Editor’s note: West Hawaii Today, in conjunction with the Kona Historical Society, is presenting a weekly feature called “Historic Kailua Village.” The articles and accompanying photographs have been compiled by the society and were published in a booklet titled “Kona
Editor’s note: West Hawaii Today, in conjunction with the Kona Historical Society, is presenting a weekly feature called “Historic Kailua Village.” The articles and accompanying photographs have been compiled by the society and were published in a booklet titled “Kona Historical Society’s Historic Kailua Village Map.”
Mokuaikaua Church
The first Christian church in Hawaii, a thatched structure built in about 1820, was constructed where the present Mokuaikaua Church stands today. A second, larger wooden church replaced the thatched building in 1826 to accommodate missionary Asa Thurston’s expanding congregation. This structure burned to the ground in 1835.
Gov. John Kuakini began construction of the present church Jan. 1, 1836, using adze-smoothed stones from High Chief Umi’s heiau; these stones are known as the “hewn stones of Umi.” Various photos over the years show different steeple designs.
In the interior of the church are impressive ohia posts holding up the ceiling beams. The name Mokuaikaua may be derived from the forest land above Kailua Village where the ohia trees were harvested. It was part of the crown properties known by that name. Literal interpretations of it that have been offered are “The trees are cut, let us eat” or “The land that devours war.”
A cemetery once stood on the site of the present-day parking lot. A few headstones remain near this same spot. In front of the church is an arch built about 1910 to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the coming of the missionaries to the Hawaiian Islands.
Copyright 2005 Kona Historical Society. Reprinted by permission.
