Founding Minister
Reverend Haruko Takahashi
The Konko Mission of Wahiawa was founded on January 14, 1940 as a branch church of the Konko Mission of Honolulu by the late Rev. Haruko Takahashi. She was a local Nisei (2nd generation Japanese American) Konko minister who initiated her mission at 901 Kilani Avenue in Wahiawa. She was born on April 19, 1910 in Kohala, Hawaii.
In 1928, when Haruko Sensei was 18 years old, she was guided to the Konko Mission of Honolulu by her dress-making instructor Mrs. Kusunoki. There she received divine enlightenment by the messages she received from the Rev. Masayuki Kodama (Founding Minister of Honolulu Church)
On the wake of the World War II, on December 14, 1941, the Rev. Haruko Takahashi was held in custody by the U.S. Government along with other leaders in the Japanese community. She was taken to both, the Sand Island and Honouliuli Internment Camp sites. And on July 7, 1944, she was released on parole from Honouliuli.
On January 1, 1948, Haruko Sensei reopened the church at the present location: 207 Muliwai Avenue in Wahiawa and resumed her missionary work.
After serving the community people in Wahiawa for 32 years, Haruko Sensei passed away on December 24, 1972 at the age of 62.
Reverend Hiromichi Ishii
On March 30,1973, the Rev. Hiromichi Ishii, who worked at the Konko Missions in Hawaii, was temporarily assigned to take care of the church for three years while searching for a new resident minister.
On April 30, 1976, Rev. Ishii completes his duties in Hawaii and returns to Japan. And Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Tadashi Takahashi took care of the vacant church till the new resident ministers arrived.