Peter and Vicki's Travel Blog: What's beneath the landmark steeple of Moku'aikaua Church?

We enjoyed another interesting day in Kona.

After completing our daily constitutional walk and swim we wandered into town to have a closer look at the lovely historical Mokuaikaua Church with its distinctive landmark white steeple that can be seen hovering over Kona. At 112 feet the steeple is the tallest structure in Kailua -Kona. Magnificent!

This beautifully built church has a fascinating history and if you are in Kona you must wander inside as the interior is one of the finest examples of the use of native Hawaiian woods.

Two ministers, two teachers, an apprentice printer and a farmer, along with their spouses where the first missionaries sent to Hawaii. Hiram Bingham and Asa Thurston were the two ministers. Arriving on the Big Island of Hawaii on the tiny brig Thaddeus in 1820 they found that Kamehameha 1 was dead and Liholiho ( Kamehameha II) was king. The kapu (taboo) had been broken and the old religion was in turmoil.

Kapu - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

On land given by the king, the first two thatched roofed church structures built in 1820 and 1825 under the direction of Thurston, burnt down. A permanent stone structure was completed in 1837 and the active church still stands proudly in Kona today - Mokuaikaua Church! Reverend Asa Thurston designed the church and arranged the building so it caught the ocean breeze coming from the west - it flows through the entire length of the church, providing a natural air conditioning system.

Why was it called Mokuaikaua Church? It was named after the forest in the mountains where the wood for the church came from! The forest was on the western slopes of Mt Hualalai.

Asa Thurston remained in Kailua-Kona for more than 40 years. He died in 1868, aged 8. He achieved many things in Hawaii, one noteable accomplishment was his translation of a large part of the bible into the Hawaiian language.

The first Christian Church in the State of Hawaii

Kailua Bay shoreline in 1890 with the Church and the Palace standing proud

112 feet tall!
For years the native fishermen have used the church steeple as the prominent landmark

As you enter this historic sanctuary you are standing on dedicated ground for this is the area
upon which the first Christian Church in Hawaii was built

The natural materials of lava rock and coral-based mortar have made the church
a strong structure - it withstood the 2006 earthquake.
Some cast off ballast from sailing ships was built in as well.
The lava rock came from a 15th century temple (heiau) that stood on the site.

Henry's dream was the reason the the first missionaries arrived in Hawaii in1820

164 days and 18,000 miles on this tiny brig!?

Very impressive!

The interior of the church is beautiful! All the wood is magnificent! The posts and beams are made of ohi'a wood which comes from Hawaii's most abundant native tree - very hardy - it's the first thing to grow in fresh lava fields! Ohi'a wood is still used today in houses, furniture and flooring.

Koa wood, one of the world's most rare and valuable woods, was used in the pews, pulpit and interior panelling. Koa trees can grow to over 100 feet and up to 10 feet in diameter. Ancient Hawaiians used the wood for dugout canoes,paddles,spears and surfboards. Today the trees are scarce and products made from koa wood are very expensive.