Kula in Maui County, Hawaii — Hawaiian Island Archipelago (Pacific Ocean)

Holy Ghost Catholic Church

Photographed by Don Morfe, November 6, 2008

1. Holy Ghost Catholic Church Marker

The marker is located on the right side next to the entrance door.

Inscription. Holy Ghost Catholic Church has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior

Erected 1983.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Immigration • Religion & Religious Structures.

Location. 20° 45.774′ N, 156° 19.626′ W. Marker is in Kula, Hawaii, in Maui County. It is on Lower Kula Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4300 Lower Kula Road, Kula HI 96790, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Hawaii’s Upcountry Maui. Globally, it is in North America,

Polynesia,

the Pacific Ocean,

North Pacific,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Behold, Hawai'i (approx. 5.2 miles away); Stephen Tyng Mather (approx. 5.2 miles away); Hawaiian Goose or Nene (Nay-Nay) (approx. 5.2 miles away); Wind, Wave and Wings (approx. 5.2 miles away); Haleakalā National Park

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. 6 miles away); Pa Ka‘oao (approx. 6 miles away); Tam Chow Store/USO/Club Rodeo (approx. 6.4 miles away); Crossroads Service Station (approx. 6.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kula.

Regarding Holy Ghost Catholic Church.
PORTUGAL'S QUEEN ELIZABETH

The original Holy Ghost Feast was held during the reign of Elizabeth (Isabel) of Portugal, who lived from 1271 to 1336. She was known as a peacemaker and as "The Holy Queen" who was devoted to the Holy Spirit. She built a church dedicated to the name of the Holy Spirit in Lisbon and often demonstrated her devotion to her people and their well-being. There are many stories of the Queen's piety and service, but the dearest to the Portuguese people of the Azores is the one explaining their devotion to Queen Elizabeth and the Holy Ghost. In the 13th century, the Azores Islands suffered from many violent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The most seriously hit was the Island of Pico. The people of these Azores Islands could not survive the drought, crop failures, and famine that now plagued them. They gathered together in prayer to the Holy Ghost for help.

Kula Holy Ghost Church Roman Catholic 1894-sign above the doorway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, November 6, 2008

2. Kula Holy Ghost Church Roman Catholic 1894-sign above the doorway

On the morning of Pentecost Sunday, there was a great rising sun, and the people of these islands saw in the sunrise a ship coming into the Port of Fayal. This ship was laden with necessities of life. The food was distributed among the people of the various islands, and they were very grateful that their prayers had been answered. When their Queen heard of this providence, she organized a solemn procession in honor of the Holy Ghost. Accompanied by her maids she carried her Crown through the streets of Lisbon to the cathedral, where she left it on the altar as an offering of thanksgiving for the favors the Holy Ghost had given her people. In addition, she began a tradition of feeding the poor at Pentecost. Each year she chose twelve people to whom she gave a new suit of clothing and personally served them a meal at her table. The people of the Azores vowed that they and their children and their children's children would commemorate the day by giving thanks to their Queen for the sacrifice she made. Since then, many Portuguese churches have displayed replicas of her eight-sided crown in remembrance of her goodness and God's grace. Later,

Holy Ghost Catholic Church-Front Entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, November 6, 2008

3. Holy Ghost Catholic Church-Front Entrance

in the 16th century, the church canonized this holy queen in recognition of the miracles that were attributed to her pious life.
KULA'S HOLY GHOST FEAST The Portuguese who came to Hawaii in the late 1800's brought with them the devotion to the Holy Ghost and the traditions of St. Elizabeth. Some believe that the Holy Ghost Church's octagonal shape is related to the shape of her crown. In 1891 a replica of the crown arrived in Kula as a gift of the Azorean people, and the first recorded Holy Ghost Feast was held in
INFORMATION ABOVE IS FROM THE CHURCH’S WEBSITE

Holy Ghost Catholic Church-Devotion Garden next to the church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, November 6, 2008

4. Holy Ghost Catholic Church-Devotion Garden next to the church

Holy Ghost Catholic Church-Main altar inside the church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, November 6, 2008

5. Holy Ghost Catholic Church-Main altar inside the church

Holy Ghost Catholic Church-Rededication plaque inside the church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, November 6, 2008

6. Holy Ghost Catholic Church-Rededication plaque inside the church

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 15, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,153 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 15, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.