A RICH HISTORY

A Kailua Staple For Nearly 100 Years
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We gather for worship to be renewed by God’s presence through relevant teaching and inspiring music. 

 

Meet Our Pastor

Pastor Brian is our Lead Pastor. He is a native of Minnesota, and has lived in California, Japan and North Carolina. He graduated from Azusa Pacific University in Los Angeles and Duke Divinity School in Durham, NC. Prior to coming to Kailua UMC, he served Kilohana UMC in Niu Valley, near Hawaii-Kai. Brian and his wife, Ashley, have three children: Hudson, 7, Grayson, 5, and Stella 3.  

Not growing up in the church, Brian has a passion for inviting and connecting people to the table of Christ where we experience God’s love and the love of Christian community.

MEET OUR STAFF

ASHLEY BELTING

A busy mom of three, and wife to Pastor Brian, Ashley comes well equipped to lead our Youth Ministries. In addition to having a degree in Adolescent Development + Theology, she is also pursuing a second degree in Nursing. In what free time she has, Ashely enjoys running and doing anything outdoors with her family.   

STEPHANIE ELM

Though originally hired for part time office help, Stephanie is now maximizing her degree + experience in managing our marketing, social media, communications and church facilities. When she’s not at the church, you can find her at the beach with her husband, Brian + dog, Jack, or managing her two small businesses. 

SUE PIGNATARO

With previous experience in nursing + healthcare, there is no one better suited to reach out to our sick, recovering and aging church members. When she’s not keeping our church members connected, Sue enjoys walking Kailua Beach, weaving lauhala hats and her granddaugther, Lucy.

1927: Nearly 100 Years Of

history in hawaii

1927:

We were founded by Chinpei Peter Goto, who was born in Japan in 1887 and migrated to the Territory of Hawaii when he was 11 years old. Rev Goto is known as “the man of the three Bs” – a bicycle, a baseball, and a Bible. By using these three key tools, Rev Goto connected to families on the Windward side, ultimately forming Kailua United Methodist Church, as well as Parker UMC and Kahalu’u UMC in Kaneohe.

 

 

1930:

 

By 1930 our church had outgrown the private home in which we met. A new site was located at the main crossroads of Kailua Town, where Bank of Hawaii now stands.  This land was sold to our church by Harold Castle for the incredible price of just one dollar.

 

 

1957:

 

In 1957, we found ourselves searching for a larger space once again, and that particular lot was sold. Just one year later, in 1958, we purchased and built the church you see today. Within our property, you’ll find over four acres of beautiful land, nestled alongside the Kawainui Marsh, the largest wetlands in all of the Hawaiian islands.

 Rev Rhodes Martin served as the pastor of Kailua UMC from 1959-1967. His description of our church provides an excellent picture of who we have been over the course of many decades:  

“Kailua Methodist Church has an abundance of dedicated people who seek to place other people’s welfare above their own and in simple trust follow Jesus as Lord. Across the years people have come together regardless of race, creed, color or condition to seek and to work, play, love and worship together – to link hearts, souls and minds to be the Body of Christ on the windward side of the island.”  

 

Present:

 

2020 brought many changes for all of us. Though COVID-19 turned our  worlds upside down, we find ourselves to be more connected to the community than ever before. Our KUMC AV Team has grown in size, and our cameras, lighting, sound and cabling has all been upgraded to accommodate quality live streaming for YOU, our viewers who are choosing to worship at home still.

The church facility itself was completely renovated in 2020 and we invite you to come experience a worship service with us soon! Until then, we encourage anyone reading this to follow along with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, iTunes or Spotify each week! Aloha!