The Jewish Community of Maui, Hawaii

(Adapted from an article by Prof. Bernard Katz)

Jews in Hawaii

The archives of the University of Hawaii, the records of the Jewish Welfare Board and Temple Emanu-el, at Honolulu on the island of Oahu, reveal some history of Jews in Hawaii. There were Jews among the traders and merchants who came to Hawaii in the last half of the 19th century. They came to establish businesses to supply goods and equipment to the growing sugar cane and pineapple plantations, and to the livestock industry. Few of these Jews settled permanently in the islands.

In 1901 a group of about 40 residents established the first congregation. The Hebrew Congregation of Hawaii was short-lived and disbanded after only six years.

After World War I, a Jewish Welfare Board center was established in a private home. This center flourished and in 1938 a Jewish Community Center was founded by about 35 families of the Honolulu Jewish Community that later served as Honolulu’s first permanent synagogue. The group later formed Temple Emanu-el.

It is estimated that more than 10,000 Jews are permanent residents of Hawaii. Slightly more than half live in Honolulu, on the island of Oahu. The remainder is spread among 5 of the 6 remaining inhabited islands. Maui has the second largest Jewish community and most of the others live on the island of Hawaii.

Early History of the Jewish Community of Maui

There are no records of when the first Jews came to Maui. It is realistic to assume that some arrived as traders in the mid 19th century, about the same time as others who came to Honolulu. Lahaina, Maui was a major Pacific whaling port and the seat of the Hawaiian Monarchy. As Maui's plantations and livestock industry grew, merchants and traders were attracted by the opportunities for commerce. Following World War I, members of the professions settled here as well.

Maui hosted several major military installations during World War II. Jewish service men and women attended services with military chaplains. Some chose to remain, or to return to Maui after the war.

During the 1950s and 60s Maui began to develop as a major tourist destination. The employment and business opportunities, idyllic climate, and low cost of living were strong attractions for individuals and families, many of whom migrated from cities in the western US.

In the 1960s and early 1970s a number of Jewish families, mostly retirees, settled in Lahaina, and in the new Kaanapali resort area of west Maui. The area, originally one of the centers of the sugar industry, was beginning to grow in population and commerce, and this growth was driven by the tourist industry. A number of these families would get together in individual homes to celebrate some holidays, and an occasional Shabbat, with festive meals. These get-togethers evolved into group Passover Seders and casual holiday services in beach parks and, occasionally, in hotel function rooms.

The Growth of the Jewish Community of Maui

The expansion of the tour and convention industries on Maui brought many visitors from the US mainland to the islands during the 1970s and 80s. During the 1980s Maui County began efforts to attract high tech industry. Many young Jewish singles and families chose to settle here. They in turn attracted other young Jews and growth was under way.

By the late 1970s a number of young Jewish families with children established homes on Maui. Many lived in the growing town of Kihei along the southwestern coast, more in the towns located "upcountry" on the slopes of Haleakala, still others along the north shore and on the coast of East Maui. Many of these families hosted holiday events in their homes.

The influx of young Jewish families and singles had an energizing effect on the entire Jewish community. These young people wanted to maintain their Judaism and through word-of-mouth the various gatherings grew. By the early 1980s the group had an informal set of directors led by Tikva Ben Dayan and her Israeli husband “Jo-Jo.” In the spring of 1983 Tikva’s and Jo-Jo’s son had his Bar Mitzvah. An Israeli came from Honolulu with a Torah to lead the services.

The modern Jewish population which has made Maui home has been drawn here to a large degree by the climate, professional opportunities, business prospects, and relaxed life style. Others were initially attracted by ocean sports, primarily surfing and windsurfing. They too remained after finding positions and opportunities in the growing economy.

Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian islands in size and population, and a relatively short distance from Oahu and the other islands. The people of Maui, like other islands in the Hawaiian group, are drawn from a multiplicity of races and cultures. Japanese, Chinese, Phillipino and Portugese descendents of workers brought to the islands as plantation labor in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries are the largest groups. There was intermarriage between the children of these workers and descendents of the native Hawaiians and Polynesians and later with Europeans. Other large groups immigrated from Polynesia, Micronesia, Australia, New Zealand, the USA and other countries. The result is a multi-racial, multi-cultural society with little anti-Semitism.

