Cute small church situated on a hill. Charming biblical paintings on the walls painted by Father John to help teach the local parishioners because he did not speak Hawaiian. A fun little historical stop if you are in the area for sure. The church is still in active use today. If you walk farther up the hill, there is a Pieta. Plenty of parking and porta-potties on site. Mahalo. read more

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my daughter Roni and I visited there April 2025, We thought it was absolutely beautiful! We sat there together and cried my sensitive beautiful, troubled daughter and I and cried for her brother and aunt....My son and my sister whom we had lost a 1 1/2 year before {3 weeks apart}Missing them and wishing they were still with us as we listened to a man tell us the story and history of this church and how it came to be{ he did a great job}.It was very spiritual & cool to us & for us.Then we donated a little $$ for some very cool memontos.On Oct 9th 2025 I lost my daughter...I am devested and a lot of other things but I am so grateful for that time with my daughter and that memory...I plan to visit there again someday soon i hope read more

Beautiful small Church at the Big Island of Hawaii, 40 years ago it was surrounded by acres of sugar canes, now you see homes & small businesses. Progress can sometimes ruin the beauty of nature. read more

This is a must see! We appreciate history and marvel at how long this little church has stood the test of time. It is beautifully painted very lovingly by a dedicated Belgian priest, Father John Velghe. It's truly a labor of love. He painted the interior with scenes from the Bible as teaching tools because many people at the time did not read or write. We love the architectural details of the exterior along with the immaculately kept grounds. It's a wonderful place of tranquility and reflection. It's worth visiting when you're on the Kona side. This quaint little church was built in 1842 in Kapalelua then moved to its present location about 1880. Masses are still held here. It is situated in beautiful surroundings and views. Would like to return one day to attend a service. read more

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A cozy little church built back between 1899 - 1902. Small inside it seems like an functioning parish. Outside is a cemetery going back a few years. Certainly a colorful painted interior. Nice that it's still an ongoing church. read more

St. Benedict's Catholic Church - Looking toward the entrance. - Churches Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

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Cool little church with amazing views. The murals and other artwork, while no Sistine Chapel, were interesting. If you're into it, there's a little graveyard in front of the church. Definitely worth stopping by. read more

St. Benedict's Catholic Church - View from the inside looking out. - Churches Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

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St. Benedict's Painted Church is definitely a must-see location in Captain Cook, regardless of your religions or beliefs! I finally had the chance to go inside the church itself and was amazed how it was painted so nicely on the ceiling and the walls. The grounds and other buildings are also great to explore and the parking was great as well. Totally worth the drive down from Kailua-Kona during a day trip. Best to dress properly to show respect for the church. read more

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We stumbled on this little gem while finding our way to the Captain Cook Monument. We were on Nap' o' poo Rd and saw the sign and the street was Painted Chuch Rd. The chuch dates to 1899 when the economy was in a transistion from fishing to the new Kona coffee farms. Fr. John, a self taught artist, decorated the interior walls and ceiling with colorful paintings. There are six murals of Biblical and spiritual scenes. The art was used as a teaching tool for Fr. John as he learned the Hawaiin language. Theres also a graveyard adjacent to the Chuch dating back ti the early 1900's This is a nice stop and if in the area i reccomend taking it in. There is an honor table when you walk up with some fruit, water and religious items. Prices are marked and you leave money in the box. Huge parking lot and clean restrooms. read more

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We stopped here on our way out of the Napo'opo'o Beach Park area. It is nestled on a hill top with beautiful views of Kealakeku Bay. Dating back to the early 1900s, the inside frescos are colorful and lovely. Outside is an old graveyard. The church is charming and quaint. The grounds are beautiful. It's very serene and peaceful here. This may not be a "must do" thing when in Kona area, but it is a nice stop that I enjoyed. read more

