Acquired by the Catholic Church in Hawaii for a diocesan seminary from the family of Harold Castle in 1946, the center rests on 22 breathtaking acres. The castle mansion, built in 1927, is the landmark structure on the property. The Cullinan building was added in the 1950s, and in 1961 the church initiated plans for dormitory, classrooms, a chapel and an auditorium to accommodate the nearly 70 seminarians at the site.

Today, the mission of the center is to provide a serene environment that encourages creativity, collaboration and teamwork away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Catholic groups and Christian faith-based organizations that call the center “home” for their events are sure to benefit from this mission.

The Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawai‘i’s St. Stephen Diocesan Center is a resource for organizations seeking a site for single-day meetings or overnight retreats. Catholic and other Christian faith-based organizations will benefit from the scenic splendor and isolation of the Center.

At an elevation of 500 feet at the foot of the Ko‘olau Range, St. Stephen Diocesan Center is a resource for those who seek a quiet place to meet and reflect on ideas, issues and challenges. Each year, hundreds of faith-based groups, from both Hawai‘i’s Catholic community and the Christian community-at-large, come to the Center to meet and retreat. The Center’s restored facilities that once served as a home for seminarians now stand as a refuge for faith-based organizations that feel that an isolated peaceful setting bathed in the cool winds of O‘ahu’s windward highlands would be an ideal place to convene.

Conference Rooms & Auditorium

The Center has two conference rooms and an auditorium. The small conference room, when set with tables and chairs, can accommodate groups of 30 to 40 people. The large conference room, when similarly set up, can accommodate groups of up to 80 people.

Both rooms can be used for business meetings, and then rearranged for a post meeting “pau hana” reception. Often, groups will hold a portion of a meeting in the large conference room, and then break-out sessions in the smaller room.

For groups that need a stage or a larger meeting space, an auditorium is available. The auditorium will accommodate groups of 100 to 200, depending on the seating arrangements. Groups using the conference facilities may also benefit from the Center’s food service and dining room.

Accommodations

The Center has 53 dormitory-style guest rooms and 4 private suites. Twenty-seven of the guest rooms are located on the first floor of the building. The first floor guest rooms all house full-sized beds. Twenty-six of the rooms are located on the second floor. These rooms are each furnished with two twin beds. All of the rooms have a private basin. In keeping with the community nature of the complex, gender-specific semiprivate bathrooms and showers serve the guest rooms. The suites on the first and second floors each have private bath facilities, as well as telephones.

Meals

Overnight groups of at least 35 may enroll in the Center’s Meal Plan. In the Meal Plan, breakfast and lunch are served daily. Dinner is also available on all days except Sundays. Diocesan Center staff will work with groups of less than 35 to ensure that their needs are met.

St. Stephen Diocesan Center is a place of refuge that invites people from faith-based Catholic and Christian backgrounds to enjoy the beautiful tranquil facilities. And St. Stephen’s staff prides itself on ensuring that its guests are fed in spirit and in body.