Lanakila Baptist Church was started in 1967 by Dr. & Mrs. Knutson who were Baptist Bible Fellowship missionaries to Hawaii. Under their direction the current property on Waipahu Street was acquired and the first floor of our current facilities was built. A short time later the second story was built a preschool was started. In 1969 our school was started, and we had our first graduate in 1975. Every pastor of Lanakila Baptist Church has served as a missionary.
Robert Knutson – 1967 to 1978 (Missionary to Hawaii)
Frank Hooge* – 1975 to 1976 (Missionary to the Philippines)
Don Stone – 1978 to 1987 (Missionary to Taiwan/Germany)
Bobby Lasater – 1987 to 1991 (Missionary to South Korea)
Tommy Moore – 1991 to 2000 (Missionary to Kenya)
Steven Wygle – 2000 to 2018 (Missionary to Hawaii)
Jose Esquibel – 2018 to present (Missionary to England)
*Interim pastor while Dr. Knutson was on Furlough