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Artwork that inspires you to be a saint. What else is there? We visited Hawaii for our summer vacation in 2018 - the Big Island, Oahu and Kauai. We learned about St. Benedict's Painted Church before we left home, and were unsure whether we would or would not see it... and thankfully we discovered it on our first full day. Many churches, especially Catholic Churches, have stained glass windows.  Since many people earlier in history could not read nor write they could not read the Bible.  The stained glass windows told stories from the Bible in visual form so people could understand them, to deepen their faith and come closer to God. At this Church, Belgian priest John Velghe took a similar approach, but he created the stories of the Bible by painting directly on the walls. The Church is located on a peaceful hillside high over the ocean, which is a mile or two away, but clearly visible and beautiful The church is a simple wooden construction, that inside displays inspirationals images: "St Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata. (The covered roadway found at Axenstrasse near Lucerne is a bit of artistic license)" "Temptation of Jesus. The devil is being cast down along with a crown, a sceptre and bags of money;" "The Hardwriting on the Wall at the Feast of King Belshazzar. On the wall is written in Hawaiian, "Ua Emi Loa Oe Ua Pau Kou Aupuni / Make No Ka Pono" literally, "You are found wanting. Your kingdom ceases. Should die." "Cain and Abel-with great anguish and violence. Study Eve's countenance;" "A Good Death-notice the rays of hope;" "Hell. This picture is in poor condition due to the constant beating down of the sun. Yet it still conveys a strong impression and makes one grateful for the preservation of all the others." text source:  http://thepaintedchurchhawaii.org/guide-to-the-painted-church/ We encourage you to also visit, to enjoy just being with God while you are there, and to also just gaze at the images and let them inspire you to let God perform His Will in your life. And, check out some of the red flowers between the Church and the parking lot. read more

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Don't miss this historic painted church on your visit to the Big Island! It's spiritual and beautiful. It's an active parish and open to the public free of charge. Plenty of parking, and rest rooms available. If you have a problem going up many steps, there is an entrance behind the church that is level without steps. We picked up postcards for a $1 donation each to send back home. At the front there is a fruit stand with donations from parishioners gardens. The grounds are beautiful. Don't miss this. Saint Benedict Church sstbenedictsch@twc.com Mass Schedule 4: 00PM Sat. - Vigil Service 7: 15AM Sun. 7: 15AM Sun. (Only every 2nd Sun. of the Month) Language: Hawaiian 9: 00AM Sun. - (Only every 5th Sun. of the Month) 7: 00AM Tues., Thurs., Fri 7: 00AM - Holy Days of Obligation Reconciliation / Confession Schedule 3: 30PM - 4:00PM Sat. - Before Mass, by request or appointment 6: 45AM - 7:15AM Sun. - Before Mass, by request or appointment read more

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It's worth a walk into. You can have a mass said or mention in a prayer for a donation. There are trinkets to purchase and some fruit as another means of drumming up funds. read more

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It was our first day on the Big Island and we wanted to explore the island a bit with our rental car. After we picked up some supplies from the store and dropped them off at our resort, we ventured to St. B's. The Church wasn't very far from our resort, but there are 2 way roads that are windy so be sure to go during the day. We weren't sure if the church would be open since it was nearing sunset and when we drove up the long driveway, there were no cars in the parking lot. We weren't sure if we were even allowed to walk the grounds, so we got out and did anyways. You are free to roam the property. There is a huge cemetery in back of the church, and a big lawn area for the stations of the cross. We walked to thru the stations and to the statue to take some wonderful photos. We then walked to the church and it was open. The church is small with several pews. Probably can only fit less than 30 people. Very old, but so much character! Love all the bright colors and the paintings are said to be "hand" painted. I'm really surprised that the paint has held up since the 1800s. Crazy!!! We said a couple of prayers and we were on our way. We took a glimpse of the sunset with ocean backdrop. Very beautiful and serene. If you get a chance to stop at this landmark, do so! read more

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Beautiful painted church. A must see! The lady at the church was very friendly and informative. Lovely cemetery.

