Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 10, 1 October 1987 — Kaluaʻaha Congregation Seeks Return of Valuable Koa Items [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kaluaʻaha Congregation Seeks Return of Valuable Koa Items

Members of Kalua'aha Congregational Church at Puko'o, Moloka'i, have issued a plea to those having information or are in possession of certain items taken without permission from the church over the years. The congregation is specifically seeking the return of the church pulpit, two tables and a hand-wound ticktock eloek. The pulpit and tables are made entirely of koa wood and the encasement for the eloek is also in koa. No questions will be asked for information or their return. "It appears these items suddenly grew some feet and walked off by themselves. They were not loaned or given to anyone. They are still church property and we would like to have them back," said a church member involved with the restoration project. The littie congregation has an on-going fund raising drive to restore the church, a giant undertaking as the size of the edifice itself. Current church members, however, are undaunted by the mammoth undertaking and are determined to see it through or at least have a plaee of worship onee more.

/9- mm rr - « s w mmm The name Hikikoki is engraved on this monument whieh marks the last resting piaee of the Rev. Harvey Rexford Hitchcock erected by Hawaiians over 100 years ago about one-quarter of a mile mauka of the church. John T. Goss, with hat, is pietured with longtime family friend Elia Long, a part Hawaiian of the Long and Melone title search company. He also serves on the loiani Palaee board of directors. The Rev. Hitchcock died around 1855.

To the latter end, they are blending their talents, efforts and manpower to restore the neglected and dilapidated social hall so that services ean onee more be held on a regular basis on the Kalua'aha grounds. Honolulu business consultant John T. Goss, a great, great grandson of the first kahu to serve the religious needs of Moloka'i, is one of those deeply involved in the restoration project and fund raising. He also works hand in hand with fellow church members in maintaining the grounds whenever he is on Moloka'i whieh is often. He is the direct descendant of the Rev. Harvey Rexford Hitchcock who was among the fifth company of missionaries from Boston, Mass. He is buried on a hill on the Manae side of the church. His resting plaee is marked by a stone monument erected by his Hawaiian congregation.

Donations for the restoration project may be sent to Kalua'aha Congregational Church in care of Henrietta Kaupu Mokiao, P. O. Box 405, Kaunakakai, Hawaii 96748. Mokiao, a sister of the Rev. David Kaupu of Kamehameha Schools, and Lorraine Kalima Luuloa, are spearheading the restoration efforts.

John T. Goss, great great grandson of the Rev. Harvey Rexford Hitchcock, pledgeshisfamily'sfull support of restoration project.

This is the social hall whieh has been first targeted to be restored so congregation ean start holding regular church services.