The history of the Catholic Church in Waianae dates back to 1837 when Hawaiian Catholics of Honolulu seeking refuge from persecution fled to the lands of Chief Boki, the first ali'i to be baptized a Catholic in the Islands of Hawaii.

In 1838, sixty-seven of them were marched back to Honolulu. On the way it is recorded that one of the number, 37-year old John Kaluahewa, ailing on the way, collapsed at Moanalua and was left to die there.

With the strange twist of early Hawaiian history, that same year, religious persecution ended with the proclamation of religious freedom, and many of those in march with companions returned to Waianae to settle and live.

Once the persecution ended, the Church began to flourish, with pili-grass chapels springing up in Waianae, Makaha, and Makua. Up until 1870, Makaha was the main center of population, but from then in, it was Waianae that was considered the principal town of the district.

Also, at this time, a new church was erected in Waianae, replacing a former wooden structure. This was a timely move, for it was also at this time that the Waianae Plantation Co. was founded. This resulted in the coming of Catholic Portuguese to the community, as is evident from teh Baptism Register of that day.

Due to the lack of missionaries, teh Waianae Church was supplied with priests coming from Waialua, later from Ewa. Once estatblished, plantation life continued to prosper quietly in this rural district and along with it, the church also prospered.

By the 1920s, that little church built by Brother Calixtus was over fifty years old and it was time to replace it. In solemn rites in June of 1928, Bishop James Sweeney. St. Rita's of Nanakuli was attached to it as a mission church. The late Father Ludgar, SS.CC., was the first regular pastor of Waianae.

Then in 1946 the plantation folded; the future looked bleak. However, by the mid 1950s the exact opposite was the case. With more and more people coming to the peace and health-giving climate of Waianae, it became apparent that church facilities were no longer adequate.

During the pastorate of Father Bernard J. Eikmeier a new church was built. Bishop Sweeney blessed it on December 14, 1958.

Fr. Roland Peters constructed the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in November 1956. During Fr. Churchill's time, land was bought at Makaha and Maili. In July 1982, during Fr. Bob Wynne's time, the new CCD building was put up.