First Unitarian Church of Honolulu

What First Unitarian Church of Honolulu does

First Unitarian Church of Honolulu is a private religious nonprofit organization operating as a Unitarian Universalist congregation at 2500 Pali Highway in Nuʻuanu Valley, Honolulu, on the island of Oʻahu. It serves individuals and families seeking an inclusive, progressive spiritual community through weekly Sunday worship services (offered both in-person and via Zoom), pastoral care via the Care Team, small-group ministry through Chalice Circles, children's religious education (Spirit Play), lifespan sexuality education (Our Whole Lives), and adult Lifelong Learning programs. The congregation is affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and actively partners with local interfaith and social justice coalitions including The Interfaith Alliance of Hawai'i, Hawai'i Children's Action Network, Aloha Harvest, and Interfaith Ohana.

The organization's core operational technology is a WordPress-based website (unitariansofhi.org) supplemented by Zoom for virtual services, Matomo for analytics, and Complianz for cookie consent. Communication and outreach occur through the website, Facebook, Instagram, a 109-subscriber YouTube channel, and Mailchimp email newsletters. The physical campus includes a sanctuary seating approximately 125, the Gallery on the Pali (capacity 65 standing / 20-45 seated), meeting rooms, a kitchen, and Cooke House residential apartments, with grounds parking for 45 cars.

The business model is donation-driven, with voluntary member pledges and tithes as the primary revenue stream, supplemented by an hourly facility rental program pricing the Sanctuary at $60/hour, the Gallery at $40/hour, meeting rooms at $30-$40/hour, the kitchen at $35/hour, and the entire downstairs at $200/hour for weddings, meetings, and community events. The church is led by Minister Rev. Deborah and Church Manager Suzette Tom, with a small staff of approximately 6 employees, and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.

Name

First Unitarian Church of Honolulu

Legal name

First Unitarian Church of Honolulu

Website

https://unitariansofhi.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

First Unitarian Church of Honolulu is a Unitarian Universalist congregation in Nuʻuanu Valley, Honolulu, offering inclusive worship, religious education, pastoral care, and social justice programs, funded primarily by member donations and supplemental facility rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Spiritual Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (813110)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAJAA

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAJAL

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

Keywords

• Religious congregation services
• Worship and pastoral care
• Religious education programs
• Community space rentals
• Social justice ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Member Donations and Tithes: Voluntary contributions from congregants through the Donate feature on the website
2. Space Rentals: Rental income from meeting rooms, sanctuary, gallery, kitchen, and entire facility for events such as weddings, meetings, and receptions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

First Unitarian Church of Honolulu operates a Unitarian Universalist congregation providing weekly Sunday worship services (in-person at the Nu'uanu Valley sanctuary and via Zoom), multigenerational religious education, pastoral care, small-group ministry, and social justice programming. The congregation also rents its sanctuary, gallery, meeting rooms, and kitchen for community events, weddings, and meetings on an hourly basis.

Product overview

First Unitarian Church of Honolulu is a Unitarian Universalist congregation offering in-person and virtual Sunday worship services, religious education programs (Spirit Play for children, Our Whole Lives sexuality education, and Lifelong Learning for adults), pastoral care through the Care Team and Chalice Circles small group ministry, community gathering spaces (Sanctuary, Gallery on the Pali, Kitchen, and Meeting Rooms available for rental), and social justice initiatives including voter engagement and food rescue programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services Weekly Sunday worship services offered in-person at the Honolulu sanctuary and remotely via Zoom at 10:00 AM (room opens 9:30 AM), open to all visitors, including prayers, music, sermon, and children's programming.
• Religious Education Programs (Spirit Play, Our Whole Lives, Lifelong Learning) Multigenerational religious education including Spirit Play for children, Our Whole Lives (OWL) comprehensive sexuality education, and Lifelong Learning programs for adults, designed for congregants and their families.
• Pastoral Care (Care Team) Pastoral care program provided by the Care Team to congregation members, offering support during life events, illness, and times of need.
• Chalice Circles (Small-Group Ministry) Small-group ministry program creating deeper connections among congregants through facilitated discussion circles.
• Facility Space Rentals (Sanctuary, Gallery on the Pali, Meeting Rooms, Kitchen) Hourly rental of church facilities including Sanctuary ($60/hour, ~125 capacity), Gallery on the Pali ($40/hour, 65 standing/20-45 seated), Meeting Room #2 ($40/hour) and #3 ($30/hour), Kitchen ($35/hour), and Entire Downstairs for special events ($200/hour) for weddings, receptions, meetings, and community events.
• Social Justice Programs (Vote 4 Keiki, Aloha Harvest Food Rescue, Hope for Us Gatherings)

