St. Benedict Painted Church Interior 2 Art Print

St. Benedict Catholic Church, AKA the Painted Church, dates all the way back to when Catholicism first came to South Kona, Hawaii, in 1842. At that time, the church was sitting on the shore of Honaunau. However, by the mid-1880s, most Hawaiians had moved up the slopes of Maua Loa for cooler temps and more fertile land.

In 1899, when Father John Berchmans Velghe, a Sacred Hearts Belgium priest, arrived, he decided to follow the residents up the volcano. He dismantled the church, moved it to its present location, and repaired it to look new. In 1902, the church was consecrated and named to honor Saint Benedict.

Father Velghe, a self-taught artist, did all the painting himself using ordinary house paint. Inspired by the Gothic Cathedral of Burgos in Spain, Father Velghe painted the area around the altar to replicate Burgos Cathedral. At the time, the pointed arch vaulted ceiling was considered a great architectural achievement; he painted the sky and palm fronds on the ceili...

I'm a travel photographer that enjoys photographing United States architecture, nature, and transportation. As the 8th photographer in 4 generations of my family, I don't remember a time when photography was not part of my life. By the time I was five years old, I was standing on a stool in the darkroom, helping my dad develop pictures. It was my job to transfer the photos from the hypo to the water bath. I went to college for interior design. After I graduated, I had a long successful career as an art buyer and designer for a large home furnishings company. In 2006, I had a significant life change. My husband became a medical traveler, and I decided to put my career on hold to tag along. In the process, I found my roots again. What...