A labor of love and devotion

Renewing the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace is a monumental undertaking. It is akin to restoring a work of art—painstakingly, piece by precious piece. The Cathedral Renewal Campaign is built on respect for its history and understanding of its role as the living Mother Church of Hawai‘i. Built on land granted by King Kamehameha III. Blessed by the presence of Saint Damien of Moloka‘i and Saint Marianne Cope. Our Lady of Peace stands at the confluence of Hawaiian history, the legacy of Hawai‘i’s saints, and the enduring mission of Catholicism in the islands. Its renewal is a sacred trust.

1827

Catholic missionaries arrive in Hawai‘i, ushering in the era of Catholicism in the islands.

1843

Our Lady of Peace is consecrated. Today, it stands as the oldest Roman Catholic cathedral in continuous use in the U.S.

1864

St. Damien is ordained within these walls.

1883

St. Marianne prays here on her arrival in the islands.

2014

Pope Francis elevates it to Minor Basilica, recognizing its position as the Mother Church of Hawai‘i.

Learn more about the 200-year history of Catholicism in Hawai‘i.

Visit 200th Anniversary Site

Touched by the lives of two saints

Saint Damien was ordained to the priesthood here in 1864, setting him on a path that later took him to the remote Kalaupapa peninsula of Moloka‘i. There, he worked to transform the settlement of some 800 people living with Hansen’s disease into a functional community.

Saint Marianne prayed at Our Lady of Peace on her arrival in Hawai‘i in 1883. As Saint Damien was dying of Hansen’s disease in 1888, she promised to care for his patients and settlement. She and the Franciscan sisters who accompanied her served in Kalaupapa for 30 years.

As part of the Cathedral Renewal Campaign, we have constructed a dedicated reliquary chapel to permanently house the sacred relics of Saint Damien and the remains of Saint Marianne.

The gift of a king

The first Catholic missionaries arrived in Honolulu in 1827 and the young King Kamehameha III granted them a parcel of land downtown to further their mission of spreading the word of the Gospel. They built a simple grass chapel. Unfortunately, a period of religious persecution followed that continued until King Kamehameha III signed the Edict of Toleration in 1839. He officially re-granted and confirmed the land on Fort Street for the Catholic Mission. Ground was broken on the Cathedral Basilica in 1840, with Native Hawaiian workers gathering coral blocks from the Kaka‘ako shoreline for construction.

Follow the renewal in real time

We invite you to use our timeline to track progress as it happens, from structural reinforcements and chapel construction to window re-leading and much more.

Make a gift that will last for generations to come

By supporting the renewal of the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, you are assuring that it will continue to stand as a beacon of faith and hope for our community and our islands. Mahalo for your generosity.