Thriving Parishes Project in Hilo, HI
Holy Ascension Mission in Hilo, HI | February 14-17th, 2025
Thriving Parishes Project Program Director Priest Andrew Smith traveled to the Big Island of Hawaii February 14-17 for an onboarding weekend with the faithful of Holy Ascension Mission in the village of Honomu, near the city of Hilo.
After training the Church Health Team on Saturday afternoon, Fr. Andrew went upstairs to the church before Great Vespers where he was blessed to venerate the relics of SS. John the Forerunner, Silouan the Athonite, Olga of Alaska, and a piece of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. The rector of Holy Ascension, Priest Benjamin Huggins, served Great Vespers. Also in attendance were Archpriest George Gray and Matushka Daria, of St. Juvenaly Mission in Kona, and Archpriest Gregory Horton and his Khouria Cindy, who were visiting from Holy Myrrhbearers Antiochian Church in Naples, ID.
Fr. Andrew concelebrated with Fr. Benjamin and offered the homily at the Divine Liturgy the next morning for the preparatory Sunday of the Prodigal Son. After coffee hour, he met with the whole parish to speak about the work of the Thriving Parishes Project.
A few Orthodox faithful had been meeting in a house chapel on the Hilo side of the island since 2005 with the blessing of His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin. But in 2013 the opportunity arose to purchase a 100-year-old church in Honomu. The building had been out of use for a number of years and needed some love, but the community could not let the moment pass. A new coat of paint was applied, the old shag carpeting was removed, revealing a lovely dark brown wooden floor, and so on. The new mission parish even installed a small apartment on the bottom floor to make it more enticing for visiting diocesan priests to come and serve the divine services as frequently as possible. The Diocese also gave the community a loan to help pay down the mortgage and handle necessary remodeling, which it is diligently paying back.
Fr. Benjamin Huggins and his family were assigned as the first full time priest in 2023, and they have continued beautifying the church: Fr. Benjamin keeps the white walls clean and free of gecko… detritus, brought in the relics, and Matushka Lauren directs the choir.
Fr. Andrew visited the parish in the first year of the parish’s incorporation after it had just purchased the property. Accompanying the archbishop on his travels as diocesan administrative assistant, they visited Holy Ascension after an archpastoral visit to St. Juvenaly in Kona. His Eminence served the Divine Liturgy there and was taken aback by the geckos that would appear in the altar, very much at home. We are happy to report that no geckos were sighted this past weekend!
May God bless this hospitable community that is ready to thrive on the East side of the Big Island.
Photo Gallery:
