Captain Cook - Painted Church (St Benedict's Church)

This small Catholic wooden church stands not far from Puuhonua o Honauhau National Historic Park and is well worth turning off Road 160 to look at, not only because of its lovely position but because of the original decoration of the interior. The Belgian priest, Jean Berchman Velghe, who built it at the turn of the century, used whitewash for painting the walls and added pictures of various biblical scenes and Hawaiian motifs which reveal an astonishing talent.

Behind the altar he created an image in perspective based on Burgos Cathedral in Spain. The church columns are painted with Hawaiian motifs such as flowers and palms. Velghe, who was only in charge of this church for five years (1899-1904), also painted other church interiors in the South Seas.