The beauty of Maui is in its landscape and natural environment. Formed from the eroded cones of two volcanoes connected by a low isthmus (the central valley) Maui has been called the "Valley Isle." Canyons eroded from the two volcanic mountains frame the ridgelines between. The near-constant southeast trade winds bring a stream of moisture to the windward sides of the island, resulting in rain forest environments, while the sheltered lee sides range to near desert dryness. Haleakala, the 10,000-foot inactive volcano which forms the bulk of east Maui dominates all. The population is concentrated in areas where there is expanded shoreline, the central valley, and along the lower slopes of Haleakala, an area known as “up-country.”

Several of the young Jews who found their way to Maui in the 1970s and 80s began to realize they were missing the communal Jewish identity they had formerly enjoyed. By the early 1980s the new Jewish community had become more widely known. Jonathan Waxman, a young attorney with a strong Conservative Jewish background, became the focal point of many discussions among the Jews of Maui concerning how they would provide a sense of Jewish identity for their children. Private homes were no longer suitable for the numbers that attended informal celebrations and services. Communal activities and celebrations were held in the community centers which the county Parks Department maintains throughout Maui. The previously informal community organization was incorporated as The Jewish Congregation of Maui. Soon Shabbat services became a monthly event.

Jonathan was very active in the leadership of the growing congregation, he was named president and helped in leading services. He felt more could be done to bring together the Jews who had settled on Maui. Joel Richman began to lead services. Joel’s grandfather had been the rabbi of an orthodox congregation in Massachusetts. He was brought up in a dedicated Jewish environment and was knowledgeable in Torah, ritual and observance. With the help of others who were involved in the congregation, they launched an aggressive program to reach out to other Jewish families and singles on Maui. Phone calls, newspaper notices, publicity and other means were utilized. Jewish visitors to Maui, especially those who came for extended vacations were attracted to the congregation. The Feuerstein family, regular visitors to the island, contributed a Torah scroll. Another member gave a pointer. Money was raised for the purchase of prayer books for Shabbat and the holidays, and after each meeting the books were packed into boxes and taken to members homes for safe-keeping. The Torah scroll, pointer and Holy Ark were also kept in private homes.

As the new congregation grew its distinctive character and broad spectrum of Judaic experience began to emerge. Besides the USA, the Jews of Maui come from South America, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. They brought with them Jewish upbringing and experience ranging from orthodox to reform. Jews with little or no Jewish background sought out the new congregation and the distinctive support it offers for life in a multi-cultural community. Senior citizens retiring on Maui have helped to enrich the broad Jewish character of our congregation.

The leadership has expanded with the membership of the congregation. Joel Richman took over the presidency from Jonathan in 1989. Under Joel's leadership the congregation has established a building of its own, both a synagogue and cultural center, and a Jewish cemetery. The cemetery was much easier to fund and establish. Phyllis Elman, who had relocated to Maui from California to be close to her son and his young family,was the first to be buried in the new cemetery. Phyllis had devoted much of her time and energy to the congregation, and her death was a great loss. In 1995 the congregation was struck by tragedy when Jonathan Waxman, who had remained a director, was killed in a car accident. Tragedy struck again in 2004, with the death of 21 year old Frank Dan. He grew up in the congregation, and his Bar Mitzvah was a happy landmark for us all. Frank was the first of Maui's native born Jews to be buried here.We are consoled that Phyllis, Jonathan and Frank could be buried in the congregation’s cemetery, on the island they loved and in “Jewish soil."

