Our Journey

In November 1989, Donna Williams and her husband Ismael journeyed to Kaʻū with four Hispanic laborers, drawn together by the promise of work on an orange farm. Soon, others like Leonides Soria and Natalio Lopez joined, inspired by Donna’s welcoming spirit. Seeking spiritual encouragement, Donna reached out to Horace Farr, who began organizing lively monthly gatherings at the Nā‘ālehu Community Center, where church members from Hilo and Kona joined in. These meetings, filled with music and heartfelt worship, transformed the small Sabbath School into the heart of Hispanic church life. Horace, ever thoughtful, prayed for a minister who could truly connect with the workers’ language and culture. In 1993, Enrique and Sara Martinez arrived and quickly became pillars of the group. Every Sabbath, Enrique would drive a van, gathering workers from the farm and bringing them to Hilo for church, turning the Martinez farm into a welcoming haven. As the years passed, families like the Sorias, Zavalas, and Meléndezes joined, weaving a stronger, more vibrant community. Eventually, the Kona group gathered in a tent behind the Adventist school, where Romi Avendaño became the first to be baptized. As the years unfolded, more families joined the group, and leaders emerged from within their own ranks. The church welcomed its first bilingual pastor, deepening the sense of unity. In 2007, the congregation left the tent behind and moved into a leased building in Kailua-Kona, which soon expanded to accommodate the growing number of members. What began under the shade of orange trees has blossomed into a vibrant community. In 2015, the Kona Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church was officially established. Today, with fresh leadership and the third generation stepping forward, the journey comes full circle. The church has answered God’s call by planting roots in Oceanview, becoming the first Adventist presence in the Kau district where it all began, and embracing a new name: Kau Seventh-day Adventist Church (Hispanic/Bilingual). This stands as a testament to faith, perseverance, and the enduring strength of community.