Our Beginning
Pukalani Community Church of the Nazarene, aka "Puka Naz", met together for the first time on Thanksgiving Sunday of 1988. The first families to fellowship together on that Sunday as Puka Naz were the Palmer 'ohana, the Overian 'ohana, the Garen 'ohana, the Haven 'ohana, and the Kreps 'ohana. This first gathering of Puka Naz was held in the cafeteria of our next door neighbor, Pukalani Elementary. Puka Naz met there for awhile then journeyed to Pukalani Community Center (the area that is now Pukalani DMV). After staying there for a little longer period of time, and having grown to more than 100 people who were now Puka Naz 'ohana, these brave Puka Naz 'ohana(s) made there way to Kamehameha Schools Gym. Aunty Venita Palmer reminisces the set up and breakdown of service every Sunday. "I remember everyone bringing plants (for decoration), everyone helping set up chairs, and people helping set up sound systems, all this every Sunday."
Ministry through the week for Puka Naz was held on Wednesday nights. The youth group, and middle school group, and Keiki group all met on that night. The youth group, led by aunty Tammy and unko Jimmy Walsh, met together in the Hale or Shelby Hale (which is the official name dedicated to the Shelby 'ohana). The middle school group and keiki group met in what was known as the "upper room." Unko Patt and aunty Venita Palmer worked together in leading those two groups. The "upper room" was also the place where the men would meet throughout the week for prayer. The women also met in the upper room for bible study and prayer.
You might be wondering, "where is this Shelby Hale place or even the upper room you're talking about. We thought you were at Pukalani Elementary then Pukalani Community Center, then Kamehameha Schools gym?" We'll get in to that in a bit.
God was growing his church during this time. Unko Patt Palmer talks about them having to spilt up the middle school from the keiki group because it was getting so big. The keiki group ended up meeting at the Palmer's house. The youth group was getting big as well. They had to open the sliding door of the Hale and start using the lanai as overflow. "Kids had to sit on the lanai railings", unko Patt explains. What a good problem to have.
Now to answer your wondering about the Shelby Hale and the upper room. These two buldings, along with a third building (the cottage), were all built from donations. The Shelby Hale was named after the Shelby 'ohana because they donated $40,000 to build that building.
The next question you might have, "how can you build buildings if you don't have land to build it on? This is an interesting part of Puka Naz history. Pastor Lon Echdawl who was the senior pastor of Kahului Church of the Nazarene (our mother-sister church) spearheaded the purchases of the parcels of land that we are located on right now. The Shelby Hale and the cottage are located on the two parcels of land (on Hiwalani Loop) that were actually donated to the church from the Developers of the Pukalani Sub-division. Pastor Lon kept at it to purchase the third parcel, which is about two times as big than the two donated parcels put together. This parcel of land is adjacent to Old Haleakala Highway. This piece of land was purchased through Alabaster funds which is a special offering that is received from the global Church of the Nazarene.
Puka Naz started meeting on Sundays at 211 Hiwalani Loop in the Shelby Hale in 2005.
Then in 2009 we had our most toughest season yet as a church 'ohana. We had to let go of our pastor at the time due to moral failing. There was also an embezzlement that happened. We were in a really hard season as a church body but ministry continued as much as it could. Puka Naz wasn't looking so bright. We were dwindling in numbers. Some Sundays the worship team was the congregation. The church almost closed down.
But God had other plans. In the latter part of that year we called pastor Mark Gudmunson to be our new senior pastor. God had sent a ray of hope for His church. Pastor Mark took on this call relying entirely on the Holy Spirit. He was thrusted into the craziness that we've been in and stood in the Lords strength to lead us out. Ministry was tough for him, he would testify so. Nevertheless, he persevered and allowed God to work through him. Puka Naz began to grow again. Old families came back. New families came in. God was doing something new. God wanted us to be here.
Our Now
Since Pastor Mark came, Puka Naz has never been the same. In good ways.
Here's a few amazing things God has been doing since 2009 when Pastor Mark came until now:
God started calling people into ministry to become ordained pastors in the Church of the Nazarene. Hau'oli and Jamie Kalama, Pua and Ryan Kaneali'i, Bobby and Alyssa Forest, answered the call. Then now more recently: Mark and Joy Zion. These brothers and sisters felt the call and are answering it. We praise the Lord for their obedience.
Here's another testimony of God doing a new thing through Puka Naz:
Ryan and Pua Kaneali'i answered the call to serve as senior pastors of a church plant in Molokai, the neighbor island of Maui. They've been there since 2019 serving the people of Molokai. Talking with Ryan and Pua we hear of the great things God is doing there through them.
Another thing God began doing was lead pastor Mark to begin outreach in the town of Kihei. Pastor Mark and Pastor Hau'oli, along with Ilima Kalama and Charlie Villilon started going to all the beaches in Kihei, giving musubi and water to anyone the Lord was leading us to. Soon, Pastor Marks brother, Pastor Tom Gudmunson felt the call to Maui and he and his wife aunty Kerry took over the Kihei ministry and continued to be a blessing to the people there.
There are a lot of amazing things God has been doing and still is doing here at Puka Naz. We could write a book! Pastor Mark could write it (he's an author; like a real author).
The last thing I would want to mention is how God has allowed our youth group to go on mission trips to the pacific northwest to be a blessing to the people there. Our first youth mission trip was in 2015 and we have gone ever since. Each year we've gone we've gotten to see the Lord touch so many lives. But the cool thing about it is that as these youths began to serve others, they began changing in the inside, looking more and more like Jesus. Our youths get to see Gods love in action and the impact it has on others. Some of our youths actually are beginning to feel a call to ministry now. Praise God.
These are but a few testimonies of what God is doing in and through Puka Naz nowadays.
Our Future
We believe God has placed us here in Pukalani for a reason. We have seen Him do mighty things through us and we have great expectations that he will continue to do great things.
We will keep seeing God raise up servant leaders who feel the call to serve God's people with love.
We will continue to reach out to our community through our compassionate ministries and thanksgiving Imu (hawaiian underground oven), keiki ministries, and youth ministries.
God is raising up worship leaders. We have 4 worship groups, open for anyone who feel led to join us.
We will keep seeking the Lord through bible study and prayer nights asking that he uses us for his good and perfect purpose.
God is redeeming all things through the good news of His Son Jesus Christ. He is inviting each and everyone of us to be a part of this glorious plan. We at Puka Naz want to continue trusting in God and obeying His will for us, to make disciples of our families, communities, and our world, one soul at a time. Join us, and be a part of what God is doing, He wants you to.
We love you!
