About Sts. Peter and Paul · Honolulu, Hawaii
Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu, located at 800 Kaheka Street in Honolulu's Ala Moana district on the island of Oahu. Founded in 1968 by Bishop John J. Scanlan and dedicated in 1969, the parish serves the Kewalo, Kapiolani, Ala Moana, McCully, and Ala Wai neighborhoods and is known for its distinctive semi-circular church building just a few blocks from Ala Moana Shopping Center. The parish community is committed to sharing the faith with people of all ages and ethnic origins, supporting the disabled, homebound, and indigent through outreach, and fostering spiritual development through a wide range of ministries and faith formation programs.
- Established
- 1968
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul
- Rector
- Rev. Arnel Soriano
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu (East Honolulu Vicariate)
Why belong here
Sts. Peter and Paul is a vibrant, multicultural parish in the heart of Honolulu's Ala Moana neighborhood — easy to reach from anywhere in town and welcoming to all ages, ethnicities, and walks of life, including non-practicing Catholics returning to the faith. The community offers a rich liturgical life with daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and devotions, alongside robust faith formation for children and adults, a youth ministry, and meaningful outreach to the homeless, kupuna, homebound, and disabled. Its recent expansion into the Emmaus Crossroads Center at 771 Amana Street has opened new space for ministries, gathering, and community care — making it an ideal place both to worship and to serve.
Mass times at Sts. Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 4:15 PM (also by appointment)
- Friday: 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM
Adoration times
- Friday: 7:30 AM – 11:45 AM (Eucharistic Adoration following the 7:00 AM Mass)
Our Story & Heritage
Sts. Peter and Paul was created in 1968 by Bishop John J. Scanlan to serve the densely populated Ala Moana-area neighborhoods of Honolulu, and was formally dedicated on September 28, 1969. In its early days the community worshipped in hotel ballrooms before moving into its striking circular church on Kaheka Street, which has remained the spiritual home of a multigenerational, multicultural parish for over half a century.
- Parish established 1968 by Bishop John J. Scanlan
- Church dedicated September 28, 1969
- Founding pastor: Msgr. Francis A. Marzen
- Serves the Ala Moana, Ala Wai, Kapiolani, Kewalo, and McCully districts
Parish Leadership & Clergy
The parish is currently served by Rev. Arnel Soriano as pastor, Rev. Khanh Hoang as parochial vicar, and Deacon Joel Narusawa in active ministry. Parishioners are supported by a dedicated staff including Faith Formation Coordinator Anna Flores, Youth Ministry leader Garrick Nagao, secretary Jonahlynn Sabado, and maintenance and office personnel.
- Rev. Arnel Soriano — Pastor
- Rev. Khanh Hoang — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Joel Narusawa — Active Ministry
- Anna Flores — Faith Formation Coordinator
- Garrick Nagao — Youth Ministry
- Jonahlynn Sabado — Secretary
Mass, Sacraments & Devotions
Daily Mass is offered every Monday through Friday at 7:00 AM and 12:00 PM, and on Sundays four Masses are celebrated at 7:00, 9:00, and 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM, with a Vigil Mass at 5:00 PM on Saturdays. The sacrament of Reconciliation is heard Friday morning and Saturday afternoon, and Eucharistic Adoration is offered every Friday morning.
- Sunday Masses: 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 6:00 PM
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 PM
- Weekday Masses: Mon–Fri at 7:00 AM and 12:00 PM
- Confessions: Friday 10:15–11:30 AM; Saturday 3:00–4:15 PM (also by appointment)
- Eucharistic Adoration: Friday 7:30–11:45 AM
- Holy Rosary: Mon–Fri at 11:00 AM
- Sacred Heart Novena: Friday 7:45 AM
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Sts. Peter and Paul runs a Faith Formation program that serves students from kindergarten through adults, coordinated by Anna Flores. The parish also maintains an active Youth Ministry led by Garrick Nagao, giving young parishioners opportunities for catechesis, service, and fellowship.
- Faith Formation for kindergarten through adults
- Youth Ministry for parish youth
- Family-oriented approach emphasizing parental involvement
Outreach & Charity
Outreach to those in need has long been a hallmark of the parish, especially under the leadership of Father Khanh Pham-Nguyen. Programs include the Olakino Produce Program — a monthly fresh-food distribution serving hundreds of families — and the Catholic Care Project (Catholic Care Bags) supporting kupuna and homebound parishioners. Hospitality ministers welcome homeless neighbors into the church without escorting them out, reflecting the parish's commitment to compassion alongside security.
- Olakino Produce Program (monthly food distribution)
- Catholic Care Project / Catholic Care Bags for kupuna and the homebound
- Outreach to the homeless and indigent
- Pastoral care for the disabled and homebound
Emmaus Crossroads Center & Campus Expansion
In December 2020 the parish purchased the three-story building at 771 Amana Street, blessed by Bishop Larry Silva on July 3, 2021, as the Emmaus Crossroads Center for Community Care and Action. The new center gives Sts. Peter and Paul room to grow its programs, ministries, and community outreach, with a planned walkway connecting it safely to the church across the parking lot. A fundraising 'brick wall' campaign helped underwrite the $5.2 million acquisition.
- Three-story building at 771 Amana Street purchased December 2020
- Blessed by Bishop Larry Silva on July 3, 2021
- Named Emmaus Crossroads Center for Community Care and Action
- Plans for a connecting walkway between church and new building
Sacred Art, Relics & Devotional Life
The church's interior is enriched by 24 stained-glass windows circling the upper tier of the ceiling, installed for the parish's 50th anniversary in 2019 through the generosity of parishioners. The parish also holds authenticated relics of Sts. Peter and Paul (bequeathed in 2015), a piece of tree root and soil from St. Marianne Cope's original grave in Molokai, and a piece of St. Damien de Veuster's coffin — a tangible link to Hawaii's two beloved saints.
- 24 stained-glass windows installed for the 50th anniversary (2019)
- Relics of Sts. Peter and Paul (authenticated 1905)
- Relics of St. Marianne Cope and St. Damien de Veuster
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Francis A. Marzen1968 – c. 1980s
Founding pastor; oversaw the parish's creation by Bishop John J. Scanlan and the dedication of the church on September 28, 1969. Masses were first celebrated in the nearby Pagoda, Hilton, and Ilikai hotels.
- Father Anthony Bolger1980s
Purchased a neighboring condominium to serve as the priests' residence, freeing the attached back-of-church rooms for offices and meeting space.
- Father Khanh Kim 'Alphonsus' Pham-Nguyen2014 – July 2025
Appointed pastor July 1, 2014. A Vietnamese refugee and priest of the Diocese of Honolulu, he led the Olakino food program, the Catholic Care Project for kupuna, faith formation expansion, the 2020 purchase of 771 Amana Street (Emmaus Crossroads Center), and the 2019 50th-anniversary celebrations. Died July 27, 2025, after completing the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.
- Rev. Arnel Soriano2025 – present
Current pastor, succeeding Father Pham-Nguyen following his death.