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The Coat of Arms of Our Pastor

About our Pastor

The Reverend William Matekihelotu Tūlua-Álvarez

Fr. William in Byzantine Vestments
Formal Photo of Fr. William

The Reverend William Matekihelotu Tūlua-Álvarez, SChLJ, CMLJ, SCrLJ, M.Div. is a Roman Catholic priest serving in the Diocese of Honolulu. He is the pastor of both Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nā‘ālehu and Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Pāhala, located on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. Additionally, he ministers also to the Byzantine Catholic Community on the island, offering Divine Liturgies at Saint Stephen's Byzantine Mission in Honomū on the first and third Sundays of the Month.

Fr. Tūlua-Álvarez previously served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Catherine of Alexandria Church in Kapaʻa on the island of Kauaʻi, providing liturgical and pastoral care to the local faithful. Born in San José, California, and of Polynesian and Spanish heritage, he proudly traces his ancestry to the noble Álvarez family of Toledo, Spain. His heritage inspires his work in Catholic heraldry and chivalric spirituality, which he actively promotes throughout the Pacific Islands to help deepen the faithful’s understanding of Catholic identity, duty, and tradition.

Before entering the seminary, Fr. Tūlua-Álvarez worked for twenty-three years as a multilingual tour bus driver and guide with Polynesian Adventure Tours in Honolulu, conducting tours in English, Japanese, and German. He later entered Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, where he earned his Master of Divinity and Master of Sacred Theology. He also completed a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Cardinal Stritch University.

Fr. Tūlua-Álvarez is a man of diverse interests and enduring cultural and intellectual curiosity. He is an avid reader, particularly in the areas of theology, language, and heraldry. A skilled organist and pianist, he also enjoys singing choral and operatic music, having previously performed with the Honolulu Symphony and Opera and the San Jose Opera. Passionate about languages, he continues to pursue linguistic study, despite the geographic isolation of the Hawaiian Islands. He is also a proud and longtime member of the Queen Emma Hawaiian Civic Club, serving on its board from 2000 to 2008, and remains dedicated to preserving and promoting Hawaiian cultural values.

His commitment to service, heritage, and faith is further reflected in his chivalric affiliations. Fr. Tūlua-Álvarez is a Charter Member of the Knights of Columbus Council #11743 in Waikīkī, and a lifetime member of both the 3rd and 4th Degrees of the Order. He holds a prominent role in the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, where he currently serves as Head Chaplain of the Hawaiian Cadre. His service has been recognized with several distinctions, including the Medal of Merit (Pour le Mérite) in the ranks of Member (MMLJ), Officer (OMLJ), and Commander (CMLJ), as well as the Silver Cross of Merit (SCrLJ). He is also the recipient of the Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Award for his longstanding efforts in advancing Hawaiian culture and values.

Through his pastoral ministry, cultural advocacy, and liturgical excellence, Fr. William Tūlua-Álvarez brings together the beauty of Catholic tradition with the depth of local heritage. His vocation is a living testament to the harmony of faith, culture, and service to the Catholic Faithful of the State of Hawaii.

Fr. William with the Order of St. Lazarus
Our Pastor, Rev. William
Photo of Fr. William

©2025 Kaʻū Catholic Community.
The Parish Office is located at 
96-3143 Pīkake Street - Pāhala, Hawai‘i 96777
Office Hours: Tuesdays to Fridays from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm
Phone Number: (808) 928-8208
Email: hrc.shc@gmail.com
EMERGENCY NUMBER: (808) 855-8981

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