Ko‘olau Baptist Church Marks 50 Years Of Windward Service

Ko‘olau Baptist Church will dedicate a week to celebrating its 50th year, with guests and pastors returning to Kaneohe from all points on the globe — from Japan and Peru to India and a dozen states.

Activities and worship services will fill each day April 5-12, including an alumni meet-and-greet at 6:30 p.m. April 7, a luau at 5 p.m. April 10, a baseball game and a culminating program the final Sunday.

The luau is open to the public, and free tickets are available at the church office.

Over the years, eight pastors have led the congregation, which moved its services from He‘eia Elementary, to King Intermediate School, to its present location — a former banana patch at the corner of Kahekili and Likelike highways. Ko‘olau Baptist Academy got its start in 1974, and enrollment has grown since then from 30 to about 190 students in grades K-12.

The church and school are at 45-633 Keneke St.

In March, the school sent 15 juniors and seniors on Heritage Tour 2015, giving them the “look and feel” of history in Washington, D.C., New York City and Florida, where they visited Disney World and Pensacola Christian College. The educational trip happens every two years, following numerous fundraisers.

“The church and school have truly been a blessing to so many Windward families,” said Keikilani Lyons, whose daughter is in the academy’s kindergarten class.

“We can provide an excellent educational program at an affordable price,” added John Goodale, principal and 50th anniversary organizer. For more about the golden events, call him at 233-2900.