Parking was great and service was excellent, They keep it real here and are Christ centered. The pastor has some great stories to share also. He really gets to know the people. The service is beautiful. Thanks for being there for Uncle Frank read more

My family visited Big Island right on the cusp of the COVID-19 pandemic. The weather was bouncing back and forth from rain to sunshine, so we made plans to visit more indoor locations. Most places were closed to stop the spread of the virus, but St. Benedict's was still open for visiting. We were the only people there besides the grounds crew, and WOW. This place is incredibly beautiful, inside and out. If you are on the Kona side of the island, please stop in to see this little church. The murals inside are detailed and tell some interesting stories. There is an area outside of the church, by the mass schedule, where you can purchase some items such as rosaries. It's a great way to purchase souvenirs and help keep this parish alive. If you have time, you can make a trip to the southwest side of the island and see another church inspired by Father Velghe: Star of the Sea. Star of the Sea was painted by Father Gielen, but is another wonderful site if you enjoyed St. Benedict's Church. read more

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Gorgeous Catholic Church. Worth a quick look. The paintings are on the inside walls of the church. read more

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Definitely one of the must-see tourist spots for anyone staying in or near Kailua-Kona. Quiet, tranquil, brightly painted interior (exterior is nondescript) small church that offers contemplation even if you are not Catholic. Every time you come here you'll notice something different in the painted scenes, which are mostly religious montages, but also worldly if you look at them that way. Cemetery surrounding the church reminds us of our mortality. Fruit trees all around the property (fruit is available for purchase on a "donations accepted" basis) remind us of life. There is a huge recent tomb for one of their priests who died not so long ago. Better to just visit this place and take it all in. Will mean different things to different people. read more

This operating Roman Catholic Church is a wonder. Rather than an ornately decorated interior consisting of statues, the interior of this church is completely painted. Describing it is useless. It is something you have to see. The paint is used to produce everything from beautiful wall murals, to the illusion of a higher ceiling and deeper sanctuary behind the alter, to the palm frond topping of the pillars along the aisle of the church. Take a look at our photos to get a better idea of the beauty. The air is fragrant with the local flowers and the table that was setup outside the church offered small handmade items, rosaries, keychains, ornaments, etc, that were not only unique and great to have, but also supported the Church's community works. Oh, and the purchase was on the honor system. There is still hope for humanity. See Heather F's review for excellent directions. I thought it was a little difficult to find, although we found it based on verbal directions from a woman in a Kona gift shop. read more

St. Benedict's Catholic Church - Pillars to palms - Churches Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

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Saint Benedict's, aka The Painted Church, is a Catholic Church in Honaunau, big island of Hawaii. A Belgian missionary painted the walls for instruction. Our 'Best of Kona' excursion with Norwegian Cruise Lines stopped here first. We were invited to go inside where a volunteer told us about the Painted Church and its history. Then we exited to make way for the next group of visitors.The church and cemetery overlook beautiful Kealakekua Bay. We snapped a few more photos before boarding the tour bus to continue our journey. This was a nice stop that doesn't require much time to see an interesting piece of history read more

St. Benedict's Catholic Church - The painted church - Churches Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

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This small Catholic church became "the painted church" after Priest John Velge decorated its interior between 1899-1904 to communicate Bible stories to non-English-speaking Hawaiians. The church seats maybe 75 people and is a spectacle to behold. It's like Jackson Pollock meets the Sistine Chapel with all of its colorful pictures. I think the church is still used for services. There is a small cemetary located next to the church as well. St. Benedict's Church is one of the small hidden treasures that can be found on the island. read more

St. Benedict's Catholic Church - Churches Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

A very unique Catholic Church. It's kinda hard to get there, but it's worth a trip if you're into Hawaiian history. read more

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This church was lovely inside. The greeter inside was also very kind, as well as very informative about the church's history and paintings.

