Posted on: Wednesday, September 18, 2002

Church plans services despite county concerns

Associated Press

WAILUKU, Maui — Leaders of a rural church have told Maui County they plan to hold regular worship services three times a week on the church's disputed agriculture-zoned property on the slopes of Haleakala.

The decision forces county officials to decide whether to formally ban religious services on the land. The county has told the church's lawyers regular services could be a problem, but has not expressly forbidden any service.

Hale O Kaula told the county that "without further waiting for the County of Maui to decide what it will do about enforcing the various applicable laws," the church intends to make several uses of its land "for the remainder of the period of this lawsuit."

The church plans "exclusively religious" gatherings on Sundays, Friday nights and "at least one additional night during the week."

Maui County has twice refused Hale O Kaula's request for a permit to build a chapel on its rural site that was purchased in 1990. The church is suing the county and the Maui Planning Commission under the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 for a permit to build a chapel and hold regular services on the property.

Hale O Kaula held its first services Sept. 8 on its 5.8 acre site.

The church has asked the county what, if anything, it can do as a church on its property without a permit. The county said one service was all right, but regular services might not be.

On Friday, the church informed Corporation Counsel James Takayesu that it plans to hold the regular services.

The 60-member church, affiliated with the Living Word Bible-teaching ministry, said it also intends to continue growing food on the land, occupy the residence there, use the land for recreation and hold four annual "spiritual feasts" on biblical holidays.