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Interfaith Alliance of Hawai'i (TIAH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026The church is partnered with TIAH through Rev. Dr. Cynthia Lynch, president of TIAH and member of the church. They collaborate on civic engagement initiatives including the 'Vote 4 Keiki' campaign as part of the Discovering Hawai'i Soul project. TIAH is a coalition of faith communities working together on social justice issues.
• Hawai'i Children's Action Network (HCAN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Partnership focused on civic kuleana (responsibility), specifically supporting get-out-the-vote efforts and child welfare advocacy through the Discovering Hawai'i Soul project and Vote 4 Keiki initiative.
• Side With LoveminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026UUA campaign sharing monthly events and resources related to progressive social justice ministry and public advocacy.
• UU Ministry for EarthminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026UU organization focused on environmental ministry and earth-centered spirituality; shares monthly news and events.
• Aloha HarvestcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Hawai'i's food rescue organization. The church participates in food rescue efforts and the 'Fuel the Rescue' initiative, helping deliver surplus food to families, kūpuna (elders), keiki (children), veterans, and food-insecure individuals across O'ahu.
• Interfaith OhanacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Coalition of O'ahu faith communities sharing interfaith events and collaborating on community initiatives. The church shares events from Interfaith Ohana including social justice conversations via the SocialJustice@Heart Zoom series.
• CUUPS (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026UU organization for Pagan communities; shares summer newsletter and events.
• Pacific Central Unitarian Universalist Women's FederationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Regional UU women's organization planning Spring 2027 retreat at Enchanted Hills, Napa.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• First Unitarian Church of Portland: A larger Unitarian Universalist congregation offering worship, religious education, social justice programs, and facility rentals. Directly comparable as a similarly named and structured UU congregation with overlapping programs (RE, pastoral care, social justice).
• Honolulu Unitarian Universalist Ohana (if distinct): Listed as the web URL for First Unitarian, indicating the broader Hawaii UU community network. Comparable as the immediate regional UU peer ecosystem this congregation operates within.
• All Souls Church Unitarian (Washington, D.C.): A historic Unitarian Universalist congregation known for progressive social justice ministry. Comparable as a flagship UU congregation with similar progressive values, community programming, and civic engagement orientation.

Others

• Aloha Harvest: Hawaii's food rescue organization partnering with First Unitarian on the Fuel the Rescue initiative. Comparable as a strategic community partner enabling the church's food security programming.
• Interfaith Alliance of Hawai'i: Coalition of Hawaii faith communities including First Unitarian's leadership. Comparable as a strategic partner ecosystem rather than a competitor, providing benchmarking on interfaith civic engagement models.

Broad incumbents

• Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA): The national denominational body of which First Unitarian Church of Honolulu is an affiliated congregation. Comparable as the umbrella organization governing UU congregations including this church, with overlapping mission, values, and program frameworks.

Regional players

• Central Union Church (Honolulu): A progressive mainline Protestant congregation in Honolulu offering worship, community programs, and space rentals. Comparable as a fellow Honolulu-based faith community targeting similar progressive, socially engaged congregants.
• Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace (Honolulu): A historic Catholic cathedral in Honolulu offering worship services, community outreach, and facility use. Comparable as another established Honolulu faith organization with social service programming and facility rentals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQSvfJAU21iBRVTzU19d2BQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/UUHonolulu
• Instagraminstagram.com/firstunitarianchurchofhonolulu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-unitarian-church-of-honolulu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about First Unitarian Church of Honolulu