St. Benedict's Catholic Painted Church is a beautifully hand-painted church that is located on the Big Island of Hawaii in South Kona in Honaunau. After taking in their beautiful grounds overlooking the gorgeous, historic Kealakekua Bay, take a stroll up to the little church. Once you step inside this tiny church, you will be taken back by the beauty of the Koa wood altar and amazing hand-painted artwork depicting colorful biblical scenes along all of the columns, inner walls and ceilings. A cute, quick stop while sightseeing on the Big Island on your way to or from the Pu'uhonua O Honaunau Historical National Park. read more

Such a beautiful church..and it is still operating!! Tucked on a hillside, with an old cemetery out front...the outside looks so Hawaiian...painted a stark white, against the lush landscaping. You can just walk in...and behold!! You will be blown away....the inside is truly amazing....everything is painted is an unique folk art style mixed with more traditional christian religious depictions. This is one of a kind...and so well preserved!! No flash please! A must do...and fork the $0.50 for the post card at the door...it is the best picture you will get of this one-of-a-kind beauty!! read more

This was a deeply moving moment in our stay at Big Island. This fully active Catholic Church was moved literally piece by piece in 1899 by Father John Velghe from the shoreline up towards the mountains to accommodate the population's move from fishing to coffee farming. The wood that you see is the original wood! This is quite mind boggling consider the records of earthquakes and fires that have happened in the area over the century. It is nicknamed The Painted Church because of the paintings that Father Velghe himself did. Note this is with no formal art training or modern tools. He literally used flowers as brushes. He wanted a church that would inspire the natives. Having no knowledge of the Hawaiian language he used pictures to get his message across until he had picked up the language. Being of Europe, he painted a cathedral background behind the altar since he couldn't build an actual cathedral. He also adorned the insides of the church with six murals; 3 depicted messages of how to lead a good life and 3 depicting what happens when you fail to do so. A mystery of the painting of his vision of hell is that despite being painted in the exact same style and manner as his other murals, over time the image of hell has changed to look more surreal almost as if it were melting. The other murals show no change! There are also hidden messages and inscriptions in native Hawaiian translating Biblical messages. You could spend quite some time looking at the details. The docent was very friendly and was a fountain of information. I think he really appreciated us staying and asking questions rather than taking the photo opportunity and leaving. Even if you are not Catholic but want to learn more about the history of the area this is a worthwhile stop on your stay on Big Island. read more

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My son seemed obsessed with this stray cat he couldn't catch that was wandering the church premises the whole time we were here.... The sheer overabundance of tasteless, inappropriate jokes about unsuccesfully chasing pussy come to mind.... but I won't stoop to that level... cuz I'm a classy son of a bitch. Fu*k, I think I just said pussy and bitch in a review about a beautiful little church. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/DPcmJ2qhtOwc-uCvWP5kuQ?select=ytynqOUb3hjKeJfRj5Tshw I'm sure the Pope has better things to do than to read yelp reviews right? Ah, who am I kidding, I'm going straight to hell anyways. read more

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Very close to our house in Southern Captain Cook. Wonderful intriguing we found the church open without a problem the paintings are amazing don't forget to look up specially directly behind the altar the cathedral painting treatment on the ceiling it's just amazing. Short distance away to the peace garden it was a fabulous day. read more

This is a beautiful historic church which was one of our stops while heading to the City of Refuge. It is also known as the "Painted Church". It has marvelous paintings on the walls and ceilings. Some of the pictures you will see are Representation of a Good Death, Hell, Temptation of Christ, and Handwriting on the Wall to name a few. The side of the church has a graveyard next to it with gorgeous orchids and statues. You don't have to be religious to appreciate the allure of the church. read more

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Beautiful, quaint church with a stunning view of the ocean. The ceiling murals are lovely. It definitely is a unique church sitting high up overlooking a cemetery with panoramic ocean views. It's a quick and easy stop, but worth seeing. read more

Awesome little Church. They only have one Sunday Mass early at 7:15am. If you are coming from the Kona area, even though it is only around 17 miles away, it will take you 30 minutes because of the speed limit and windy roads to get here. The locals give visitors cute yarn leis as a welcome. The priest spoke a great homily and really gave sense to the Gospel reading of that day. Windows are kept open and you can hear birds chirping outside while the Mass is going on. The Church itself is so cute. One of the smallest Churches I have been in, and very unique. Definitely would come back here if I ever need to go to Sunday Mass on the Big Island. read more

St. Benedict's Catholic Church - inside the Church - Churches Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

