Star of the Sea Church - Kalapana, Hawaii

19°22'22" N latitude, 154°57'49" W longitude


The Star of the Sea Church (also known as the Kalapana Painted Church) was designed and built in 1927-28 by Father Evarist Gielen. In 1990, the Star of the Sea Church was almost destroyed by a lava flow advancing on Kalapana during the eruption of nearby Kupaianaha. In a last minute community effort, it was moved from its original location and spared from the advancing lava flow. For six years it sat on wooden blocks in a temporary site before it finally arrived here at its current location in 1996. It currently sits just outside of Kalapana on land leased from the State of Hawaii. To ensure preservation, the Star of the Sea Church was entered into the National Register of Historic Places (Building #97000407).

Getting there:

The Star of the Sea Church is in the Puna district of the Island of Hawaii, 1.3 miles before the end of State Road HI-130 in Kalapana. It's open to the public without charge every day from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Overnight accommodations are in Hilo, Hawaii, 25 miles to the north.

Star of the Sea Church in its original location:
Photo credit: J.D. Griggs, 4/22/1990. Image courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey.

Star of the Sea Church during the move from Kalapana:
Photo credit: J.D. Griggs, 5/04/1990. Image courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey.

Explore the Star of the Sea Church:

• Hawaii Volcano Observatory - Lava covers Kalapana, April 1990- January 1991
• Wikipedia - Star of the Sea Painted Church
• Waymarking.com - Waymark Code: WM7QB
• Honolulu Star-Bulletin - Kalapana church in decline
• Panoramio - Photo of Star Of The Sea Painted Church