Hawai‘i Conference
- Nov 30, 2020
- 2 min read

In Loving Memory: Kekapa Lee

Harvey Kekapa Pauole Kealakala'i Lee, 74, retired pastor, passed away on November 19, 2020. Kekapa graduated from Kamehameha Schools—Kapālama and completed a four-year enlistment in the Army, serving in Okinawa, Virginia, and South Vietnam. He then went on to graduate from the University of Hawai'i Hilo, and received his Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1978. He was ordained and installed as Pastor of Waiola Congregational Church in Lahaina, Maui, in 1988. Later he served as Interim Pastor of Lili'uokalani Protestant Church and as Pastor of the English-speaking congregation of The First Chinese Church of Christ in Hawai'i. Kekapa also served on the Hawai'i Conference staff, as an Associate for Youth Ministries, an Associate Conference Minister for Educational Activities, and as Pāpā Makua of the Association of Hawaiian Evangelical Churches and the State Council of Hawaiian Congregational Churches. He was active in the church in the national setting, serving numerous boards, committees and working groups. Gifted with a beautiful singing voice, Kekapa was a Na Hōkū Hanohano Award winner for Religious Album of the Year in 1998 for Aloha Kekahi I Kekahi (Love One Another). He retired from active ministry in December 2018.

We give thanks to God for Kekapa and his ministry to and among us. Please continue to hold his 'ohana in prayer during their time of grief. Arrangements for a memorial service are pending.

Condolences for Kahu Kekapa Lee may be sent to The First Chinese Church of Christ in Hawai'i (1054 South King Street, Honolulu, HI, 96814). Monetary gifts may be sent to church (checks may be made payable to The First Chinese Church of Christ in Hawai'i) with a note, "In memory of Kahu Kekapa Lee."

Read an article written by Hans Holznagel for UCC News: