By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

Almost to the back of Kalihi Valley, at the top of a small lane, is a lush square of land that a Kalihi church is calling a "miracle."

The Trinity Samoan Congregational Church bought the 47,000- square-foot property last May. Church members raised the money through kalua pig sales, car washes, tausala night dances and weekly collections during church service.

"Most of the congregation is low-income families," says the Rev. Petaia Timoteo, pastor of the church. "They give what they can."

Kanoki Faavesi helps clear land purchased by Trinity Samoan Congregational Church. Fund-raisers and weekly cash donations helped pay for the land. Now members will raise money for buildings, including a community center. Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

"If 10 cents is all you can afford, then 10 cents is enough," says Lilo Alofoe, chairman of the church's multipurpose committee.

Dollar by dollar, the congregation raised enough money to qualify for the financing to purchase the property for just over $400,000. But first, they went through seven months of negotiations, saw three of their offers turned down, and competed with another prospective buyer who made a cash offer.

"This represents a lot of determination, a lot of energy, a lot of sacrifice and a lot of teamwork," says Timoteo. "This land is something out of nothing. It's important for the young people to stand here and to feel this."

Right now, the land is vacant, but when the congregation looks out at the sloping grass, the reaching trees and the flat open spaces, they can see the future.

"This is the mission of our church," says Timoteo. "I believe we were brought together, all connected, to live in peace and to take care of one another."

Their vision for the property is to have a church and a community center with classrooms and meeting spaces. "Not only for my congregation, but for the community as well," Timoteo emphasizes. "We strongly believe in working together as a community. For us to build something that will only be used by us on Sundays is nonsense."

The church was started in 1972. Four years later, the congregation bought a small house on Nalanieha Street, up against Likelike Highway, that they used for Sunday services. In recent years, the congregation has grown to around 200 members, so they rented the Kalihi Elementary cafeteria for Sunday morning services.

The church represents a connecting point — between Samoan traditions and Western ideals; between daily struggles and higher purpose; between the simple life in Samoa and the fast-paced urban lifestyle of Honolulu.

The children of the congregation sit in the front rows where the women of the choir, in their sequined and veiled white hats, can shoot them a look if they make noise. Every so often, if there's too much wiggling, an older woman will swat one of the kids with her lauhala fan. It is the kind of formal, respectful service that families would attend in Samoa.

But as soon as church is over, the kids are out the door and deeply into the Western culture. Out come the cell phones and the Walkmans and the English.

This worries the Rev. Timoteo.

"I see all these children in high school. They claim to be pure Samoan but they don't know their language. They can't speak it. They can't write it. If you start to lose your language and your culture, it takes a long time to claim it back, to heal the wounds."

Timoteo hopes the church can help connect the young members back to fa'a Samoa, the traditional Samoan values.

It's a balance, though. The Western world and Hawai'i's cosmopolitan community have so much to offer.

Timoteo, who has his master's degree and is working toward his doctorate in psychology, says he's a very liberal pastor who firmly believes in the value of diversity.

"These people migrated to Hawai'i for a better life. They come with two things: their religion and their culture. Inside the church, they want to keep that. But some of our traditions don't carry over because they're out of context. We cannot apply all the values and aspects of Samoan culture in Hawai'i. We have to look deeply at what to apply. And I believe in coming together, different cultures, sharing with each other and learning from each other. In order for us to live here, we need to make it a better place by our presence. This is our mission."

Thus, the dream of the community center, where there could be classes in Samoan language and culture, where senior citizens could come to learn craft making, where other churches and community groups could hold meetings and workshops, and where neighbors could come to take refuge during literal and figurative storms.

"We want this place to be for all the community," says Timoteo. "To me, it belongs to everyone."

Church members hope to see their dreams realized within the next five to 10 years. First, they plan to talk with neighbors about their plans. They'll meet with the neighborhood board. They'll have to apply for a conditional-use permit from the city. They'll consult with architects and civil engineers. And they'll have to raise the money for the buildings.

Says Alofoe, "There are a lot of steps we have to take before we get there, but we have faith."

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.