OUR HISTORY
Holy Nativity has a 72-year tradition in Southeast Oahu, from the days when Aina Haina was a fast-growing community of young families to the diverse and busy neighborhoods of today.
It can be said that Holy Nativity Church was born in a stable, for on January 23, 1949, Bishop Harry S. Kennedy held an inaugural Episcopal service in the office of the former Hind-Clarke Dairy on the site that is now Aina Haina Elementary School.
In those early days, the congregation jokingly referred to themselves as St. Mary in the Dairy!
Soon after, a generous land donation from the children of Senator and Mrs. Robert Hind became the site of the present-day church and school.
We look forward to seeing familiar faces and newcomers, those exploring the Christian faith, Christians of all faiths seeking a new church home, and practicing Episcopalians who want to come and worship with us!
CLERGY TIMELINE
John J. Morrett - Rector 1949 - 1962
Byron J. Clark - Rector 1962 - 1966
Charles T. Crane - Rector 1966 - 1988
Willard S. McGinniss - Interim Rector 1988 - 1989
John Clyde Millen - Rector 1989 - 2002
George Lane Downing - Interim Rector 2002 - 2005
Richard Vinson - Rector 2006 - 2011
David Kennedy - Interim Rector 2012
Debra A. Vanover - Rector 2012 - 2016
Luis Rodriguez - Interim Rector 2017-2018
Kathleen Cullinane - Interim Rector 2019
George Clifford - Interim Rector 2019
Elizabeth "Libby" Berman - Rector 2020
HOLY NATIVITY CLERGY
Holy Nativity has a 72-year tradition in Southeast Oahu, from the days when Aina Haina was a fast-growing community of young families to the diverse and busy neighborhoods of today.
It can be said that Holy Nativity Church was born in a stable, for on January 23, 1949, Bishop Harry S. Kennedy held an inaugural Episcopal service in the office of the former Hind-Clarke Dairy on the site that is now Aina Haina Elementary School.
In those early days, the congregation jokingly referred to themselves as St. Mary in the Dairy!
Soon after, a generous land donation from the children of Senator and Mrs. Robert Hind became the site of the present-day church and school.
OUR CAMPUS
Holy Nativity Campus
THE CHURCH
Today's main church was dedicated in September, 1954. Built to be simple yet attractive, it was awarded a national prize for beauty and functional design by the Church Architectural Guild of America.
The Hawaiian Church Chronicle gave credit to both the architects (Law and Wilson), and to members of the congregation, from whom came many of the ideas for the building's ambiance.
Over time there have been modifications, but the side doorways opening to quiet gardens, informal lines, the natural lava rock walls and grass-green carpeting highlighting the white marble altar and cross remain constant.
MONTEIRO CHAPEL
In 1949, ground was broken on the present church site at the corner of Kalanianaole Hwy and Nenue Street. First buildings constructed were the Chapel and classrooms for the day school. Native stone was used in the construction.
The Rev. John J Morrett was the first Vicar and also the first Rector of Holy Nativity. The chapel is named in honor of "Aunt Maggie" Monteiro, missionary, teacher, and our earliest model as a Christian Educator.
CHAPEL MURAL
We honor the mural which hangs in our Holy Nativity Memorial chapel. Painted by Mrs. Winnie Waddoups in 1960, this mural shows the Nativity Scene in a beautiful Hawaiian setting.
Children of different nationalities come to offer gifts to the Child Jesus - the little boy who has returned from fishing was designed after Mrs. Waddoup's own son, a young Filipino girls presents a lei to Jesus, an African boy offers a mango while an East Indian girl stands nearby, a Japanese girl carries a lantern, and a Chinese boy with a white dove also comes.
Golden rays symbolize the Hawaiian sunshine, silver rays, and the Hawaiian rain, three wise men are seen in the distance as three Hawaiian Ali'i as the star of Bethlehem shines above, and there is an offering of fruits, flowers and shells before Jesus with two tall angels bow in adoration.
We invite you to visit our Chapel to view our lovely mural.
WORSHIP IN THE EPISCOPAL & ANGLICAN TRADITION
WORSHIP
Sunday is traditionally when Episcopalians gather for worship. The principal weekly worship service is the Holy Eucharist, also known as: the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, or Mass. Worship is accompanied by the singing of hymns, and is based in the Book of Common Prayer.
Our congregation follows service forms and prays from texts that don’t change greatly from week to week during a season of the year. This sameness from week to week gives worship a rhythm that becomes comforting and familiar to the worshipers.
