Project Spotlight
Ewa Community Church, 91-1258 Renton Road, Ewa Beach
Built:
1926
Designed by:
Herbert Cohen Cayton
Architecture style:
Gothic Revival
Preservation Award Honoree, 2017
Ewa Community Church is tucked away next to the Ewa Elementary School located in the ever-expanding neighborhood of Ewa. The building has a typical cruciform layout with an entrance on the side of the nave, instead of at the end opposite the altar. The only exterior embellishments are the stained glass in Gothic-arched windows. The church was originally built to service the Ewa Plantation workers residing in the village and was redone in 1937 keeping only the original framework.
The church is a vital part of the local community and is currently home to the United Church of Christ congregation. The restoration of the church began as a stained glass window repair project which, once underway, grew to include a condition assessment to establish interior and exterior maintenance and repair priorities, structural repair requirements and plans to improve accessibility and campus-wide electrical service.
The bulk of the project was completed in 2016 with restoration work on the aging building supported by a preservation grant through the Freeman Foundation’s partnership with Historic Hawai‘i Foundation.
The project thoughtfully restored the church which is an integral part of the Ewa Historic Sugar Plantation Historic District. The church continues today in its important role as a religious and community gathering place.
The success in preserving this historical church is a positive example of the possibilities for other plantation village buildings and dwellings in disrepair in the surrounding neighborhood.
Ewa Community Church will be recognized with a Preservation Award at the 2017 Honor Awards Ceremony & Celebration on May 19. Also honored will be project contributors Mason Architects, Robert Marcos, Inc. and James Erickson Studios.
Mahalo to Lori Arizumi from Ewa Community Church. www.ewacommunitychurch.com
Spotlight content and photography by Leigh Hokama.
After a 20-year career in the science/medical field of the federal government, Leigh is currently enjoying time off from working to explore the island of Oahu and focus on personal growth. A new hobby, photography, has unexpectedly enriched her life by increasing her awareness of the small wonders that surround us everyday. She also enjoys tasting different and unusual foods, playing with her nieces, and knitting.
Reference:
Hibbard, Don J. Buildings of Hawaii. Charlottesville, University of Virginia Press. (2011).