Who We Are
An ʻohana anchored in Christ, gathered by the sea
Hawaii Ocean Church is an independent, non-denominational Christian church in Waipahu, Central Oʻahu — neighbors from Waipahu, Mililani, Pearl City and the Leeward side who worship, pray and share life together, unhurried and unpretentious.
The waters off Oʻahu
Our Story & Name
The ocean surrounds. Grace connects.
We began in 2017 with a handful of neighbors and an open Bible in a Waipio Uka living room. No one set out to plant a church; we simply kept showing up — to the Word, to prayer, and to one another’s tables. By God’s kindness, that small circle has become a congregation of 180+ gathering every Sunday.
Our name is a quiet confession. The ocean surrounds and connects the islands — no island stands alone in the sea. In the same way, God’s grace surrounds and connects us — no person stands alone in grace. That is why we say we are anchored in Christ, moved by grace.
What We Believe
Six anchors we hold with open hands
We confess the historic essentials of the Christian faith — warmly, simply, and without fine print.
How We Live
Values that set our course
Aloha as welcome
Every person who walks through the door is received as a gift from God — never a number in a row.
Depth over hurry
We would rather go slowly with Jesus than quickly without him. Unhurried prayer, patient discipleship.
ʻOhana over programs
Relationships come before calendars. When a program stops serving people, we let the tide carry it out.
The shore is our parish
From Waipahu to the Leeward coast, we serve, clean and care for the island home God has entrusted to us.
Leadership
The people who carry the nets
Pastors, deacons and elders who serve this ʻohana — most of them here since the living-room days.
Joshua Kahale
Senior Pastor & Authorized Officer
Pastor Leilani Akana
Worship & Arts
Pastor Mark T. Fujimoto
Family & Youth
Deacon Rose Kealoha
Care & Hospitality
Elder Peter S. Ganiron
Administration & Finance
Joshua Kahale is the authorized signatory for filings with the IRS, the State of Hawaii and other regulatory bodies. He can be reached at [email protected].
Governance & Accountability
In good order, in plain sight
A church should be as careful with its books as it is with its Bibles. Here is how we keep ours.
Hawaii Ocean Church is a church exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. The church board — including Elder Peter S. Ganiron as board treasurer — oversees budgets, policies and ministry spending, and the church’s books undergo an annual financial review.
Leeward Oʻahu
Next Steps
Come stand at the water’s edge
The best way to know Hawaii Ocean Church is to spend a Sunday with us. Come as you are — there is a seat, a cup of coffee and an ʻohana waiting for you at 9:30 AM.