​
Anglican Church music is integral to worship in our church. Traditionally, all worship could be set to music and sung. At Holy Nativity, we participate in the tradition of choral music during our worship with congregational hymns chosen from one of three hymnals: "The Hymnal 1982", "Wonder, Love, and Praise", and "Lift Every Voice And Sing II". On occasion, we will have a sung Eucharist in which the priest chants parts of the Eucharistic prayer with congregational responses.
SACRAMENTS &
SACRAMENTAL RITES
BAPTISM
Baptism is a ritual of inclusion and belonging that indicates our desire to enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ and the Church. We baptize adults, children, and infants in the Episcopal Church on the belief that God's love extends to everyone regardless of their age. Baptism almost always takes place within the Sunday Eucharist.
​
​
​
REAFFIRMATION
Reaffirmation is for people who are already confirmed in the Episcopal Church, but are presented to the Bishop during the service of Confirmation to "reaffirm" their Christian vows. These may be people who have been away from the church for a period of time and want to make a new beginning; others may sense that they are at a new stage in their spiritual lives and want to affirm this.
CONFIRMATION
Confirmation is the adult affirmation of our baptismal vows and commitment to Christ. There is no age requirement; the decision is determined by each individual as they are led by the Holy Spirit. Confirmation classes are normally planned in conjunction with the island-wide Regional Confirmation Ceremony conducted by the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii that usually takes place in the spring.
WEDDINGS
Our covenantal life with God is expressed in relationships of commitment and faithfulness, including those of same-sex couples.
It is the Church’s joy to celebrate relationships as signs of God’s love, to pray for God’s grace to support couples in their life together, and to join with these couples in our shared witness to the gospel in the world.
RECEPTION
Reception is reserved for those who have already been confirmed in another denomination. This is a way of recognizing and honoring those who have made a mature confession of faith and welcome them into the fellowship of the Episcopal Church. They are also presented to the Bishop during the confirmation ceremony.
​
​
​
FUNERALS
The Columbarium at Church of the Holy Nativity are available for “present or past communicants of HNC and members of their immediate families, members of the larger Episcopal Church, and any other persons who may be approved by the vestry.” Services provided include the niche, the urn, the memorial plaque, and perpetual care in a lovely setting. Our clergy can provide a short inurnment service, if desired. If a loved one has died, please contact our parish administrator so clergy can provide pastoral care and assist in planning for the funeral.
For more information call 808.373.2131
or send us an email at hncparish@gmail.com
OUR STAFF / OHANA
Click on a face to learn more about that person
VESTRY
Our Vestry are members elected to conduct the affairs of the church and serve as our legal representatives on important matters
Vestry meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.
Congregants are welcome to attend these meetings!
Tusi Mayer
Austin Nakoa
Jean Steele
Nina Livingston
Senior Warden
Junior Warden
Treasurer Emerita
Clerk
Stephanie Ching
Barbara Coles
Justin Donahue
Kim Garner
Lila Johnson
Ginnie Long
Catherine Nurmi
Jennifer Stikeleather
Members At Large
For more information call 808.373.2131
or send us an email at hncparish@gmail.com
COLUMBARIUM
Our Memorial Garden at the Church of the Holy Nativity, located on the makai (ocean) side of the church building, is a group of individual niches which contain the cremated remains of the departed.
​
The quiet design of the Columbarium invites solitary contemplation as well as the gathering of families and friends for prayer and remembrance.
​
Unlike remote cemeteries, the Columbarium offers constant reminders of the tender and eternal bond between the deceased and their church family.
​
Inurnment in the Memorial Garden is available to present or past communicants of Holy Nativity, members of their immediate family, any member of the Episcopal Church in the USA, and others subject to current policy and approval by the Vestry.
For more information call 808.373.2131
or send us an email at hncparish@gmail.com
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF HAWAI'I
Holy Nativity Church belongs to one of The Episcopal Diocese of Hawai‘i's 35 worshipping communities on five islands. About half of these can be found on the island of O‘ahu, where Honolulu, the capital of Hawai‘i, is located. Other churches are distributed on the islands of Kaua‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i, and Hawai‘i Island (“the Big Island”).
​
Click on the button below to find information on our Diocese and other Episcopal churches within Hawai'i.
Our Episcopal Diocese of Hawai‘i's is one of the 108 dioceses and three mission areas in 22 nations or territories of The Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church is a member province of the worldwide Anglican Communion headquartered in New York City.
​
Click on the button below to find information on The Episcopal Church within the United States.