Fr. Khanh Hoang was born during the Tet Offensive of 1968 in the city of Da Nang, Viet Nam. He grew up during the Viet Nam war and eventually escaped out by boat with his brother and one sister in 1978 and landed in Hong Kong. He came to the United States in 1980 and has lived in numerous places; California, Texas, Colorado, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, and now Hawaii.
Fr. Khanh entered the seminary in the ninth grade in 1982 (he skipped the eighth grade), actually to accompany his cousin who wanted to study for the priesthood. Eventually his cousin left and got married. Fr. Khanh continued and was ordained for the Diocese of Colorado Springs, Colorado on June 4, 1994. Fr. Khanh came to Hawaii in 2003 due to allergies and has served at St. Jude, Sts. Peter and Paul, Our Lady of Good Counsel, and Vicar of Clergy at the diocese. Fr. Khanh was reassigned to St. Jude on July 1, 2014.
Fr. Khanh had always wanted to be a doctor. It was through his years in the seminary and his services through soup kitchens, nursing homes, juvenile homes and prison ministries that slowly changed his aspiration to become a doctor. After serving as a priest for twenty years, Fr. Khanh still feels happy with the vocation to the priesthood, especially the challenge, the dedication, and services that he can offer to God and the Church. On his day off, he enjoys playing golf and swimming.
Fr. Khanh's favorite scripture passage is: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Luke 4:18-19