Located on the Kona Coast of Hawaii's "Big Island," Congregation Kona Beth Shalom is the only Jewish congregation in West Hawaii. It is unaffiliated and is open to meet with and learn from all Jewish resources.
The State of Hawaii includes six major islands: Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, Molokai and Lanai. Inter-island travel is usually by commercial airline service. Oahu (island), where the City of Honolulu is located, has the largest population. Hawaii (island) has the largest land area. Kona is on Hawaii (island).
The Congregation serves the community with Shabbat Services on the last Sabbath of each month as well as with the observance and celebration of Jewish holidays throughout the year.
Shabbat Services are conducted at the Aston Keauhou Beach Resort on Alii Drive (telephone 808 322-3441 for directions). Friday evening services begin with candle lighting at about sunset in the Kalanikai Pavilion. After a short service there is a pot-luck supper (no pork or shell-fish please) followed by a Jewish educational program that includes learning Hebrew, learning prayers, music, and/or other topics as well. On Saturday mornings the service begins at 10 am in the "Coconut Grove" area (outdoors on the south side of the circular driveway at the hotel entrance) and ends shortly after noon, followed by a kiddush.
The services are conducted by various members of the Congregation as well as by guests on certain occasions. Call Barry Blum at (808) 322-6004 or Morty Breier at (808) 325-0944 for details. There are also services for major holidays including a Community Passover Seder, High Holiday Services and get-togethers to celebrate other Jewish holidays.
A program entitled "The Varieties of Jewish Experience" is offered from time to time to present rabbis, cantors, speakers, teachers and entertainers who may be visiting Kona and wish to share their talents with the local community. The congregation is open to hearing from persons who may be interested in offering such a presentation. We are happy to learn about anyone interested in presenting a program here. Send an e-mail to us with information.
There being no rabbi in Kona, the Congregation's president, Dr. Barry Blum, is licensed to perform weddings in Hawaii. He and his wife Gloria perform the ceremonies together, making the experience even lovelier.
"The Shaloha Cookbook, Food for the Soul," prepared by Karen and Morty Breier, contains recipes and stories about the recipes, along with bits of wisdom and humor gleaned from members and visitors to Kona Beth Shalom. This is a unique and perfect gift for any mayven or balabusteh and all proceeds go to support Congregation Kona Beth Shalom's Building Fund. Morty Breier is also an author and artist ("Masks, Mandalas and Meditation"). Check his web site at www.innerjourneys.net.
Kona's Traveling Jewish Wedding Band is available for your next Hawaiian affair. Performing joyous klezmer, Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian and Broadway tunes with vocals, violin, balalaika, keyboard, guitar, bass, trumpet and sometimes clarinet, this group can enliven and entertain you and your guests at any simcha on the Big Island. If you prefer, a string ensemble led by Joel Gimpel is also available.
KAHEA (Kona Association for Hebrew Education and the Arts) offers programs especially for children, including Hebrew education, customs and ceremonies, arts & crafts and special holiday events. This organization is led by Sharona Lomberg, a silk tallit artist, who also makes unique and beautiful chuppahs. Sharona also conducts Torah classes for women and teaches Hebrew for adults.
If your journey takes you to Hilo on the east side of the Big Island, contact Rabbi Rita Leonard for information about the East Hawaii Havurah,
or Fred & Dianne Horwitz for Temple Beth Aloha, PO Box 332, Hilo 96721.
There is no kosher restaurant on the Big Island. In Kona a limited variety of kosher foods are available at Safeway and KTA super markets, but these are usually just delicatessen items. From time to time kosher chicken or turkey becomes available at Safeway. There's lots of good fruit and vegetables around, and the local fish is delicious. Costco often carries kosher lox and Sinai hot dogs.
There is no regular minyan in Kona, but if you're traveling and that becomes necessary for you, you may contact Barry Blum, or Morty Breier at (808) 325-0994, and see if we can get one together for you. This is actually a very big island and if you're staying at one of the resorts in Kohala, you'll probably have to drive down into Kailua-Kona to find other Jews for the minyan.
Other Jewish Links in the State of Hawaii:
On OAHU:
* Temple Emanu-El (Reform), 2550 Pali Hwy, Honolulu 26817, Rabbi Avi Magid, tel: (808) 595-7521, fax: (808) 595-6306.
* Congregation Sof Ma'arav (Conservative), 2500 Pali Hwy, Honolulu, (808) 595-3678, Pres. Bernice Littman.
* Bet Shalom (Reform), P.O. Box 25472, Honolulu, HI 96825, Rabbi Stephan Barack, (808) 396-1668.
* Aloha Jewish Chapel (Military), Makalapa Gate-Pearl Harbor, Rabbi Sean Gorman, (808) 474-8034.
On MAUI:
* Jewish Congregation of Maui (Unaffiliated), Temple Beit Shalom, 634 Alulike Street, Kihei, HI 96753, Rabbi David Glickman, (808) 874-JEWS. Check their web site.
* Congregation Gan Eden (Reform). PO Box 555, 1618 Lower Main, Kihei, HI 96753, Pres. Dorothy Tolliver or Steve Sussman (808) 669-6529.
* Temple Beit Shalom (facility used by both congregations) is located at 634 Alulike Street, Kihei, one block behind the Maui Lu Resort.
On KAUAI:
* Jewish Community of Kauai (unaffiliated), PO Box 3729, Lihue, HI, Pres. Hal Goldberg, M.D. (808) 742-2123, or Marty Kahn (808) 822-5281; kahn@aloha.net
On MOLOKAI:
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On LANAI:
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