Day 243: Mokuaikaua Church, Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i

📌APIA Every Day (243) - The establishment of Mokuaikaua Church in 1820 marked significant changes in Hawaiian society following King Kamehameha I's death. Reverend Asa Thurston and his wife Lucy arrived in Kailua-Kona on April 4, 1820, as representatives of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Their initial religious activities were restricted by royal decree: instruction was limited to King Kamehameha II, specific nobles, and individuals with explicit royal permission. This controlled introduction of Christianity reflected the period's careful balance between traditional Hawaiian practices and incoming Western influences.

The church underwent several physical transformations as the Christian population in Kona grew. The first structure, built in 1823 under Governor Kuakini's supervision, was a wooden building measuring 60 feet by 30 feet. Demographics drove subsequent expansions: by the mid-1820s, the Kona District's population reached approximately 20,000, and the church's congregation regularly exceeded its 600-1,000 person capacity. The current stone structure, completed in 1837, marked the fourth iteration of the church building. Its construction utilized local resources: native ohia wood joined with ohia pins, lava rock walls, and mortar made from burned coral. Notable architectural elements included stones repurposed from a Hawaiian heiau, demonstrating the practical adaptation of existing materials during Hawaii's transitional period.

The Mokuaikaua Church property expanded over time to accommodate community needs. While the original stone church building remains the central structure, additions include an Education Building (1963) housing a preschool and an Activity Center (1972) containing administrative offices and meeting spaces. A memorial arch, constructed in 1910, marks the historical significance of the site. These developments reflect both preservation efforts and adaptation to modern community requirements.

Throughout its history, the church has undergone several major renovations. Significant restorations occurred in 1865 and 1937, with the latter removing later additions to reveal original construction features. More recent preservation efforts addressed damage from a 2006 earthquake that compromised the building's structural integrity. The church's inclusion in both the Historic American Buildings Survey and the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 documents its significance in Hawaii's architectural and religious development during the early nineteenth century.

LEARN MORE:

National Archives Catalog: Mokuaikaua Church

National Trust for Historic Preservation: Mokuaikaua Church: Restoration for the Next 200 Years

National Fund for Sacred Places: Mokuaikaua Church

Mokuaikaua Hawai’i’s 1st Christian Church: Preserve Hawaii’s Heritage

Historic Hawai’i Foundation: Mokuaikaua Church

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