As part of our faith journey and to better acquaint ourselves with a greater sense of Catholic history in Hawai'i, we sought to visit all 37 parishes on Oahu by 2022. So far, we've experienced many joys by doing so (only 10 more left to visit) and our most recently enchanting visit to St Rita di Cascia in Nanakuli, certainly gave us a new perspective of life on the homestead. The parishioners were extremely warm and welcoming and freely provided us with much in the way of history. This small parish of 200 families has been established here since 1931. Located immediately across the road from Nanakuli beach park, and the original 19th century railway that used to transport people, sugarcane and pineapples to market/export, this mission-style church contains many hand carved artifacts. There is even an icon "written" in the eastern style of St Rita by a North Shore artist who was inspired by a visit years ago and donated her composition to the church. I was too engrossed in the iconography to remember to take a photo (next time). St Rita is the patron saint of impossible causes and broken families, so in these modern days plagued with divorce and infidelity she serves as an appropriate intercessor. Pray for us Santa Rita! The banyan tree outside is far older than the building (which was originally moved to Nanakuli from its previous location in Ewa). The altar is situated "ad orientum" but the tabernacle sadly is not. It was evident that the church layout was modified from its original orientation sometime between 1980-2000 but the original layout that preserved the Narthex, Nave, and Sanctuary in my opinion was far more liturgically correct. Highly recommend a visit here to worship our Lord and I have no doubt the parishioners will welcome you with the same aloha we were given. Mahalo for reading my review. Pax et Bonum. read more

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Iaʻu i kālāwai ai ma ke alanui, paʻa nō hoʻi ke alanui. He pono ka hoʻonanea ʻana me Iesū. ʻAʻole au he kanaka no kēia hale pule akā ua huli au i kahi kukaʻa a ʻike ʻia kekahi ʻanakē, ʻo ʻAnakē Mele hoʻi. Nīnau iā ia inā hiki iaʻu ke hele i loko o ka hale pule no ka pule ʻana. Ua wehe ʻo ia i ka ʻīpuka naʻu a hiki nō iaʻu ke komo i ka hale pule a pule iā Iesū no ka hoʻomālie ʻana iho i koʻu naʻau. ʻO ka hoʻomālie ihola nō ia o koʻu naʻau a ua hiki ke hoʻomau i ke kalaiwa ʻana. Mahalo e ʻanakē Mele. Pule au i Ke Akua e hoʻopōmaikaʻi iā ʻoe. read more

Amazingly welcoming to our family. With all the beauty of the island, the mass truly showed the beauty of the people. Thank you. God bless.

We stopped here for their 5 pm Saturday mass - just after arriving in Oahu (thanking God for our safe trip). What a spiritual joy it was. Their priest (clearly Hawaiian) greeted us with a big hug and welcome. A wonderful young man presented us (and all visitors) with beautiful leis (flowers for us and shells for our son). Father interspersed Hawaiian in with traditional english mass, a wonderful service. It was the start of our Hawaiian vacation and one of the most beautiful memories we will have. Mahalo and God bless the parish of St. Rita's. read more

St Rita Catholic Church - Churches Near Me - Waianae, Hawaii

What a wonderful, warm, welcoming Church! We attended The Christmas Eve Ohana Mass, and truly felt like part of the family. We were greeted with beautiful flower leis, given great big Christmas hugs. It gave us a real Hawaiian experience, a true highlight of our trip to Oahu. Thank you to our Ohana at St. Rita Catholic Church! read more

I visited this church while on vacation in Kapolei and was blown away by the welcoming spirit of the parishioners. When we entered the church we were welcomed with hugs, blessed shell necklaces, and so much love. I was moved by the power of the homily, the beautiful music, and the spirit of aloha present in the Lord's Prayer. I love this church!! read more

St Rita Catholic Church - Churches Near Me - Waianae, Hawaii

Lovely old Hawaiian feel Catholic church with the most welcoming parishioners and priest. We felt very at home here although we were just visiting. A different experience for us in the sense that the mass and most of the hymns were in half-Hawaiian and half English. We were greeted with lovely shell necklaces to welcome us. My daughter continued to wear it all week wherever we went! Fr. Alapaki was warm and friendly and we pray he is doing well after the surgery they announced he was going to be undergoing. The music was beautiful and when we found ourselves lost finding the Hawaiian hymns in their songbook, Karen the sweet gal who gave us our necklaces or the kind man next to my daughter were there to help us navigate through the book to find them. Such a warm friendly church- very small and a bit old but they are trying to raise money to renovate it. Chickens and cats (including one named Rita) roaming around in harmony and eating out of the same bowl of food. My daughters loved having a donut before heading out to dinner after the 5pm Sunday night mass, too! read more

This is a very welcoming church community. We have visited this church three times in the past 6 years while on vacation. The parishioners and priest have been very welcoming and make you feel as if they have known you your whole life. It is a very small church with a great big heart. We like they incorporate Hawaiian traditions, language, and songs into the ceremony. I highly recommend it for a true cultural experience. read more

Made to feel very welcomed. They even found rides for us when they found out we came by taxi. We were given kris, a special blessing and made to feel like family, ohana. A good mixture if Hawaiian culture infused within the mass. You have to check it out, especially the first Sunday of the month read more

Love this Church and community! They are so welcoming and they practice the spiritual message of Christ . I'm so happy we went here. The hotel we are staying have us info for a different church but I left it at the hotel by accident. I'm sure that church is great too, but St. Rita's made me feel part of their community and I loved it. Great find, next time we are back will come again. read more