Following the death of Jonathan Waxman, Joel Richman took over full lay leadership. In addition to the presidency of the congregation he conducted all Shabbat and High Holiday services. Recognizing the distinctive range of Judaism that existed within the group, the directors have tried to foster an environment which will bring all the Judaic denominations together. Howard Cooper, a noted Jewish educator and author, was brought in to lead High Holiday services. During the course of four years his progressive influence was a major factor in shaping the congregation's ideology. The objective was to develop a community where each person could maintain the religious/Judaic feeling with which they felt most comfortable. Religious conflict and intolerance were discouraged. The Orthodox have accepted that men and women could sit and pray together. Those with Reform and secular backgrounds acknowledge the prayers and Halachic feelings of the Orthodox. Even the special ceremony of the Birchat Hacohanim - the priestly blessing, which is not in Reform services, became part of the ritual on the high holidays. Of particular relevance is that many members, men and women who had the education and instruction, were able to chant from the Torah and the Haftorot. Bar and Bat Mitzvoth began to take place with instructions by members with well-rounded Jewish experience. In spite of their backgrounds, those nurtured in Orthodoxy accepted women being called for an Aliya to Torah, to read or chant from the Torah and to wear kippah (skullcap) and talit (traditional prayer shawl). The congregation continued to flourish as other Jews came to Maui and sought community with their fellow Jews.

Jewish visitors to Maui attend the congregation's functions and services during their stay here. Prominent Jewish public figures, many from the entertainment world, who lived on Maui, had vacation homes, or were visitors, were drawn to the group. Among them was Linda Lingle, who was Mayor of Maui at the time and later went on to become the governor of Hawaii. The congregation now has elected leadership. A board and committees are chosen to set direction and to develop congregational and community functions. Members with strong backgrounds in Judaism, Judaic studies, Hebrew speakers, Zionists and others have come forward to help in starting classes in adult studies and to plan programs for young children and the growing numbers of teens. Cultural programs have been created for the entire community. Jewish entertainers, scholars and lecturers invited to Hawaii by the Jewish Welfare Board in Honolulu, often come to Maui to perform, lecture and teach.

The Jewish Community of Maui Today

In 1997 the congregation rented a building from a small Christian group that no longer met. The building was ideal to serve as both a cultural center and synagogue. One large room could seat a little over 100 people. A small stage was redone as a bima. The “traveling” Holy Ark was assembled to be a permanent home for the Torah. The group adopted the name Beit Shalom for their new home and a new phase began in the life of the Maui Jewish community. The congregation contracted for the purchase of Beit Shalom in 1998 and the final payment was made in 2001.

In 1990 David Glickman came to Maui as a member of a research team studying humpback whales. David, born in Los Angeles and raised in a modern orthodox context, was strongly influenced in observance by his father who is a cantor. He attended orthodox schools for his primary and high school education. When he was 16 he went to Israel on Aliya. He settled in Jerusalem where his father had been born and the majority of his family still lives. He continued his religious high school education and upon graduation entered the Israeli army serving in the famed Golani brigade from 1980-1983. Soon after coming to Maui, he became involved in the congregation. Teaching in the bi-monthly Hebrew school filled an important need for the congregation as well as for David. With his background in ritual, Torah and Hebrew, he soon became a lay leader, conducting services and helping to provide for life cycle events and the monthly and seasonal services. He continued his studies at the University of Hawaii and achieved his BA in Psychology. In 1998 he went to the East coast of the USA to assist his father in High Holy Day services. There, at the urging of two rabbis, he returned to intensive private Judaic and Talmudic studies and received his Smichut l’Rabbinut (Rabbinical ordination) as an orthodox rabbi. The congregation on Maui immediately invited Rabbi Glickman to return to them as their full time rabbi, a position that he readily accepted. He is married to Jody-Lynn, a native of Maui and they have established an observant home for their growing family.

It has been estimated that there are 2,500 to 3,000 Jews on Maui. Most are year-round residents. Many however, maintain second homes and come for long periods over the winter months. During the tourist season the number increases by several hundred with vacationing families. Some of Maui's supermarkets have recognized the size and needs of the community, and sell kosher food items. Beit Shalom and the Jewish Congregation of Maui are known today as the center for Jewish activity on the island. The diverse nature of the congregation, which began when the small group first came together, is attractive to the varied Jewish population and visitors.