Annual Meeting

The first Catholic missionaries arrived in Hawaii on July 7, 1827.

Upon arrival, the missionaries were quick to integrate themselves with the island’s community. After learning the language, Fr. Bachelot, prefect apostolic and a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and the other Catholic priests handed out bibles written in Hawaiian and held sacraments and baptism ceremonies, the first baptism being given on November 30 of that year, for hundreds of the island’s natives. One year later, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace was built in the heart of what is now downtown Honolulu.

After settling back into Hawaii, Catholic priests were able to formally dedicate the Cathedral on August 15, 1843. The anniversary, however, is observed on August 16 due to the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven being celebrated on August 15.

Today there are  66 parishes and 23 mission churches ministering to Catholics on six islands within the boundaries of the Diocese of Honolulu, making it a diocese like no other. Just as Saint Damien and Saint Marianne ministered to the hungry, homeless, despairing, lost and forgotten here in Hawaii, so today the Catholics of the Diocese of Honolulu continue to reach out to everyone regardless of where they are in their journey of life. 

We invite you to experience this uniqueness by exploring our city and visiting in person our parishes and schools,