(808) 244-7353 | Worship every Sunday @ 10 a.m.
(808) 244-7353 | Worship every Sunday @ 10 a.m.
Learn more about our church, history and team.
Aloha and welina mai, hello and welcome. We pray that you will visit us when you are in the area. You will find us Open and Affirming of your presence at ‘Īao United Church of Christ. We are a people of God living and sharing the love of Christ and reflecting that love in words and actions.
Kahu Kalani Wong
The Hawaii Evangelical Association founded the Wailuku Japanese Christian Church in 1895 as a missionary outreach to migrant Japanese plantation workers in Wailuku. The original church’s mission was to minister to lonely, homesick, and uprooted migrant Japanese. At first, the sermons were all in Japanese.
After the outbreak of World War II, due to the sensitivity of having the word ‘Japanese’ in its name, the Wailuku Japanese Christian Church’s name was changed to ‘Īao Congregational Church, and all of the services were held in English. After the war, the church began to realize tremendous growth, not just in membership and activities, but also in outreach.
In 1957, ‘Īao Congregational Church joined the United Church of Christ (USA) denomination. In 2010, the church’s name was officially changed to ‘Īao United Church of Christ. Throughout its history, ‘Īao UCC has welcomed the newcomer, stood with the powerless, and offered ministries of hope. The congregation now reflects Maui’s diverse population, and leadership is shared in true congregational fashion.
We are a come-as-you-are church for believers and nonbelievers alike looking for connection. Learn more about our mission and covenant.
We are a people of God, living and sharing the love of Christ — and reflecting that love in WORDS and ACTIONS.
We affirm that no matter where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome at Iao United Church of Christ. We are a confessing church in which we share what we believe with one another. We become members by sharing a simple covenant:
We covenant one with another to seek and respond to the Word and will of God. We purpose to walk together in the ways of the Lord, made known and to be made known to us.
We hold it to be the mission of the church to witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all the world, while worshiping God, and striving for truth, justice, and peace. As did our ancestors, we depend on the Holy Spirit to lead and empower us. We pray for the coming of the kingdom of God, and we look with faith toward the triumph of righteousness and eternal life.
Kahu Kalani Wong graduated from Kamehameha Schools Kapālama and later earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. After serving as a youth leader in his home church, he felt God’s call to full-time ministry and earned his Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary.
He was ordained in 1990 and is a member in good standing with the ʻAha O Nā Mokupuni o Maui, Molokaʻi a me Lānaʻi- Hawaiʻi Conference, United Church of Christ. Kahu Kalani retired from Kamehameha Schools Maui after 21 years of service as its chaplain. He is honored to serve as the bridge pastor at ʻĪao United Church of Christ starting on February 22, 2026.
