: St. Theresa, a Catholic community in Kihei called to be disciples of Jesus, seeks to faithfully model Jesus according to His Word; become a welcoming, loving and caring community; grow in faith and spirituality through Eucharist, the sacraments, prayer and study; put faith into action through full and active participation in parish and community; and practice stewardship in parish and community.