Our Ministry

First Unitarian Church of Honolulu believes in a shared ministry and is fortunate to be blessed by a commited team to minister to our congregation in a variety of ways.

The Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kūpono Kwong is the Minister. 

The Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kūpono Kwong is an ordained minister with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and the Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC).  He is currently the Settled Minister of the First Unitarian Church of Honolulu. Rev. Kwong also serves on the advisory council for the Asian Pacific Islander Roundtable for the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies at the Pacific School of Religion. He is an active member of the UUA's Journey Toward Wholeness Transformation Committee.

The Lay Ministers, led by Mickey Selwyn, arrange for assistance for those in short term need, meals for the homebound, and flowers for the hospitalized. Between Joan, Paul, Marilyn, Lisa, Lorraine and Mickey, the lay ministers have their fingers on the pulse of this congregation, and have a range of spiritual, practical, savvy, and comforting services for us. Some of the lay ministers conduct religious rites such as marriage and memorial services. 

Religious Education Director, Dr. Nan Kleiber, brings knowledge, concern, and wisdom about the children and families of this congregation to our team. With Nan as co-pilot, this congregation never forgets that it is here for the children and they are integrated in our thoughts and actions. 

Lay Ministry Team 

            Minister:    The Reverend Dr. Jonipher Kūpono Kwong, minister@unitariansofhi.org
      Lay Minister:    Mickey Selwyn, mickey@unitariansofhi.org
      Lay Minister:    Lisa Wong Jacobs, lisa@unitariansofhi.org
      Lay Minister:    Marilyn Bornhorst, marilyn@unitariansofhi.org
      Lay Minister:    Lorraine Fay, lorraine@unitariansofhi.org
      Lay Minister:    Joan Schumacher joan@unitariansofhi.org
     R.E. Director:    Dr. Nan Kleiber, RE@unitariansofhi.org