Mokuaikaua Church
Encyclopedia
Mokuaikaua Church is the oldest Christian church in the Hawaiian Islands
.
Its address is 75-5713 Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona, coordinates 19°38′22.56"N 155°59′37.92"W.
, from the first ship of American Christian Missionaries, the brig Thaddeus. They were given permission to teach Christianity to King Kamehameha II
, and the Queen Regent Kaahumanu. After the royal court relocated to Honolulu, they briefly moved there. In October 1823, they learned that the people of Kailua-Kona had developed an interest in the new ways and had erected a small wooden church.
The first structure on the site was made from Ohia wood
and a thatched roof, on land obtained from Royal Governor Kuakini
across the street from his Hulihee Palace
.
The name moku aikaua literally means "district acquired by war" in the Hawaiian language
, probably after the upland forest area where the wood was obtained.
After several fires, the present stone structure was constructed, partially from stones recycled from a nearby Heiau
(ancient temple of the Hawaiian religion
), from about 1835 to 1837. The interior is decorated with Koa
wood.
.
The state historic place register lists it as site 10-28-7231 as of January 1978. On October 3, 1978 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings on the island of Hawaii as site number 78001015.
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
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Its address is 75-5713 Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona, coordinates 19°38′22.56"N 155°59′37.92"W.
History
The congregation was first founded in 1820 by Asa and Lucy Goodale ThurstonAsa and Lucy Goodale Thurston
Asa Thurston and Lucy Goodale Thurston were in the first company of American Christian Missionaries to the Hawaiian Islands.-Asa Thurston:...
, from the first ship of American Christian Missionaries, the brig Thaddeus. They were given permission to teach Christianity to King Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II was the second king of the Kingdom of Hawaii. His birth name was Liholiho and full name was Kalaninui kua Liholiho i ke kapu Iolani...
, and the Queen Regent Kaahumanu. After the royal court relocated to Honolulu, they briefly moved there. In October 1823, they learned that the people of Kailua-Kona had developed an interest in the new ways and had erected a small wooden church.
The first structure on the site was made from Ohia wood
Metrosideros polymorpha
The ōhia lehua is a species of flowering evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that is endemic to the six largest islands of Hawaii. It is a highly variable tree, being tall in favorable situations, and much smaller when growing in boggy soils or on basalt...
and a thatched roof, on land obtained from Royal Governor Kuakini
John Adams Kuakini
John Adams Kiiapalaoku Kuakini was an important adviser to Kamehameha I in the early stages of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was responsible for much building and other changes in the Kona District during this era.-Family life:...
across the street from his Hulihee Palace
Hulihee Palace
The Hulihee Palace is located in historic Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on Alii Drive. The former vacation home of Hawaiian royalty, it was converted to a museum run by the Daughters of Hawaii, showcasing furniture and artifacts.-History:...
.
The name moku aikaua literally means "district acquired by war" in the Hawaiian language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
, probably after the upland forest area where the wood was obtained.
After several fires, the present stone structure was constructed, partially from stones recycled from a nearby Heiau
Heiau
A heiau is a Hawaiian temple. Many types of heiau existed, including heiau to treat the sick , offer first fruits, offer first catch, start rain, stop rain, increase the population, ensure health of the nation, achieve success in distant voyaging, reach peace, and achieve success in war . Only the...
(ancient temple of the Hawaiian religion
Hawaiian religion
Hawaiian religion is the term used to describe the folk religious beliefs and practises of the Hawaiian people. It is unrelated to, though commonly confused with, the philosophy of Huna....
), from about 1835 to 1837. The interior is decorated with Koa
Koa
Acacia koa is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, where it is the second most common tree. The highest populations are on Hawaii, Maui and Oahu...
wood.
Today
The church continues to be in use and is open to the public for tours, with some artifacts on display, such as a scale model of the Thaddeus. The other notable members of that first company were Rev. and Mrs. Hiram Bingham IHiram Bingham I
Hiram Bingham, formally Hiram Bingham I , was leader of the first group of Protestant missionaries to introduce Christianity to the Hawaiian islands.-Life:...
.
The state historic place register lists it as site 10-28-7231 as of January 1978. On October 3, 1978 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings on the island of Hawaii as site number 78001015.