Annunciation Church & Ascension Mission
“Rebuilding the Temple” Project REFR S
ince the 1960s, our parish’s mission church in Puako — Ascension — has been a treasured part of our community. Earlier this year, the church underwent major repairs and updates. This project, “Rebuilding the Temple,” not only updated the infrastructure, but also enhanced the religious symbolism of Ascension Mission’s layout. By placing a focus on “sacred geometry,” the church building now reflects the beauty of our faith more than ever. “Our church in Puako has been an important part of our community,” says Terry Cromwell. “It serves not only local Catholics, but also tourists that stay along the Kohala Coast and are dedicated enough to come to Mass while on vacation! “Sacred geometry has the ability to tap into an awareness, to shift how we feel,” she adds. “The composition of a space truly affects us. The project required both ‘wear and tear’ repairs to be remedied, and a modern visual and language to be composed. This meant taking visual cues from the existing architecture, and
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developing a cohesive color scheme and presence commensurate with the transcendence and dignity of the Mass.” The project began the Monday after Easter, and was completed during a concentrated period of time following. The stay-at-home orders implemented during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic allowed for this work to be done in a shorter amount of time than usual, since the subcontractors hired for construction and renovation projects were able to work seven days a week. These projects included installing tile, laying carpeting, painting and drywalling. In addition, Terry and her husband, Michael, designed a new interior layout that would highlight the symbolic octagonal shape of the church. “Ascension Mission’s building is an octagon, reiterated in the interior,” Terry says. “Most notably, the walls create an open, theatre-like general assembly area, including the shape of the roof windows above the crown hanging over the sanctuary, and the raised sanctuary itself. The
