Churches in the Hakalau area were Christian--both Protestant and Catholic--and Buddhist--both Jodo Shu and Hongwanji sects.  The first known (founded 1868) served Hawaiian Christians and preceded the plantation era.  Protestant churches served mostly haole and some Japanese and Koreans.  Catholic churches served mostly Portuguese, Filipinos and some Puerto Ricans.  Buddhist churches or temples served most of the Japanese with crossover between sects being common.

A cemetery could be somewhat mixed as to ethnicity and religion but mostly followed along those lines.  As well, there are surely a number of small graveyards, mostly in the mauka regions, that are lost to history.  Today, only the Honohina Cemetery is tended.  

Churches

The churches identified within the Hakalau Kuleana from Kolekole to the Poupou Stream in Ninole include: 
  • Hakalau Jodo Mission in Hakalau Upper Camp
  • Hakalau Lower Camp Christian Church
  • Hakalau Lower Camp Buddhist Hongwanji
  • Hakalau Sacred Heart Church between Hakalau Iki Houselots and Wailea
  • Wailea Hawaiian Christian Church
  • Honohina Hongwanji in Honohina until 1968, then in Ninole

Cemeteries

The cemeteries identified within the Hakalau Kuleana include:
  • The Korean Cemetery at the tip of Hakalau Point in Hakalau Lower Camp
  • The Japanese Cemetery in Hakalau Lower Camp
  • The Catholic Cemetery in Hakalau Lower Camp
  • Kamaee Mauka Cemetery
  • Honohina Cemetery
  • Piha Cemetery
​Other cemeteries will be added as they are identified.
For the Hakalau Kuleana, our responsibility is to care for the land, the people, and the culture. We are guided by cultural values of YESTERDAY: Engage in collective effort. Look out for each other. Honor hard work. Show respect for those who came before us. Aloha and Mālama `Aina. In 2021, Akiko Masuda added two more values to the list: Consistently show up. Whatever has to be done, jump in and do it!