Chasing Domes in Hawai'i, An Intro

The focus of the Chasing Domes project is to highlight smaller communities in out-of-the-way places wherever Ukrainian people may have settled. 

Hawai'i, for many, is an enchanting paradise in the middle of the Pacific where palm trees sway over white sandy beaches. Trade winds offering breezes for perpetually warm and sunny days. 

While much of this is true, Hawai'i has been a place of migration, appalling work conditions, disease, and separation. Most famously with those suffering from Hansen's Disease (leprosy) who were forcibly banished to Moloka'i until their death. 

Ukrainians have been in the Islands for several hundred years, many serving in Russian military or business interests. 

More recently, there was a Ukrainian colony on the Big Island (Island of Hawai'i) around the turn of the last century. They worked on sugar cane plantations in what can be described as deplorable conditions due to misleading contracts.

Most of these Ukrainians moved to Canada or California, however some remained. Today their descendants can still be found on the Big Island and across the Archipelago. Cemeteries on the Big Island have headstones with names like Holowaty, Verbitsky, Gambsky, Melnyk, among others. 

One family that stayed were members of the Hoculak family. In particular, we will look at the life of Fr. Wencelsas (Damien) Hoculak, a native of Kosiv, Ukraine who was raised in Hawaii and served 68 years as a priest, 66 years of them serving in the Hawaian Islands. 

Was there an Eastern parish on the Big Island, Catholic or Orthodox? Was Fr. Hoculak bi-rtual? Who attended (and served) the Orthodox parish in Honolulu crca 1918? We hope to answer some of these questions and more.

Another figure we will examine--and potentially connect to the Ukrainian colony of the Big Island-- is the colorful and well-traveled Poltava native Fr. Innokenti (Ilarion) Dronoff. 

Fast forward to today, there is a Ukrainian Catholic parish on O'ahu which was reestablished on the west side of the Island, about a 45 minute drive from Honolulu. Holy Wisdom is served by priests from the Mainland.

Up next, Part One: Setting the Stage for the Ukrainian Colony.

Pictured One: Grounds of the former St. Anthony's Orphanage in Kalihi Valley on O'ahu. There is a Ukrainian connection to this place.

Picture Two: Cross of Holy Wisdom/St. Sophia Ukrainian Catholic Church on O'ahu.