Sts. Peter and Paul Church was founded to provide a spiritual sanctuary to all who profess their belief in our Lord Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. We strive to share our faith in the Risen Christ with people of all ages and ethnic origins as well as reach our to and welcome back non-practicing Catholics.

Sts. Peter and Paul Church was founded to provide a spiritual sanctuary to all who profess their belief in our Lord Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. We strive to share our faith in the Risen Christ with people of all ages and ethnic origins as well as reach our to and welcome back non-practicing Catholics. Through our outreach, we support the needs of the disabled, homebound and indigent. We continue to provide religious programs and activities to increase the spiritual development of our parishioners. Through prayer and dialogue regarding collaboration among parishes, we respond to changing situations, discern new directions and foster mutuality.

All parishioners are encouraged to give generously of their time, talent, and treasure. This will assure our parish growth as we continue to be an increasingly vibrant part of the community through the various ministries and outreach programs, thereby continuing the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sts. Peter and Paul Church was established on April 2, 1968, by the Most Reverend John J. Scanlan, Bishop of Honolulu, to meet the needs of the Catholics living and working in an area that encompasses the Kewalo, Kapiolani, Ala Moana, McCully, and Ala Wai districts of Honolulu.

For the first year and a half, Monsignor Francis A. Marzen, the first pastor of the newly organized parish, and his parishioners celebrated the Eurcharist in temporary locations at the nearby Pagoda, Hilton and Ilikai hotels.

On the morning of September 8, 1968, with a number of parishioners in attendance, a traditional ground-breaking ceremony was held at 800 Kaheka Street, the present site of the church. Msgr. Marzen blessed the ground and shovels were turned to signal the beginning of construction. Four days later, the builders began pile driving, and by January 1969 the steel frame and ceiling of the church had been erected.

It took only another eight months to complete construction. Then on September 28, 1969, in the presence of nearly a hundred priests and religious and a large crowd of worshippers, Bishop Scanlan dedicated the church.

In the summer of 1985, Fr. Anthony Bolger succeeded Msgr. Marzen as pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul. It was during his tenure that the design on the wall behind the crucifix in the sanctuary and the outline of the two patrons of the church were gilded. Fr. Bolger was also responsible for the church’s purchasing a condo in a neighboring building for use as the priests’ residence, thereby freeing space in the rectory behind the church for much needed office and meeting space.

In 1987 Fr. Bolger was succeeded by Fr. Tom Gross who was responsible for beginning the renovations that transformed the church courtyard into an area suited for meetings and small church socials. He had a floor installed in what was once the garden area and the whole floor including that of the adjoining garage tiled. He also purchased a new organ for the church.

His successor, Msgr. Roy Peters (1992-1994), took the courtyard improvements a step further. During his tenure, a roof was installed over the courtyard. Msgr. Peters led the parish in a determined effort to retire the parish debt as quickly as possible.

Msgr. Peters was succeeded by Fr. Robert Turner.  During his tener and in collaboration with the time, talents and treasures of the parishioners, was successful in paying off the parish debt, as well as purchased pipes for the organ, and had the exterior of the church painted and the pews refinished.
In the summer of 1996, Fr. Turner retired and was succeeded by Fr. David O. Travers, S.J.

During 1998, Fr. Travers directed a much needed program of refurbishment of the parish physical facilities. In addition to a number of smaller repair jobs, two major projects were undertaken… the painting of the interior of the church and the adjoining rectory, and the re-carpeting and re-tiling of the Church floor.

On September 28, 2019, Sts. Peter and Paul’s parishioners, friends, and clergy celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the dedication of the Church. Participants at the September celebration recognized the contributions of the many parishioners and clergy whose efforts through the past fifty years helped Sts. Peter and Paul Church develop into a growing, vibrant parish community offering numerous programs and services to meet both the spiritiual and corporal needs of those in the community.