Kauai Full Gospel Temple breaks ground in Lihue as permits remain

More than 200 people gathered in Kukui Grove West, just behind Gary’s Service in Lihue, to mark the groundbreaking for the future Kauai Full Gospel Temple. Under overcast skies and misty rain, the ceremony signaled that the project has moved past planning and into the stage where a contractor is in place, though county approvals are still not finished.

Pastor Marcelino Tapia, who ministers with his wife, Elena, told the crowd that only a few remaining permits still need county clearance before construction can begin on the parcel. Even so, he said it was time to break the ground, and shovels turned the softened earth as attendees repeated, “This is Holy Ground.”

The congregation’s footprint already reaches well beyond a single Sunday gathering in Lihue. Tapia said weekly meetings in Lihue draw about 100 people, while Westside meetings bring in between 60 and 70 each week. That scale helps explain why the new site matters to Kauai residents: the church is not just building a sanctuary, but expanding a ministry that already serves members on both sides of the island.

Lance Lando of Mana Construction was introduced as the general contractor, a public sign that the project is advancing toward construction rather than remaining a concept on paper. The site sits in one of Lihue’s growing commercial corridors, where new development continues to put pressure on land use, access and county permitting. For nearby businesses and families, the remaining approvals will determine when work can start and how quickly the church becomes a visible part of the neighborhood.

The county process still shapes the timeline. Kaua‘i County’s Planning Department handles zoning and land-use permits, and the Kaua‘i County Planning Commission conducts public hearings on those applications. Building permit records are searchable through the county’s Click2Gov system by application number, address, parcel number or name, and the Building Division says electronic plan review is available to speed permitting and reduce delays. Those systems show how closely church construction remains tied to county oversight even after a ceremonial start.

Kauai Full Gospel Temple is listed by the Filipino Assemblies of the First-Born, Hawaii district, with a Lihue mailing address at 3908 Ho‘olepe Street. The new building now moves from public ceremony toward the harder work of approvals, construction and eventual service to the island community.