712 North School Street, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus
The co-cathedral of the Diocese of Honolulu, a modest mid-century church in the Kalihi neighborhood that serves one of the most ethnically diverse Catholic communities in the United States.
Honolulu's Catholic story is unusual. The diocese covers the entire state of Hawaii, and its people come from Filipino, Portuguese, Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Samoan, and mainland American backgrounds — often in a single parish. The Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa was built in 1940 in the Kalihi neighborhood, a working-class area north of downtown. The building is a mix of Romanesque Revival and tropical pragmatism: thick concrete walls, arched windows, and louvered openings that let the trade winds move through the nave. A bell tower rises above the roofline and is visible for several blocks. Inside, the space is clean-lined and bright, with wooden pews, a marble altar, and stained glass windows depicting the life of St. Theresa of Lisieux. The parish runs a school next door that has educated generations of local families. Mass is offered in English, and the congregation regularly includes people from a dozen different ethnic backgrounds sitting side by side. The church became a co-cathedral in 2014, sharing duties with the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace downtown.
Diocese: Diocese of Honolulu
Style: Romanesque Revival
What to See
The exterior is handsome but understated — concrete and plaster with arched openings, suited to the climate. Inside, the nave is well-lit by natural light through the louvered side walls and stained glass. The marble sanctuary was renovated when the church was elevated to co-cathedral status. A statue of St. Theresa stands near the entrance. The parish school campus adjoins the church and gives the grounds a lively, neighborhood feel. The bell tower is the most recognizable feature from the street.
Pilgrim Notes
The co-cathedral is in the Kalihi neighborhood, about a ten-minute drive from Waikiki. Street parking is available. Mass times are posted on the parish website. For the full picture of Catholic Honolulu, pair this with a visit to the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace on Fort Street Mall downtown — the original cathedral, which dates to 1843 and holds the distinction of being the oldest Catholic cathedral in continuous use in the United States. The Father Damien statue at the state capitol is also nearby.