Centennial of Southern Baptist work in Hawaii

[Jerome]

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2026/06/23/olivet-baptist-church-celebrates-100-years-honolulu/

"It all began in the heart of Honolulu in 1926 when a group of missionaries started meeting with a few local residents. 'When that little group first formed on July 4th of 1926, they gathered together under the name of Mission Church'....the name of the church was later changed to Olivet Baptist."

"longtime church member Pearl Arashiro recalls why she became a member of this congregation. 'When WWII started, the missionaries from Japan came here. They could also speak Japanese, so they impressed our parents being that they were Caucasian and they are all speaking Japanese. We all started coming to church', Arashiro recalled."

 

[Jerome]

Rearview: Hawaii organizations mark important anniversaries | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Each year, I write about key companies and nonprofits that pass important milestones in the year. In February I wrote Part 1. Here’s Part 2.

www.staradvertiser.com

"The Olivet Baptist Church traces its roots to July 1, 1926, when Joseph and Mary Tyssowski and 18 other worshippers bought a property on the corner of Artesian and Young streets in McCully for $8,500. In 1941 the Mission Church formally aligned itself with the Southern Baptist Convention and became the Olivet Baptist Church. Olivet refers to the Mount of Olives in Israel. As the 'Mother Church' Olivet started 10 other Southern Baptist churches spread throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Today Olivet Baptist Church is the oldest and largest Southern Baptist church in Hawaii."

 

[Jerome]

Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 23, 1927, p. 10