Star of the Sea Painted Church

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Star of the Sea Church--Kalapana Painted Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Star of the Sea Painted Church, Kalapana, Hawai'i, built 1927-1928
Location:	Kaimu, Hawaii
Coordinates:	19°22′34″N 154°58′1″W / 19.37611, -154.96694Coordinates: 19°22′34″N 154°58′1″W / 19.37611, -154.96694
Built/Founded:	1931
Architect:	Gielen, Evarist, Father
Architectural style(s):	Colonial Revival
Added to NRHP:	May 14, 1997
NRHP Reference#:	97000407[1]
Governing body:	State

'Father Damien as a Leper with Boys of Kalaupapa, 1889', painting by George Heidler, ca. 1967, Star of the Sea Painted Church, Kalapana, Hawai'i

The Star of the Sea Painted Church in Kalapana, Hawai'i was built in 1927-1928 under the direction of the Belgian Catholic missionary priest Father Evarist Gielen, who painted the upper section of the church interior. In 1941, George Heidler, an artist from Athens, Georgia, painted the lower panels to complete the church interior. These paintings tell the story of Father Damien (of leprosy fame), who arrived in the Kalapana-Puna area in 1864, shortly after his ordination.

In 1990, the church was moved to its present location just ahead of an advancing lava flow. It is located on Highway 130 between mile marker 19 and 20, and is open to the public without charge seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

[edit] References

• Bohman, Mary Beth, Amy B. Wang and Joyce Eisenberg, Fodor's Big Island of Hawaii, New York, Fodor's Travel Publications, 2007.

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