On our way to Puuhonua o Honaunau, we made a brief stop at the Painted Church. I really wasn't expecting much, but the paintings inside were gorgeous. There are six paintings on the walls: the temptation of Jesus, Hell, Cain and Abel, Death (with a ray of hope), St. Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata, and the handwriting on the wall at the feast of King Belshazzar. The church is very easy to get to, and worth a visit if you are headed to the Place of Refuge or to snorkel in the area. Just take Hwy 11 and turn seaward around the 104 mile market onto Route 160. Take the first right (the King Kamehameha sign is opposite). Continue along a narrow, winding road about a quarter of a mile to indicating sign. The church is up a short driveway to the right. If you stop by, consider leaving a donation to restore/maintain the church. read more

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Absolutely beautiful and the wonderful Alison helped with my family and we learned so much from her and it has been an absolute pleasure to see this beautiful church read more

My husband and I had the wonderful opportunity of being able to attend Sunday mass here on 9/9/12 while we were staying on the Big Island. Mass is early (7:15 am) but definitely worth waking up early for. As we walked into the church for mass, we were greeted with colorful yarn leis. I loved how the readings and the songs that were sung were done in both English and Hawaiian. So very cool!!!! :) :) :) What a treat and what and awesome experience! After the mass was over, the priest invited everyone to the hall to have breakfast that was prepared by the locals. Everyone was so very friendly and my hubby and I, as well as other visitors felt so very welcomed. After breakfast, my hubby and I took a self tour of the church which by the way is really beautiful and worth seeing. Even if you aren't much of a religious person, it is definitely worth stopping by the Painted Church (aka St. Benedict's Catholic Church) just to check out the beautifully painted walls and the gorgeous view! Thank you again to the priest and parishioners of St. Benedict's for helping to make our trip to the Big Island so memorable. We can't wait to return in 2014! read more

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This church was listed as place to see from a Lonely Planet guidebook. I'm not a religious person, but the interior of this church is quite remarkable to look at. It was a nice and peaceful stop, and a good visit before or after the Paleaku Gardens Peace Sanctuary. read more

This is one of the most unusual churches we ever seen. Called the Painted Church because a priest, with no training, in the early 1900's painted murals on the walls using only a homemade brush and simple wall paint. He wanted the church to be similar to the Cathedrals of the world. Much of the wood is rotting and will need to be replaced soon so the parish will probably be taking on quite a fund raising effort. There was a docent that met us at the door and told us the wonderful story of this old historic church. read more

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As a non-religious visitor, I had a fun time wandering around the lush foliage while the other members of my tour group went to pray. I did enter the church itself, but I couldn't follow along with the Pastor's words, so I left quite quickly. In general, the church is beautiful and so are its surroundings, but this is really only a brief stop along the large tour you can take on this Hawaiian island. There are a lot of flowers and wildlife around the Painted Church, and it's a gorgeous place for photos. Really, there was very little information offered up at the location, so you should definitely read up on it online beforehand. read more

St. Benedict's Catholic Church - The church itself - Churches Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

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If you've already made the trek to the Place of Refuge it's no skin off your back to visit (and also make a nominal donation to support) what's also called, "The Painted Church." We weren't expecting much, and perhaps that's why it was such a pleasant surprise. Be sure to check out the reproduction of Michelangelo's Mary and Jesus statue behind the church as well as the cemetary and the two statues ladened with leis and necklaces. read more

St. Benedict's Catholic Church - Churches Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

What a beautiful little church. We went in and said a prayer. And stayed for the art work. The ladies who work their where so nice. What a gem. read more

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St. Benedict's Catholic Church, called simply the Painted Church, is a little bit off the beaten path. Those who have struggled to find the turn (on Painted Church Road, of course!) may be amused/aggravated to read other reviews that speak of visitors "happening upon this site," but it is worth the visit, no matter if you find it by accident or with much effort. The paintings themselves have nothing on the frescoes of Rome, but illusionist adornment of the walls is worthy of a visit. It is unlike any other tourist destination on the Big Island. read more

St. Benedict's Catholic Church - Churches Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii