Mānoa Valley Church: A Look at Our Past, Present, and Future
By Richelle Fujioka, Chair, Mānoa Valley Church Communication Committee; Bette Uyeda, Secretary of the Church Council and Committee member; and Roy Miyahira, Committee member
Our Past:
The roots of Mānoa Valley Church (MVC) go back to 1922 when the Women’s Board of Missions for the Pacific Islands established the Mānoa Mission to serve the needs of farmers in Mānoa Valley. Through the 1940s, the Mission served the spiritual needs of the community and also provided programs such as a kindergarten for children, health care services, Red Cross and 4-H club classes, and other services. In November 1946 the Mission was reorganized and Mānoa Valley Church was established. Ten years later the Church was incorporated and in 1964 members raised funds and broke ground on a gymnasium and sanctuary. The video below portrays the commitment of members as they helped actually construct the buildings that exist today.
Our Present:
In 2021, Mānoa Valley Church celebrated the 75th anniversary of its establishment after its reorganization from the former Mānoa Mission. Over the years it has served as a religious center for the valley, providing a place of worship and spiritual education for all and opportunities to serve the community. The Church also operates a Preschool, which recently achieved accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), After School Care and Summer Fun programs for over 200 children. These programs provide educational, social, spiritual, recreational, and cultural experiences for children whose families need child care services throughout the year.
In 2013 the Church undertook a major renovation of its facilities including the installation of an elevator, a multi-purpose activity room, improvements to our child care classrooms, and ADA-compliant restroom facilities for our gymnasium. Over the years, these renovations have enabled the church to expand its ministry by:
• Developing a Senior Care Ministry offering workshops, speakers, field trips and other activities which are open to the community;
• Serving as a Post Impact Shelter for the Red Cross;
• Partnering with the Family Promise of Hawaii agency to provide temporary housing;
for homeless families in transition;
• Providing financial and meal support to agencies that serve those in need in our community;
• Offering small group activities (Connection Groups) on Zoom and in-person to provide people with a way to learn, stay connected, and be involved. These include health and fitness groups, sports activities, a book club, prayer fellowship, a drawing/painting art class, and a study/chat group.
Our Future:
Mānoa Valley Church has a rich history of reaching out to the community and developing programs and services that enrich the lives of our neighbors. The future is bright to continue this long tradition of serving God by service to others. To carry out its mission, the Church recently participated in a community-wide task force to examine the needs of different sectors of Mānoa and identify programs that can be developed in collaboration with other organizations to make the Valley a vibrant, growing community. For more information, visit our website.
The 100th anniversary of Mānoa Mission/Mānoa Valley Church will be commemorated at the 2022 Preservation Honor Awards Ceremony and Reception on October 20, 2022. Click here for information about the event.