Churches across the state were open yesterday despite the earthquake and the loss of power, but the form of some services varied — depending on how much the church used electricity.

At Kailua United Methodist Church, the Rev. Tom Choi said Sunday morning services usually involve a full-blown multimedia presentation, with video and amplified singers and band.

"When I got to the church this morning, the band had already gotten there and had set up the altar area with candles they found throughout the church — votives and other candles," he said. "So, we just improvised a worship service using favorite hymns."

Choi also took a page from annual Christmas Eve services. "We always break out the candles on Christmas Eve, so we did the same thing today. We gave everybody in the church a candle, and at the very end, we lit the candles, and sang 'This Little Light of Mine.'

"The sight and sound of our band, with the candles being held up by everyone, was very inspirational."

Not surprisingly, Choi said, attendance was down. "I'd say we had about half the normal amount of people. I'd guess we had about 100 folks there."

At St. John's By-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Kahalu'u, the Rev. Liz Beasley made a different kind of change to her service: she shortened it — considerably.

"I did a 30-second sermon," she said. "Really. On the way to church, I heard that people were being advised not to drive. But we were also saying goodbye this morning to a couple who had been at the church for 20 years, so I knew there would be people coming. I figured we could have the service, but make it short, and then whoever wanted to leave could."

St. John's By-the-Sea also had no power for microphones or music, but "we did fine singing everything a cappella."

At St. Benedict's Catholic Church in Honaunau on the Big Island, Ramona Ciriaco said there were parishioners in the pews when the earthquake occurred.

"Nothing got broken, and everything seemed to be in sound condition," she said. "We couldn't use our microphones, but the church isn't big enough that everyone couldn't hear OK.

"We were just mostly worried that everyone was OK. Not very many were there, because most folks live right in the area and they hadn't left home before the earthquake."

Some congregants said they enjoyed the intimacy of yesterday's low-tech services. "There was something special about the service we had this morning," said Choi of Kailua United Methodist. "A lot of people said we should do it this way more often."